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Notes from the Underground | Progressive Translation Books for German A1 Learners

Notes from the Underground | Progressive Translation Books for German A1 Learners

Experience the benefits of this forward-thinking translation strategy that tailors language learning to your specific needs. You have control over the difficulty, which ensures that the content is neither too easy nor overly challenging. This method enhances your ability to understand new words through context, reducing reliance on direct translations. While the translations are subtly obscured to foster learning, you can still look up unclear terms. This balanced approach makes language acquisition smoother and more enjoyable. Delve into these translated literary works and discover the satisfaction of mastering a language through reading.

I
Iamasick
mann
man....
Iamaspiteful
mann
man.
Iamanunattractive
mann
man.
Ibelievemyliverisdiseased.
However,Iknow
nichts
nothingatallaboutmydisease,
und
anddonotknowforcertainwhatails
mich
me.
Idon’tconsulta
arzt
doctorforit,andneverhave,
obwohl
thoughIhavearespectformedicine
und
anddoctors.
Besides,Iamextremelysuperstitious,sufficientlysotorespectmedicine,
sowieso
anyway(Iamwell-educatedenoughnottobesuperstitious,
aber
butIamsuperstitious).
No,Irefusetoconsulta
arzt
doctorfromspite.
Thatyou
wahrscheinlich
probablywillnotunderstand.
Well,Iunderstand
es
it,though.
Ofcourse,Ican’texplainwhoitispreciselythatIammortifyinginthis
fall
casebymyspite:
Iamperfectlywellaware
dass
thatIcannot“payout”
die
thedoctorsbynotconsultingthem;
Iknow
besser
betterthananyonethatbyallthisIam
nur
onlyinjuringmyselfandnooneelse.
Aber
Butstill,ifIdon’tconsulta
arzt
doctoritisfromspite.
Myliveris
schlecht
bad,well—letitgetworse!
Ihavebeengoingonlikethatfora
lange
longtime—twentyyears.
NowIamforty.
Iusedtobeinthegovernmentservice,
aber
butamnolonger.
Iwas
ein
aspitefulofficial.
Iwasrude
und
andtookpleasureinbeingso.
Ididnottakebribes,yousee,soIwasboundto
finden
findarecompenseinthat,atleast.
(Apoorjest,
aber
butIwillnotscratchitout.
Iwroteit
dachte
thinkingitwouldsoundverywitty;
aber
butnowthatIhave
gesehen
seenmyselfthatIonlywantedto
zeigen
showoffinadespicable
weise
way,Iwillnotscratchitoutonpurpose!)
Wenn
Whenpetitionersusedtocomeforinformationto
den
thetableatwhichIsat,Iusedtogrindmyteethatthem,
und
andfeltintenseenjoymentwhenIsucceededinmakinganybodyunhappy.
I
fast
almostdidsucceed.
Forthemostparttheywere
alle
alltimidpeople—ofcourse,theywerepetitioners.
Aber
ButoftheuppishonestherewasoneofficerinparticularI
konnte
couldnotendure.
Hesimplywouldnotbehumble,
und
andclankedhisswordinadisgusting
weise
way.
Icarriedonafeudwithhimforeighteenmonthsoverthatsword.
AtlastIgotthebetterof
ihn
him.
Heleftoffclanking
es
it.
Thathappenedinmyyouth,though.
Aber
Butdoyouknow,gentlemen,whatwas
der
thechiefpointaboutmyspite?
Warum
Why,thewholepoint,therealstingofit
lag
layinthefactthatcontinually,evenin
der
themomentoftheacutestspleen,Iwasinwardlyconsciouswithshame
dass
thatIwasnotonlynotaspiteful
sondern
butnotevenanembittered
mann
man,thatIwassimplyscaringsparrowsatrandom
und
andamusingmyselfbyit.
I
könnte
mightfoamatthemouth,
aber
butbringmeadollto
spielen
playwith,givemeacupofteawithsugarinit,
und
andmaybeIshouldbeappeased.
I
könnte
mightevenbegenuinelytouched,
obwohl
thoughprobablyIshouldgrindmyteethatmyselfafterwards
und
andlieawakeatnightwithshameformonthsafter.
