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Organvorbehalt (Austrian document)
Nur dem weht ein günstiger Wind, der weiss, wohin er segeln möchte
Aug 6, 2004 15:47
19 yrs ago
German term

Wer jeden möchte, zu dem kommt niemand

German to English Social Sciences Tourism & Travel
Nochmals ein loser Satz als Zusammenfassung am Ende eines Kapitels.
Proposed translations (English)
4 those you would accept anybody wind up getting nobody
3 +5 If you want everyone, you'll get no one
4 +1 He who tries to please everyone, pleases no one.
3 +1 He who would take anyone is likely to get no one.
4 The more one wishes for company the less one receives.
3 No one wants what everyone can have. Everyone's friend is nobody's choice.
2 Sometimes less is more

Proposed translations

4 mins
German term (edited): Wer jeden m�chte, zu dem kommt niemand
Selected

those you would accept anybody wind up getting nobody

one possible version
Peer comment(s):
neutral Kevin Pfeiffer (X) : those _who_? // Sorry, but you wrote "those you would accept anybody..." which I assume is a typo (because it's otherwise nonsense or modern poetry). :-)
11 mins
cannot help you if you do not get who or what is implied
Something went wrong...
4 KudoZ points awarded for this answer. Comment: "Thanks a lot."
+1
8 mins
German term (edited): Wer jeden m�chte, zu dem kommt niemand

He who would take anyone is likely to get no one.

Or: No one comes to the person who desire everyone.

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Note added at 10 mins (2004-08-06 15:58:00 GMT)
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Or: If you are willing to take just anyone, no one will be willing to take you.
Peer comment(s):
agree Dr.G.MD (X)
4 mins
neutral Trudy Peters : I think that strays a bit from the original meaning
2 hrs
Something went wrong...
+5
26 mins
German term (edited): Wer jeden m�chte, zu dem kommt niemand

If you want everyone, you'll get no one

Maybe
Peer comment(s):
agree Armorel Young : this is nice and snappy
10 mins
agree Nancy Arrowsmith : if you want everything, you'll end up with nothing
1 hr
agree Trudy Peters : with Nancy
2 hrs
agree Textklick : Best IMO
6 hrs
agree Brandis (X) : man tanze nicht auf alle Hochzeiten zugleich! thank you
2 days 5 hrs
Something went wrong...
1 hr
German term (edited): Wer jeden m�chte, zu dem kommt niemand

The more one wishes for company the less one receives.

:)
Something went wrong...
2 hrs
German term (edited): Wer jeden m�chte, zu dem kommt niemand

Sometimes less is more

a poetic take

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Note added at 2 hrs 56 mins (2004-08-06 18:43:27 GMT)
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Better to chose your customers than have them chose you
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+1
8 hrs
German term (edited): Wer jeden m�chte, zu dem kommt niemand

He who tries to please everyone, pleases no one.

The classical take...
Peer comment(s):
agree Fantutti (X) : Fantastic!
6 hrs
Thanks! (c:
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1 day 1 hr
German term (edited): Wer jeden m�chte, zu dem kommt niemand

No one wants what everyone can have. Everyone's friend is nobody's choice.

Robert Browning's poem "My Last Duchess" presents a harsh example of the truth of the idea here. The duke silenced his duchess forever ("All smiles ceased together") on account of her universal kindness. Because he felt that she valued a gift of fresh flowers from the gardener, e.g., as equal to his gift of a 1000-year-old name, the duke did away with the poor thing. People need to feel special.
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