Classic
Diogenes der Weise
James Baldwin (1841–1925)
In each language: Diogenes the Wise Man · Diogenes der Weise · Diógenes el sabio · Diogène le Sage · Diogene il saggio
In Corinth, a wise man named Diogenes lives without a house, sleeping in a tub and spending his days sitting in the sun, saying wise things. One noon he walks through the streets with a lighted lantern, looking all around, and a passer-by asks him why.
In English, German, Spanish, French and Italian · about 350 words · 5 min to read.
Read it
Tu lis en allemand, à gauche. À droite, tu as le texte en anglais pour t’aider ; pendant la lecture, le bouton en forme d’œil le floute ou le masque.
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Comment ça commence
In Korinth, in Griechenland, lebte ein sehr weiser Mann namens Diogenes. Menschen aus allen Teilen des Landes kamen, um ihn zu sehen und ihn sprechen zu hören.
At Corinth, in Greece, there lived a very wise man whose name was Diogenes. Men came from all parts of the land to see him and hear him talk.
Doch so weise er auch war, er hatte einige sehr sonderbare Angewohnheiten. Er glaubte nicht, dass ein Mensch mehr Dinge besitzen sollte, als er wirklich brauchte; und er sagte, dass niemand viel brauche.
But wise as he was, he had some very queer ways. He did not believe that any man ought to have more things than he really needed; and he said that no man needed much.
Und so lebte er nicht in einem Haus, sondern schlief in einer Tonne oder einem Fass, das er von Ort zu Ort rollte. Er verbrachte seine Tage damit, in der Sonne zu sitzen und den Menschen um ihn herum weise Dinge zu sagen.
And so he did not live in a house, but slept in a tub or barrel, which he rolled about from place to place. He spent his days sitting in the sun, and saying wise things to those who were around him.
Languages
- Diogenes the Wise Man · English (original)364 words · ~5 min
- Diogenes der Weise · GermanB1 Intermediate · 337 words · ~5 min
- Diógenes el sabio · SpanishB1 Intermediate · 320 words · ~5 min
- Diogène le Sage · FrenchB1 Intermediate · 363 words · ~5 min
- Diogene il saggio · ItalianB1 Intermediate · 321 words · ~5 min
Open in the reader: German with English · Spanish with English · French with English · Italian with English
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Reading it as a parallel text
A parallel text puts a story next to its translation, paragraph by paragraph. Read in the language you are working on and glance across only when a sentence stops you: the story keeps moving, and the words you look up stay in context. More in how to read with a parallel text.
Questions
- Which languages can I read Diogenes the Wise Man in?
- English, German, Spanish, French and Italian. Pick the language you want to read and the one to keep beside it: every paragraph sits next to its translation, so you can check a sentence without losing your place.
- What level is it?
- In translation, German, Spanish, French and Italian are B1 Intermediate. Levels follow the Common European Framework, from A1 (beginner) to C2.
- How long is it?
- About 364 words: around 5 min of reading, with the translation beside it. The time depends on the edition's level: an easier edition is read more slowly.
- Is it free?
- Yes. Read it online with no account. The e-reader files (EPUB, and AZW3 and MOBI for Kindle) need a free account; the PDF doesn't.
- Can I read it on a Kindle or Kobo?
- Yes. Download the EPUB for Kobo, Apple Books and most e-readers, or the AZW3 or MOBI for a Kindle, with each paragraph followed by its translation. There is also a side-by-side PDF to print, and each language on its own.