Thatwasmy
weg
way.
IwaslyingwhenIsaid
gerade
justnowthatIwas
ein
aspitefulofficial.
Iwaslyingfromspite.
Iwassimplyamusingmyselfwith
den
thepetitionersandwiththeofficer,
und
andinrealityInever
konnte
couldbecomespiteful.
Iwasconsciousevery
moment
momentinmyselfofmany,
sehr
verymanyelementsabsolutelyoppositetothat.
Ifeltthempositivelyswarmingin
mir
me,theseoppositeelements.
Iknew
dass
thattheyhadbeenswarminginmeallmy
leben
lifeandcravingsomeoutletfrom
mir
me,butIwouldnot
ließ
letthem,wouldnotletthem,purposelywouldnot
ließ
letthemcomeout.
TheytormentedmetillIwasashamed:
theydrovemetoconvulsionsand—sickened
mich
me,atlast,howtheysickened
mich
me!
Now,arenotyoufancying,gentlemen,
dass
thatIamexpressingremorsefor
etwas
somethingnow,thatIamaskingyourforgivenessfor
etwas
something?
Iamsureyouarefancying
dass
that...
However,IassureyouIdonotcare
ob
ifyouare....
Itwasnot
nur
onlythatIcouldnot
werden
becomespiteful,Ididnotknowhowto
werden
becomeanything;
neitherspitefulnorkind,neitherarascalnoranhonest
mann
man,neitheraheronoraninsect.
Jetzt
Now,Iamlivingoutmylifeinmycorner,tauntingmyselfwith
der
thespitefulanduselessconsolation
dass
thatanintelligentmancannot
werden
becomeanythingseriously,anditis
nur
onlythefoolwhobecomes
etwas
anything.
Yes,amaninthenineteenthcentury
muss
mustandmorallyoughttobepre-eminently
ein
acharacterlesscreature;
amanofcharacter,anactive
mann
manispre-eminentlyalimitedcreature.
Thatismyconvictionoffortyyears.
Iamfortyyears
alt
oldnow,andyouknowfortyyearsis
ein
awholelifetime;
youknowitisextremeoldage.
To
leben
livelongerthanfortyyearsisbadmanners,isvulgar,immoral.
Whodoes
lebt
livebeyondforty?
Answerthat,sincerely
und
andhonestlyIwilltellyouwho
tut
do:
foolsandworthlessfellows.
I
sage
tellalloldmenthattotheir
gesicht
face,allthesevenerableoldmen,allthesesilver-haired
und
andreverendseniors!
Itell
der
thewholeworldthattoits
gesicht
face!
Ihavearightto
sagen
sayso,forIshallgoon
leben
livingtosixtymyself.
Toseventy!
Toeighty!
Bleiben
Stay,letmetakebreath...
Youimaginenodoubt,gentlemen,
dass
thatIwanttoamuseyou.
Youaremistakeninthat,
auch
too.
Iambynomeanssuch
ein
amirthfulpersonasyouimagine,orasyou
können
mayimagine;
however,irritatedbyallthisbabble(andI
gefühl
feelthatyouareirritated)you
denken
thinkfittoaskmewhoIam—thenmy
antwort
answeris,Iamacollegiateassessor.
IwasintheservicethatImight
haben
havesomethingtoeat(andsolelyforthatreason),
und
andwhenlastyearadistantrelationleftmesixthousandroublesinhiswillIimmediatelyretiredfromtheservice
und
andsettleddowninmycorner.
Iusedto
gelebt
liveinthiscornerbefore,
aber
butnowIhavesettleddowninit.
My
zimmer
roomisawretched,horridonein
der
theoutskirtsofthetown.
Myservantisanoldcountry-woman,ill-naturedfromstupidity,
und
and,moreover,thereisalwaysanastysmellabouther.
Iam
gesagt
toldthatthePetersburgclimateis
schlecht
badforme,andthatwithmysmall
meinen
meansitisveryexpensiveto
leben
liveinPetersburg.
Iknowallthat
besser
betterthanallthesesage
und
andexperiencedcounsellorsandmonitors....
Aber
ButIamremaininginPetersburg;
Iamnot
gehe
goingawayfromPetersburg!
