Weltschmerz

Weltschmerz is a term coined by Jean Paul 1823 term for a feeling of sadness and painful melancholy perceived that someone feels about his own inadequacy, which he also considered part of the insufficiency of the world, of existing conditions. He is often associated with pessimism, resignation or escapism. The German Dictionary of Jacob and Wilhelm Grimm designate Weltschmerz as deep sadness about the inadequacy of the world.

Subsequently the term in particular a state of mind and their literary expression of romance was transmitted ( inter alia Joseph Freiherr von Eichendorff, Clemens Brentano, Nikolaus Lenau ). Heinrich Heine described him as " pain on the transience of earthly glory"; Thomas Mann rewrote it with " life melancholy ".

On the edge of the musical New Wave pop culture of the 20th century world of pain again become a major issue, such as in the lyrics of British spoken word artist Anne Clark.

Weltschmerz is a common in many languages ​​Germanism, including in English, Polish, Swedish, Spanish and Portuguese.

Quote

" Only his eye saw all the thousand agonies of the people in their sunsets. To say this world of pain he can, so just stand by the sight of bliss, which subsequently reimbursed. "