Four quotations from Marie von Ebner-Eschenbach

It’s Marie von Ebner-Eschenbach’s 187th birthday. She was an Austrian and a major German language novelist. Here are four of her aphorisms.

In misfortune we usually regain the peace that we were robbed of through fear of that very misfortune.


No one is so keen to gather ever newer impressions as those who do not know how to process the old ones.

When your one and only choice is between an untruth and rudeness, then choose rudeness; if, however, your choice is between an untruth and cruelty, then choose untruth.

If you only read the classics, you’re sure to remain modern.