Conference turris::scandia

501.0. "Piet Hein dies at age 90" by TLE::SAVAGE () Mon Apr 22 1996 13:20

    From: [email protected] (Jens Chr. Madsen)
    Newsgroups: soc.culture.nordic
    Subject: Piet Hein in memoriam
    Date: 19 Apr 1996 01:19:10 GMT
    Organization: The Scripps Research Institute, La Jolla, California, USA
    Sender: [email protected] (Jens Chr. Madsen)
 
 
    This morning, I was sad to hear that one of Denmark's most popular
    authors, the scientist, philosopher, architecht and much more - Piet 
    Hein - has died on April 17 at the age of 90.
 
    With his poetic and mathematical skills, Piet Hein has always reminded
    me of the classical universal geniuses. His contribution to Danish 20th 
    century culture and literature is certainly quite significant. His
    archi- techtural contributions include Sergels Torg in Stockholm.
 
    This is the entry of Piet Hein in "Danske og udenlandske forfattere" 
    from Politikens Forlag:

    HEIN, Piet (pseud.: tidl. Kumbel Kumbell, nu Kumbel), f. 16.12.1905 i 
    Kbh., s�n af ingeni�r Hjalmar H. og �jenl�ge Estrid H., f. Octavius 
    Hansen; student 1924; uddannelse p� Kungl. Svenska Konsth�gskolan, 
    Niels Bohr Instituttet, K�benhavns Universitet og Danmarks Tekniske 
    H�jskole, derefter skribentvirksomhed; rejser og langvarige ophold i 
    Europa og Syd- og Nordamerika. Talrige tekniske opfindelser; formgivet 
    superellipsen, Stockholms nye centrum og andre byplanl�sninger.
 
    Piet Hein was probably best known for his short "grooks" - little
    pieces of wisdom often written with a clever play of words. His grooks
    have a  very broad appeal; - I would guess that almost all Danes can
    quote some  of them, and here in the 'net world they have provided lots
    of excellent  ..sig material.
 
    Below I give a sample of his grooks; I have to acknowledge members of
    the  Danish e-mail list for coming up with these quotes during a
    discussion on  Piet Hein which took place last year. Enjoy !
 
    [There was also a Dutch 17th(?)-century admiral named Piet Hein, but
    don't  let that confuse you. :-) ]
 
                 ====================================
 
Den som tager sp�g for sp�g          Taking fun as simply fun             
og alvor kun alvorligt,              and earnestness in earnest           
han og hun har faktisk fattet        shows how thoroughly thou none       
begge dele d�rligt.                  of the two discernest.               
 
Husk at elske mens du t�r det,       Love while you've got love to give
husk at leve mens du g�r det.        live while you've got life to live.  
 
At vide hvad man ikke ved            Realizing what you don't know
er dog en slags alvidenhed.          is also a kind of knowledge.
                                     [my own translation - not very good]
Denmark as we Danes conceive it
is so big you won't believe it.
 
Hvis du med rette vil v�re l�rd 
tag da det lette og g�r det sv�rt.
 
Wisdom is the booby prize
given when you've been unwise.
  
Grook on Long-Winded Authors
   Long-winded authors I abhor
   and glib, prolific chatters;
   give me the ones who tear and gnaw
   their hair and pens to tatters:
   who find their writing such a chore
   they only write what matters.
 
Grook on the Egocentrics
   People are self-centered
   to a nauseous degree.
   They will keep on about themselves
   while I'm explaining me.
 
                 ====================================
Best regards,
Jens Chr. Madsen                            [email protected]