In my many years

of German classes, there have been a few phrases that have really stuck in my mind for whatever reason.

Some of them are silly and frivolous:

"Ohne Rechner geht's auch nicht."
It doesn't work without a calculator.


"Eine kleine Kuh, machte immer 'Muh.'"
A small cow always said "moo."


"Hinter Hermann Hannes Haus hängen hundert Hemden raus."
Behind Hermann Hanne's house, a hundred shirts are hanging out.


Then, there are some that are a bit more serious and profound.  Most of these come from my German professor at Belmont, who was one of my favorite professors, ever.  One of them is bouncing around in my head tonight.  I forgot the context, but I'm pretty sure it was in my class about divided Germany.  Maybe it was the mood I was in when my professor said it, and I'm sure her native German accent and earnest tone helped, but it really struck me:

"Ich verstehe, wer ich bin, und ich verstehe, warum ich so bin."
I understand who I am, and I understand why I am so.