Grooks
Piet Hein, (1905-1996)
Danish philosopher, mathematician, scientist and author - and the
inventor of the superelips. His grooks are aphorisms - a sort of
rhymed epigrams. The word 'grook' in another invention of Piet
Hein. They became very popular all over the world in the late sixties
and early seventies.
At bryde af og rejse bort
kan være svært og falde hårdt,
men det er livets krav til dem,
som holder af at komme hjem.
[Piet Hein, 1905-1996]
WHAT LOVE IS LIKE
Love is like
a pineapple,
sweet and
undefinable.
PROBLEMS
Problems worthy
of attack
prove their worth
by hitting back.
AN ODE TO MODESTY
Talking of successful rackets
modesty deserves a mention.
Exclamation marks in brackets
never fail to draw attention.
LIVING IS
Living is
a thing to do
now or never -
which do you?
MEMENTO VIVERE
Love while you've got
love to give.
Live while you've got
life to live.
TIMING TOAST
There's an art of knowing when.
Never try to guess.
Toast until it smokes and then
twenty seconds less.
ABREAST
He who aims
to keep abreast
is for ever
second best.
GOOD ADVICE
Shun advice
at any price -
that's what I call
good advice
NAIVE
Naive you are
if you believe
life favours those
who aren't naive.
A PSYCHOLOGICAL TIP
Whenever you're called on to make up your mind,
and you're hampered by not having any,
the best way to solve the dilemma, you'll find,
is simply by spinning a penny.
No - not so that chance shall decide the affair
while you're passively standing there moping;
but the moment the penny is up in the air,
you suddenly know what you're hoping.