ProverbHuman Nature
German origin
German originAllen Leuten recht getan, ist eine Kunst, die niemand kann
Meaning: Nobody can please everyone.
Literally: To do right by everybody is an art that nobody can manage
Example: “Die einen wollten Pizza, die anderen Sushi. Allen Leuten recht getan, ist eine Kunst, die niemand kann.” — Some wanted pizza, others sushi: you can't please everyone.
Equivalents in English, French, Spanish, Italian, Portuguese, and 2 more languages
English: You can't please everyone
French: On ne peut pas plaire à tout le monde (literally: You can't please everyone)
Spanish: No se puede complacer a todos (literally: You can't please everyone)
Italian: Non si può piacere a tutti (literally: You can't please everyone)
Portuguese: É difícil agradar a gregos e troianos (literally: It's hard to please both Greeks and Trojans)
Polish: Jeszcze się taki nie urodził, co by wszystkim dogodził (literally: The one who could please everybody hasn't been born yet)
Chinese: 众口难调 (Zhòng kǒu nán tiáo) (literally: Many mouths are hard to season for)
Origin: Doing right by all people is an art no one has mastered; getan and kann close the couplet.
Explore another collection: Untranslatable Words
Words that capture a feeling or idea English needs a whole sentence for.
- Waldeinsamkeit The serene, faintly mystical feeling of being alone in the woods, at peace with nature.
- Backpfeifengesicht A face that is just begging to be slapped — someone so smug you can't help the urge.
- Schadenfreude The guilty little pleasure of taking satisfaction in someone else's misfortune.
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