Johnny Ball
English television personality
Heinrich Heine was a renowned German poet, writer, and literary critic known for his witty and ironic verse and prose. Despite facing censorship and political exile, he became a celebrated figure in the Young Germany movement and is particularly renowned for his early lyric poetry, which was set to music by composers like Schumann and Schubert.
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About the Heinrich Heine
Christian Johann Heinrich Heinewas a German poet, writer and literary critic. He is best known outside Germany for his early lyric poetry, which was set to music in the form of Liederby composers such as Robert Schumann and Franz Schubert. Heine’s later verse and prose are distinguished by their satirical wit and irony. He is considered a member of the Young Germany movement. His radical political views led to many of his works being banned by German authorities–which, however, only added to his fame. He spent the last 25 years of his life as an expatriate in Paris.
Frequently Asked Questions
Heinrich Heine was a German poet, writer, and literary critic who lived from 1797 to 1856. He is best known for his early lyric poetry that was set to music as Lieder (art songs) by composers like Robert Schumann and Franz Schubert.
Heinrich Heine’s radical political views led to many of his works being banned by German authorities, which ironically only added to his fame and popularity.
The Young Germany movement was a group of German writers and intellectuals in the 19th century who advocated for social, political, and cultural reforms. Heinrich Heine was considered a member of this progressive literary movement.
Heinrich Heine spent the last 25 years of his life as an expatriate in Paris, after facing censorship and political exile in Germany.
Heinrich Heine’s later verse and prose were distinguished by their satirical wit and irony, which made him a celebrated and influential figure in German literature.
Heinrich Heine’s early lyric poetry was set to music in the form of Lieder (art songs) by famous composers such as Robert Schumann and Franz Schubert.
Heinrich Heine was born on December 13, 1797, and died on February 17, 1856.
42 Quotes by Heinrich Heine
- 1.
Christ rode on an ass, but now asses ride on Christ.
Heinrich HeineGerman poet, writer and literary critic (1797-1856)
- 2.
Of course God will forgive me; that’s His job.
Heinrich HeineGerman poet, writer and literary critic (1797-1856)
- 3.
If the Romans had been obliged to learn Latin, they would never have found time to conquer the world.
Heinrich HeineGerman poet, writer and literary critic (1797-1856)
- 4.
Human misery is too great for men to do without faith.
Heinrich HeineGerman poet, writer and literary critic (1797-1856)
- 5.
Ask me not what I have, but what I am.
Heinrich HeineGerman poet, writer and literary critic (1797-1856)
- 6.
Oh, what lies there are in kisses.
Heinrich HeineGerman poet, writer and literary critic (1797-1856)
- 7.
Talking and eloquence are not the same: to speak and to speak well are two things. A fool may talk, but a wise man speaks.
Heinrich HeineGerman poet, writer and literary critic (1797-1856)
- 8.
The Wedding March always reminds me of the music played when soldiers go into battle.
Heinrich HeineGerman poet, writer and literary critic (1797-1856)
- 9.
The Bible is the great family chronicle of the Jews.
Heinrich HeineGerman poet, writer and literary critic (1797-1856)
- 10.
I fell asleep reading a dull book and dreamed I kept on reading, so I awoke from sheer boredom.
Heinrich HeineGerman poet, writer and literary critic (1797-1856)
- 11.
Atheism is the last word of theism.
Heinrich HeineGerman poet, writer and literary critic (1797-1856)
- 12.
Music played at weddings always reminds me of the music played for soldiers before they go into battle.
Heinrich HeineGerman poet, writer and literary critic (1797-1856)
- 13.
There are more fools in the world than there are people.
Heinrich HeineGerman poet, writer and literary critic (1797-1856)
- 14.
You cannot feed the hungry on statistics.
Heinrich HeineGerman poet, writer and literary critic (1797-1856)
- 15.
God will forgive me; that’s his business.
Heinrich HeineGerman poet, writer and literary critic (1797-1856)
- 16.
Whatever tears one may shed, in the end one always blows one’s nose.