Iamnot
gehe
goingawaybecause...
ech!
Warum
Why,itisabsolutelynomatterwhetherIamgoingawayornotgoingaway.
Aber
Butwhatcanadecent
mann
manspeakofwithmostpleasure?
Antwort
Answer:
Ofhimself.
II
I
wollen
wantnowtotellyou,gentlemen,whetheryoucareto
hören
hearitornot,whyI
konnte
couldnotevenbecomeaninsect.
I
sage
tellyousolemnly,thatIhave
viele
manytimestriedtobecome
ein
aninsect.
ButIwasnotequalevento
so
that.
Iswear,gentlemen,thattobetooconsciousis
eine
anillness—arealthorough-goingillness.
Forman’severydayneeds,itwould
haben
havebeenquiteenoughto
haben
havetheordinaryhumanconsciousness,thatis,
hälfte
halforaquarteroftheamountwhichfallstothelotof
ein
acultivatedmanofourunhappynineteenthcentury,especiallyonewhohasthefatalill-lucktoinhabitPetersburg,themosttheoretical
und
andintentionaltownonthewholeterrestrialglobe.
(Thereareintentional
und
andunintentionaltowns.)
Itwould
haben
havebeenquiteenough,forinstance,to
haben
havetheconsciousnessbywhich
alle
allso-calleddirectpersonsandmenofaction
leben
live.
IbetyouthinkIamwritingallthisfromaffectation,tobewittyattheexpenseofmenofaction;
und
andwhatismore,thatfromill-bredaffectation,Iamclanking
ein
aswordlikemyofficer.
Aber
But,gentlemen,whoevercanpridehimselfonhisdiseases
und
andevenswaggeroverthem?
Obwohl
Though,afterall,everyonedoes
tut
dothat;
peopledopridethemselvesontheirdiseases,
und
andIdo,maybe,more
als
thananyone.
Wewillnotdispute
es
it;
mycontentionwasabsurd.
Aber
ButyetIamfirmlypersuaded
dass
thatagreatdealofconsciousness,every
art
sortofconsciousness,infact,isadisease.
Isticktothat.
Letusleavethat,
auch
too,foraminute.
Tellmethis:
warum
whydoesithappenthatatthevery,
ja
yes,attheverymomentswhenIammostcapableof
fühlen
feelingeveryrefinementofallthatis“sublime
und
andbeautiful,”astheyusedtosayatonetime,itwould,asthoughofdesign,happentomenot
nur
onlytofeelbutto
tun
dosuchuglythings,suchthat...
Nun
Well,inshort,actionsthat
alle
all,perhaps,commit;
butwhich,asthoughpurposely,occurredtomeatthevery
zeit
timewhenIwasmostconscious
dass
thattheyoughtnottobecommitted.
Der
ThemoreconsciousIwasofgoodness
und
andofallthatwas“sublime
und
andbeautiful,”themoredeeplyIsankintomymire
und
andthemorereadyIwastosinkinitaltogether.
But
der
thechiefpointwasthatallthiswas,asitwere,notaccidentalin
mir
me,butasthoughitwereboundtobeso.
Itwasasthoughitweremymostnormalcondition,
und
andnotintheleastdiseaseordepravity,sothatatlastalldesireinmetostruggle
gegen
againstthisdepravitypassed.
Itendedbymy
fast
almostbelieving(perhapsactuallybelieving)thatthiswas
vielleicht
perhapsmynormalcondition.
Butatfirst,inthebeginning,whatagoniesIenduredinthatstruggle!
Ididnot
glaubte
believeitwasthesamewithother
menschen
people,andallmylifeIhid
diese
thisfactaboutmyselfasasecret.
Iwasashamed(even
jetzt
now,perhaps,Iamashamed):
Igottothe
punkt
pointoffeelingasortofsecretabnormal,despicableenjoymentinreturninghometomycorneronsomedisgustingPetersburg
nacht
night,acutelyconsciousthatthat
tag
dayIhadcommittedaloathsomeaction
wieder
again,thatwhatwasdone
konnte
couldneverbeundone,andsecretly,inwardlygnawing,gnawingatmyselfforit,tearing
und
andconsumingmyselftillatlastthebitterness
verwandelte
turnedintoasortofshamefulaccursedsweetness,
und
andatlast—intopositiverealenjoyment!
