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Translators can be considered as busy matchmakers who…

“Translators can be considered as busy matchmakers who praise as extremely desirable a half-veiled beauty. They arouse an irresistible yearning for the original.” quote by Johann Wolfgang von Goethe
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“Translators can be considered as busy matchmakers who praise as extremely desirable a half-veiled beauty. They arouse an irresistible yearning for the original.”

Johann Wolfgang von Goethe

About This Quote

This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation.

Translators act as matchmakers, highlighting the hidden beauty of originals and stirring desire for them.

In simple terms: Translators reveal hidden beauty and create desire.

Key Takeaway

Value translation as a bridge to original art.

Themes

translation beauty desire mediators

Mood

appreciative analytical

Type

literary critical

When to use this quote

  • reading literature
  • learning languages
  • publishing

Key Concepts

aesthetic appreciation cultural exchange

Questions to Reflect On

  • How does translation shape your perception of a work?
  • What responsibilities do translators have?
A Different Perspective

May overstate original’s appeal.

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