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  3. Poetry & Literature

was von herzen kommt gelingt.

English translation: True success comes from the heart

GLOSSARY ENTRY (DERIVED FROM QUESTION BELOW)
German term or phrase:was von herzen kommt gelingt.
English translation:True success comes from the heart
Entered by: Helen Shiner

12:16 Mar 28, 2009
German to English translations [PRO]
Art/Literary - Poetry & Literature
German term or phrase: was von herzen kommt gelingt.
a term from a german song-lyric.
I'm going to get tattooed with the (hopefully correct) translation.
jensh
Local time: 16:12
If its from the heart, it'll succeed
Explanation:
This is a literal translation, but there will be many ways of saying this.

--------------------------------------------------
Note added at 16 mins (2009-03-28 12:32:18 GMT)
--------------------------------------------------

Sorry that should be:
If it's from the heart, it'll succeed.

--------------------------------------------------
Note added at 23 mins (2009-03-28 12:39:17 GMT)
--------------------------------------------------

It doesn't sound as good as the German, so you might be better off choosing something else but with a slightly different meaning:

Success comes from the heart
Succeed, and it's from the heart
Success is in your heart

I think my favourite would be:

True success comes from the heart.
Selected response from:

Helen Shiner
United Kingdom
Local time: 15:12
Grading comment
Selected automatically based on peer agreement.
4 KudoZ points were awarded for this answer



Summary of answers provided
3 +4If its from the heart, it'll succeed
Helen Shiner
3 +3Success is forged in the heart
franglish
2 +1Follow your heart
Caro McL
3If it comes from the heart, it comes to life.
Lirka


Discussion entries: 5





  

Answers


8 mins   confidence: Answerer confidence 3/5Answerer confidence 3/5 peer agreement (net): +4
If its from the heart, it'll succeed


Explanation:
This is a literal translation, but there will be many ways of saying this.

--------------------------------------------------
Note added at 16 mins (2009-03-28 12:32:18 GMT)
--------------------------------------------------

Sorry that should be:
If it's from the heart, it'll succeed.

--------------------------------------------------
Note added at 23 mins (2009-03-28 12:39:17 GMT)
--------------------------------------------------

It doesn't sound as good as the German, so you might be better off choosing something else but with a slightly different meaning:

Success comes from the heart
Succeed, and it's from the heart
Success is in your heart

I think my favourite would be:

True success comes from the heart.

Helen Shiner
United Kingdom
Local time: 15:12
Specializes in field
Native speaker of: English
PRO pts in category: 139
Grading comment
Selected automatically based on peer agreement.

Peer comments on this answer (and responses from the answerer)
agree  Stephen Sadie: I like True success comes from the heart
1 hr
  -> Thanks, Stephen
agree  Inge Meinzer: I also like your favorite.
3 hrs
  -> Thanks, Inge
agree  RegineMac: I would spell out "will," but agree with the formulation (though not with the sentiment - but that's just my opinion).
3 hrs
  -> Thanks, Regine
agree  KARIN ISBELL: I still prefer Helen's version
5 hrs
  -> Thanks, Karin
Login to enter a peer comment (or grade)

1 hr   confidence: Answerer confidence 3/5Answerer confidence 3/5 peer agreement (net): +3
Success is forged in the heart


Explanation:
Another way of saying it. There's actually a poem by Chuck Smoot with this line. It's dedicated to his son.

franglish
Switzerland
Local time: 16:12
Native speaker of: Native in GermanGerman
PRO pts in category: 28

Peer comments on this answer (and responses from the answerer)
agree  Caro McL: nice
1 hr
  -> Thanks, Caro!
agree  Anne-Marie Grant (X): I can imagine that on a tattoo
1 day 6 hrs
  -> Thanks, Anne-Marie. No matter how noble the sentiment, I'd hate to have it indelibly printed on any part of my anatomy...
agree  Lisa Davey
1 day 20 hrs
  -> Thank you, Lisa
Login to enter a peer comment (or grade)

11 mins   confidence: Answerer confidence 2/5Answerer confidence 2/5 peer agreement (net): +1
Follow your heart


Explanation:
Hi,
I couldn't resist responding to this, although I am more curious to see what the other answers will be! and I don't want to take responsibility for a possibly unsatisfactory tattoo :-)

The meaning is basically "whatever comes from the heart will succeed" but in English I can't think of an equivalent straight away.

It could be similar to "what the heart receives the mind conceives" but not exactly.

Awaiting other responses with interest...

--------------------------------------------------
Note added at 2 hrs (2009-03-28 14:50:29 GMT)
--------------------------------------------------

"Follow your heart" is a more usual expression in English and might be shorter and less painful to get in a tattoo! :-)

and "whatever comes from the heart will succeed" is a more literal but accurate translation.

Have fun with whatever you decide. Glad to be of help,
Caroline

Caro McL
Ireland
Local time: 15:12
Native speaker of: Native in EnglishEnglish
Notes to answerer
Asker: hi! thanks for your translation! i think your "basical meaning" sounds great..."whatever comes from the heart will succeed". i had quite the same in mind but wasn't shure if it sounds "native"...of course a term for a tattoo shouldn't sound like an "amateur word by word" translation!...that's why i was a bit afraid and wanted to get shure...so thank you very much for your help!!!all the best from hamburg!


Peer comments on this answer (and responses from the answerer)
agree  Bernhard Sulzer: the more painful version: follow your heart and (you shall) succeed :)
5 hrs
  -> thanks bernhard, rather him than me :-)
Login to enter a peer comment (or grade)

5 hrs   confidence: Answerer confidence 3/5Answerer confidence 3/5
If it comes from the heart, it comes to life.


Explanation:
another option, perhaps

Lirka
Austria
Local time: 16:12
Works in field
Native speaker of: Native in EnglishEnglish
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