Ja
Yes,intoenjoyment,intoenjoyment!
Iinsistuponthat.
Ihavespokenofthis
weil
becauseIkeepwantingto
wissen
knowforafactwhether
andere
otherpeoplefeelsuchenjoyment?
I
werde
willexplain;
theenjoymentwas
nur
justfromthetoointenseconsciousnessofone’sowndegradation;
itwasfromfeelingoneself
dass
thatonehadreachedthe
letzte
lastbarrier,thatitwashorrible,
aber
butthatitcouldnotbeotherwise;
dass
thattherewasnoescapeforyou;
dass
thatyounevercouldbecome
ein
adifferentman;
thateven
wenn
iftimeandfaithwerestillleftyouto
ändern
changeintosomethingdifferentyouwouldmostlikelynotwishto
ändern
change;
orifyoudidwishto,eventhenyou
würdest
woulddonothing;
becauseperhapsinrealitytherewas
nichts
nothingforyoutochangeinto.
Und
Andtheworstofitwas,
und
andtherootofitall,
dass
thatitwasallinaccordwiththenormalfundamentallawsofover-acuteconsciousness,
und
andwiththeinertiathatwasthedirectresultofthoselaws,
und
andthatconsequentlyonewasnot
nur
onlyunabletochangebut
konnte
coulddoabsolutelynothing.
Thusit
würde
wouldfollow,astheresultofacuteconsciousness,thatoneisnottoblameinbeing
ein
ascoundrel;
asthoughthatwereanyconsolationtothescoundreloncehehascometorealise
dass
thatheactuallyisascoundrel.
Aber
Butenough....
Ech,Ihavetalked
eine
alotofnonsense,butwhathaveIexplained?
Howisenjoymentinthistobeexplained?
Aber
ButIwillexplainit.
I
werde
willgettothebottomofit!
ThatiswhyIhave
genommen
takenupmypen....
I,forinstance,haveagreatdealofamourpropre.
Iamassuspicious
und
andpronetotakeoffenceas
ein
ahumpbackoradwarf.
Aber
ButuponmywordI
manchmal
sometimeshavehadmomentswhenifIhadhappenedtobeslappedin
das
thefaceIshould,perhaps,havebeenpositivelygladofit.
Isay,inearnest,
dass
thatIshouldprobablyhavebeen
in der lage
abletodiscoverevenin
dass
thatapeculiarsortofenjoyment—theenjoyment,ofcourse,ofdespair;
aber
butindespairtherearethemostintenseenjoyments,especially
wenn
whenoneisveryacutelyconsciousofthehopelessnessofone’sposition.
Und
Andwhenoneisslappedin
das
theface—whythentheconsciousnessofbeingrubbedintoapulpwouldpositivelyoverwhelmone.
Theworstofitis,lookatitwhichwayonewill,it
immer noch
stillturnsoutthatIwasalwaysthemosttoblameineverything.
Und
Andwhatismosthumiliatingofall,toblamefor
nicht
nofaultofmyown
sondern
but,sotosay,throughthelawsofnature.
Inthefirstplace,toblame
weil
becauseIamclevererthan
alle
anyofthepeoplesurrounding
mich
me.
(Ihavealwaysconsideredmyselfcleverer
als
thananyofthepeoplesurrounding
mich
me,andsometimes,wouldyou
glaubst
believeit,havebeenpositivelyashamedofit.
Atanyrate,Ihaveallmy
leben
life,asitwere,turnedmyeyesaway
und
andnevercouldlookpeoplestraightin
den
theface.)
Toblame,finally,
denn
becauseevenifIhadhadmagnanimity,Ishould
nur
onlyhavehadmoresufferingfrom
die
thesenseofitsuselessness.
Ishouldcertainly
sein
haveneverbeenableto
tun
doanythingfrombeingmagnanimous—neithertoforgive,formyassailantwould
vielleicht
perhapshaveslappedmefromthelawsofnature,
und
andonecannotforgivethelawsofnature;
norto
vergessen
forget,forevenifitwereowingtothelawsofnature,itisinsultingallthesame.
