411 REFERENCE · Wiktionary
Bescheidenheit ist eine Zier, doch weiter kommt man ohne ihr
Reference material by Wiktionary contributors. This retains its source identity and is not 411 news reporting.
German
Alternative forms
de Bescheidenheit ist eine Zier, doch besser lebt man ohne ihr
Etymology
Ascribed to Erich Kästner. modesty/humility is an ornament (i.e. a virtue), but one gets further without it. The dative case after de ohne is now ungrammatical, but used to be fairly common; it is needed here for the rhyme.
Pronunciation
de /bəˈʃaɪ̯dənhaɪ̯t ɪst aɪ̯nə ˈt͡siːr | dɔx ˈvaɪ̯tər kɔmt man ˈoːnə iːr/
Proverb
de proverb
Being modest and humble is a morally commendable approach in life, but it is not usually the most productive in terms of personal success.
de rhyming phrases