Einstein's German World

For my third AMD I began reading the historical text Einstein's German World by Fritz Stern. The introduction addresses how in the decades leading up to WWI, Germany was on the ascent to preeminence in Europe. "The only other country at the time growing with similar dynamic energy was the United States...the American century began as the German one ended." The late eighteenth century saw a cultural renaissance in Germany, especially in scientific achievement. 1770-1830 is termed the "Age of Genius" or "Geniezeit." I found this particularly interesting about the word "genie":

"The word “genius” in German has a special overtone, even a tinge of the demonic, a mysterious power and energy; a genius - whether artist or scientist - is considered to have a special vulnerability, a precariousness, a life of constant risk and often close to troubled turmoil."

It's always interesting to learn about the unique connotations of words in other languages, when there can be no precisely equivalent translation.

Thedor Fontane wrote:

Gaben, wer hӓtte sie nicht?

Talente – Spielzeug für Kinder.

Erst der Ernst macht den Mann, erst der Fleiss das Genie.

or

Gifts, who is without them?

Talents - mere toys for children.

Seriousness makes the man, application the genius.