Finally,
selbst
evenifIhadwantedtobeanythingbutmagnanimous,haddesiredon
der
thecontrarytorevengemyselfonmyassailant,I
können
couldnothaverevengedmyselfonanyoneforanything
weil
becauseIshouldcertainlynever
sein
havemadeupmymindto
tun
doanything,evenifIhadbeen
in der lage
ableto.
WhyshouldInothavemadeupmymind?
III
Withpeoplewho
wissen
knowhowtorevengethemselves
und
andtostandupforthemselvesingeneral,howisit
gemacht
done?
Why,whentheyarepossessed,
lassen
letussuppose,bythefeelingofrevenge,thenforthe
zeit
timethereisnothingelsebutthatfeelingleftintheirwholebeing.
Suchagentlemansimplydashesstraightforhisobjectlikeaninfuriatedbullwithitshornsdown,
und
andnothingbutawall
wird
willstophim.
(Bytheway:
facingthewall,
solche
suchgentlemen—thatis,the“direct”persons
und
andmenofaction—aregenuinelynonplussed.
Forthemawallisnotanevasion,asforus
menschen
peoplewhothinkandconsequently
tun
donothing;
itisnotan
entschuldigung
excuseforturningaside,an
entschuldigung
excuseforwhichwearealways
sehr
veryglad,thoughwescarcely
glauben
believeinitourselves,asarule.
Nein
No,theyarenonplussedin
aller
allsincerity.
Thewallhasforthem
etwas
somethingtranquillising,morallysoothing,final—maybe
sogar
evensomethingmysterious...
butof
der
thewalllater.)
Well,such
eine
adirectpersonIregardastherealnormal
mann
man,ashistendermothernature
wollte
wishedtoseehimwhenshegraciouslybroughthimintobeingonthe
erde
earth.
Ienvysucha
mann
mantillIamgreeninthe
gesicht
face.
Heisstupid.
Iamnotdisputingthat,
aber
butperhapsthenormalman
sollte
shouldbestupid,howdoyouknow?
Vielleicht
Perhapsitisverybeautiful,infact.
Und
AndIamthemorepersuadedofthatsuspicion,
wenn
ifonecancallitso,bythe
tatsache
factthatifyoutake,forinstance,theantithesisofthenormalman,that
sei
is,themanofacuteconsciousness,whohascome,ofcourse,not
aus
outofthelapofnaturebut
aus
outofaretort(thisis
fast
almostmysticism,gentlemen,butIsuspect
dieser
this,too),thisretort-mademanis
manchmal
sometimessononplussedinthepresenceofhisantithesisthatwithallhisexaggeratedconsciousnesshegenuinely
denkt
thinksofhimselfasamouse
und
andnotaman.
It
kann
maybeanacutelyconsciousmouse,
doch
yetitisamouse,
während
whiletheotherisaman,
und
andtherefore,etcaetera,etcaetera.
Und
Andtheworstofitis,hehimself,hisveryownself,looksonhimselfasamouse;
nooneaskshimto
tun
doso;
andthatis
ein
animportantpoint.
Nowletuslookat
diese
thismouseinaction.
Letussuppose,forinstance,
dass
thatitfeelsinsulted,too
Und
(anditalmostalwaysdoes
fühlt
feelinsulted),andwantstorevengeitself,
auch
too.
Theremayevenbe
eine
agreateraccumulationofspiteinit
als
thaninl’hommedelanatureetdelavérité.
Der
Thebaseandnastydesiretoventthatspiteonitsassailantrankles
vielleicht
perhapsevenmorenastilyinit
als
thaninl’hommedelanatureetdelavérité.
For
durch
throughhisinnatestupiditythelatterlooksuponhisrevengeasjusticepure
und
andsimple;
whileinconsequenceofhisacuteconsciousness
die
themousedoesnotbelievein
die
thejusticeofit.
To
kommen
comeatlasttothedeeditself,to
der
theveryactofrevenge.