Heinrich HeineGerman poet, writer and literary critic (1797-1856)
- 17.
It is extremely difficult for a Jew to be converted, for how can he bring himself to believe in the divinity of – another Jew?
Heinrich HeineGerman poet, writer and literary critic (1797-1856)
- 18.
The men of action are, after all, only the unconscious instruments of the men of thought.
Heinrich HeineGerman poet, writer and literary critic (1797-1856)
- 19.
In these times we fight for ideas and newspapers are our fortress.
Heinrich HeineGerman poet, writer and literary critic (1797-1856)
- 20.
In earlier religions the spirit of the time was expressed through the individual and confirmed by miracles. In modern religions the spirit is expressed through the many and confirmed by reason.
Heinrich HeineGerman poet, writer and literary critic (1797-1856)
- 21.
Sleep is good, death is better; but of course, the best thing would to have never been born at all.
Heinrich HeineGerman poet, writer and literary critic (1797-1856)
- 22.
He only profits from praise who values criticism.
Heinrich HeineGerman poet, writer and literary critic (1797-1856)
- 23.
Wherever they burn books they will also, in the end, burn human beings.
Heinrich HeineGerman poet, writer and literary critic (1797-1856)
- 24.
I will not say that women have no character; rather, they have a new one every day.
Heinrich HeineGerman poet, writer and literary critic (1797-1856)
- 25.
Great genius takes shape by contact with another great genius, but, less by assimilation than by fiction.
Heinrich HeineGerman poet, writer and literary critic (1797-1856)
- 26.
Every man, either to his terror or consolation, has some sense of religion.
Heinrich HeineGerman poet, writer and literary critic (1797-1856)
- 27.
I have never seen an ass who talked like a human being, but I have met many human beings who talked like asses.
Heinrich HeineGerman poet, writer and literary critic (1797-1856)
- 28.
When the heroes go off the stage, the clowns come on.
Heinrich HeineGerman poet, writer and literary critic (1797-1856)
- 29.
The fundamental evil of the world arose from the fact that the good Lord has not created money enough.
Heinrich HeineGerman poet, writer and literary critic (1797-1856)
- 30.
Matrimony; the high sea for which no compass has yet been invented.
Heinrich HeineGerman poet, writer and literary critic (1797-1856)
- 31.
Communism possesses a language which every people can understand – its elements are hunger, envy, and death.
Heinrich HeineGerman poet, writer and literary critic (1797-1856)
- 32.
It is a common phenomenon that just the prettiest girls find it so difficult to get a man.
Heinrich HeineGerman poet, writer and literary critic (1797-1856)
- 33.
God will forgive me. It’s his job.
Heinrich HeineGerman poet, writer and literary critic (1797-1856)
- 34.
Like a great poet, Nature knows how to produce the greatest effects with the most limited means.
Heinrich HeineGerman poet, writer and literary critic (1797-1856)
- 35.
Experience is a good school. But the fees are high.
Heinrich HeineGerman poet, writer and literary critic (1797-1856)
- 36.
Woman is at once apple and serpent.
Heinrich HeineGerman poet, writer and literary critic (1797-1856)
- 37.
Sleep is lovely, death is better still, not to have been born is of course the miracle.
Heinrich HeineGerman poet, writer and literary critic (1797-1856)
- 38.
Whenever books are burned, men also in the end are burned.
Heinrich HeineGerman poet, writer and literary critic (1797-1856)
- 39.
I do not know if she was virtuous, but she was ugly, and with a woman that is half the battle.
Heinrich HeineGerman poet, writer and literary critic (1797-1856)
- 40.
True eloquence consists in saying all that is necessary, and nothing but what is necessary.
Heinrich HeineGerman poet, writer and literary critic (1797-1856)
- 41.
When words leave off, music begins.
Heinrich HeineGerman poet, writer and literary critic (1797-1856)
- 42.
Whether a revolution succeeds or fails people of great hearts will always be sacrificed to it.
Heinrich HeineGerman poet, writer and literary critic (1797-1856)