stille Wasser sind tief
still waters run deep (quiet people often have hidden depths)
Origin
The exact origin is uncertain; similar images appear already in Greek and Latin antiquity (cf. 'altissima quaeque flumina minimo sono labi' – the deepest rivers flow most quietly) and in 17th-century Dutch. The modern German form is often associated with F. L. Schröder's comedy 'Stille Wasser sind tief' (1786).
Building blocks
Words in this expression
Grammar that uses this word
- Pronoun 'er' (he/it, nominative)Pronomen 'er' (Nominativ)
- Pronoun 'wir' (we, nominative)Pronomen 'wir' (Nominativ)
- Pronoun 'Sie' (you, formal, nominative)Pronomen 'Sie' (formell, Nominativ)
- Definite article 'das' (the, neuter, nominative)Bestimmter Artikel 'das' (neutrum, Nominativ)
- Comparison of equality with 'so … wie' (as … as)Vergleich mit so … wie
- Temporal clause with 'bevor' (before)Temporalsatz mit 'bevor'
Examples
Sie sagt , aber stille sind .
She says little, but still waters run deep.