Apartfromtheonefundamentalnastinessthelucklessmousesucceedsincreating
herum
arounditsomanyothernastinessesintheformofdoubts
und
andquestions,addstotheone
frage
questionsomanyunsettledquestionsthatthereinevitablyworksup
herum
arounditasortoffatalbrew,astinkingmess,madeupofitsdoubts,emotions,
und
andofthecontemptspatuponitbythedirectmenofactionwho
stehen
standsolemnlyaboutitasjudges
und
andarbitrators,laughingatittilltheirhealthysidesache.
Ofcourse
das
theonlythingleftforitistodismissallthatwithawaveofitspaw,
und
and,withasmileofassumedcontemptin
was
whichitdoesnotevenitself
glaubt
believe,creepignominiouslyintoitsmouse-hole.
Dort
Thereinitsnasty,stinking,undergroundhomeourinsulted,crushed
und
andridiculedmousepromptlybecomesabsorbedincold,malignant
und
and,aboveall,everlastingspite.
Forfortyyearstogetherit
wird
willrememberitsinjurydownto
die
thesmallest,mostignominiousdetails,
und
andeverytimewilladd,ofitself,detailsstill
noch
moreignominious,spitefullyteasingandtormentingitselfwithitsownimagination.
It
wird
willitselfbeashamedofitsimaginings,
aber
butyetitwillrecallitall,it
wird
willgooverandovereverydetail,it
wird
willinventunheardofthings
gegen
againstitself,pretendingthatthosethingsmight
passieren
happen,andwillforgivenothing.
Vielleicht
Maybeitwillbegintorevengeitself,too,
aber
but,asitwere,piecemeal,intrivialways,from
hinter
behindthestove,incognito,without
glauben
believingeitherinitsown
recht
righttovengeance,orinthesuccessofitsrevenge,knowing
dass
thatfromallitseffortsatrevengeit
wird
willsufferahundredtimes
mehr
morethanheonwhomitrevengesitself,
während
whilehe,Idaresay,willnot
selbst
evenscratchhimself.
Onitsdeathbedit
wird
willrecallitalloveragain,withinterestaccumulatedoveralltheyears
und
and...
Butitis
gerade
justinthatcold,abominablehalfdespair,halfbelief,in
dass
thatconsciousburyingoneselfaliveforgriefintheunderworldforfortyyears,in
dass
thatacutelyrecognisedandyetpartlydoubtfulhopelessnessofone’sposition,in
dass
thathellofunsatisfieddesires
wenden
turnedinward,inthatfeverofoscillations,ofresolutionsdeterminedforever
und
andrepentedofagaina
minute
minutelater—thatthesavourof
dass
thatstrangeenjoymentofwhichIhavespoken
liegt
lies.
Itissosubtle,sodifficultofanalysis,thatpersonswhoare
ein
alittlelimited,orevensimplypersonsofstrongnerves,willnot
verstehen
understandasingleatomof
es
it.
“Possibly,”youwilladdonyourownaccountwithagrin,“people
werden
willnotunderstanditeitherwhohave
nie
neverreceivedaslapintheface,”
und
andinthatwayyou
werden
willpolitelyhinttomethat
Ich
I,too,perhaps,havehadtheexperienceofaslapinthe
gesicht
faceinmylife,andsoIspeakas
einem
onewhoknows.
Ibet
dass
thatyouarethinkingthat.
Aber
Butsetyourmindsatrest,gentlemen,Ihavenotreceivedaslapinthe
gesicht
face,thoughitisabsolutelyamatterofindifferencetomewhatyoumay
denken
thinkaboutit.
Possibly,I
selbst
evenregret,myself,thatIhavegivenso
wenige
fewslapsinthefaceduringmy
leben
life.
Butenough...
notanother
wort
wordonthatsubjectofsuchextremeinteresttoyou.
I
werde
willcontinuecalmlyconcerningpersonswithstrongnerveswhodonot
verstehen
understandacertainrefinementofenjoyment.
Obwohl
Thoughincertaincircumstancesthesegentlemenbellowtheirloudestlikebulls,
obwohl
thoughthis,letussuppose,doesthem
die
thegreatestcredit,yet,asIhavesaid
schon
already,confrontedwiththeimpossibletheysubsideatonce.
Theimpossiblemeansthestonewall!
Whatstonewall?
Why,ofcourse,thelawsofnature,thedeductionsofnaturalscience,mathematics.