Piet Hein quotes

Piet Hein was a Danish polymath, known as a poet, mathematician, designer, and inventor. His "grook" short poems and innovative inventions, like the superellipse, brought him international fame. He influenced both the arts and sciences through his creative thinking and interdisciplinary work. Here are 38 of his quotes:

if you posses more than just eight things then y o u are possessed by t h e m. (Piet Hein)
We shall have to evolve problem-solvers galore - since each problem they solve creates ten problems more. View quote
Piet Hein
Idiots are really one hundred per cent when they are also intelligent. View quote
Piet Hein
People are self-centered to a nauseous degree. They will keep on about themselves while I'm explaining me. View quote
Piet Hein
As eternity is reckoned there's a lifetime in a second. View quote
Piet Hein
The way to grow grand is not: to demand. In life's every field you are what you yield. View quote
Piet Hein
The human spirit sublimates the impulses it thwarts; a healthy sex life mitigates the lust for other sports. View quote
Piet Hein
A bit beyond perception's reach I sometimes believe I see that Life is two locked boxes, each containing the other's key. View quote
Piet Hein
True wisdom knows it must comprise some nonsense as a compromise, lest fools should fail to find it wise. View quote
Piet Hein
Whenever you're called on to make up your mind, and you're hampered by not having any, the best way to solve the dilemma, you'll find, is simply by spinning a penny. No - not so that chance shall decide the affair while you're passively standing there moping; but the moment the penny is up in the air, you suddenly know what you're hoping. View quote
Piet Hein
Naive you are if you believe life favours those who aren't naive. (Piet Hein)
Experts have their expert fun ex cathedra telling one just how nothing can be done. View quote
Piet Hein
Freedom means you're free to do just whatever pleases you; - if, of course that is to say, what you please is what you may. View quote
Piet Hein
Losing one glove is certainly painful, but nothing compared to the pain, of losing one, throwing away the other, and finding the first one again. View quote
Piet Hein
Those who always know what's best are a universal pest. View quote
Piet Hein
Men, said the Devil, are good to their brothers: they don't want to mend their own ways, but each other's. View quote
Piet Hein
Love while you've got love to give. Live while you've got life to live. View quote
Piet Hein
I am a humble artist moulding my earthly clod, adding my labour to nature's, simply assisting God. Not that my labour is needed, yet somehow I understand, my Maker has deemed it that I too should have Unmoulded clay in my hand. View quote
Piet Hein
The noble art of losing face may some day save the human race and turn into eternal merit what weaker minds would call disgrace. View quote
Piet Hein
There is one art, no more, no less: to do all things with art- lessness. View quote
Piet Hein
Problems worthy of attack prove their worth by hitting back. (Piet Hein)
Love is like a pineapple, sweet and undefinable. View quote
Piet Hein
The universe may be as great as they say. But it wouldn't be missed if it didn't exist. View quote
Piet Hein
Giving in is no defeat. Passing on is no retreat. Selves are made to rise above. You shall live in what you love. View quote
Piet Hein
Living is a thing you do now or never - which do you? View quote
Piet Hein