“I know nothing new except that Herr Gellert, the Leipzig poet, is dead, and has written no more poetry since his death.”
- January 27, 1756 – December 5, 1791
- Born in Salzburg (Austria)
- Composer
- Left behind many masterpieces such as “The Marriage of Figaro,” “Don Giovanni,” and “The Magic Flute”
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Quote
“I know nothing new except that Herr Gellert, the Leipzig poet, is dead, and has written no more poetry since his death.”
Explanation
In this witty remark, Mozart humorously notes that the only new information he has received is the death of Herr Gellert, the famous Leipzig poet, and the fact that he has “written no more poetry since his death.” The humor lies in the obviousness of the statement: once a person is deceased, they can no longer produce work. This dry, sarcastic observation reveals Mozart’s sharp wit and playful approach to life. It also reflects a broader commentary on the futility of news—in a world filled with trivial updates, sometimes the most significant pieces of information are the most obvious or mundane.
Historically, this quote reflects the era’s attitude toward news and communication, as Mozart’s world was not as saturated with information as it is today. News traveled slowly, often through letters or word of mouth, so when Mozart received any new information, it was often related to events with direct personal significance or things that had already passed. The mention of Gellert’s death also reflects Mozart’s awareness of significant cultural figures of his time, such as the poet Christian Fürchtegott Gellert, who was known for his fables and moral poetry.
In modern times, this quote can be seen as a humorous commentary on how modern society can sometimes focus on trivial or obvious updates, especially with the flood of news cycles and social media. It points to how easily we can become overwhelmed with information, yet still miss out on meaningful or deeper insights. Today, we may similarly hear updates that seem pointless or redundant, reflecting a kind of information overload that makes it difficult to discern what truly matters.
