Germany – understand-culture

Kant on planning

“Making plans is at times a luxuriant, boastful pursuit of the mind by which one gives oneself an air of creative genius, demanding what one cannot do, criticizing what one cannot do better, and suggesting what one does not know where it is to be found.”

“Pläne machen ist mehrmalen eine üppige, prahlerische Geistesbeschäftigung, dadurch man sich ein Ansehen von schöpferischem Genie gibt, indem man fordert, was man selbst nicht leisten, tadelt, was man doch nicht besser machen kann, und vorschlägt, wovon man selbst nicht weiß, wo es zu finden ist.”

Immanuel Kant (1724 – 1804), German philosopher.

“small minds whine”

“Kleine Geister jammern über mißlungene Pläne, große eilen zu neuer Tätigkeit. Doch wenn das Ziel, worauf man losstrebt, der Menschenvernunft nicht würdig ist, so sinkt der große Geist zum kleinen herab. Er wandelt mit Kraft, aber nicht im Lichte; er ist der Verschwender seines Vermögens, wenn er nicht Menschenwohl damit einlöset.”

“Small minds whine about failed plans, great ones rush to new activities. But if the goal towards which one is striving is not worthy of human reason, then the great mind sinks down to the small. He walks with power, but not in the light. He is the squanderer of his wealth if he does not redeem it for the good of mankind.”

Sebastian Mutschelle (1749 – 1800), Roman Catholic priest from Germany and writer during the Enlightenment.

validity. Validität.

The validity of a plan (validity) cannot be taken for granted and taken for granted. A plan is merely an abstract depiction or model of the reality to be expected in successive steps, which moreover still has to be designed over time. Therefore, as for all models, the planning reflects a simplified image of the expected future reality.

Die Gültigkeit einer Planung (Validität) kann nicht als gegeben und selbstverständlich angenommen werden. Eine Planung ist lediglich eine abstrakte Abbildung oder ein Modell der in aufeinanderfolgenden Schritten zu erwarteten Realität, die zudem im weiteren Zeitablauf noch zu gestalten ist. Daher gilt wie für alle Modelle, dass die Planung ein vereinfachendes Abbild der erwarteten künftigen Realität wiedergibt.

Nietsche on planning

“Making plans and making resolutions brings with it much good feeling, and he who has the strength to be nothing but a plan-maker all his life will be a very happy man. But he will occasionally have to rest from this activity, in that he executes a plan — and then comes the anger and disillusionment.”

Friedrich Nietzsche, German philosopher (1844 – 1900)

“Pläne machen und Vorsätze fassen bringt viel gute Empfindungen mit sich, und wer die Kraft hätte, sein ganzes Leben lang nichts als ein Pläne-Schmiedender zu sein, wäre ein sehr glücklicher Mensch: Aber er wird sich gelegentlich von dieser Tätigkeit ausruhen müssen, dadurch dass er einen Plan ausführt — und da kommt der Ärger und die Ernüchterung.”

Bismarck on planning

“Ich gewöhne mich nachgerade, nicht Pläne über acht Tage hinaus zu machen, denn der liebe Gott lässt mich doch nicht in seine Karte sehen, und tut ohne Zweifel gut daran.”

“I’m getting used to not making plans for more than eight days, because the good Lord doesn’t let me look at his map, and it’s no doubt a good idea to do so.”

Otto von Bismarck (1815 – 1898)

“more tense the nerves”

“Je gedehnter das Vorhaben, desto gespannter die Nerven.” Translation: The longer the project, the more tense the nerves.

Daniel Mühlemann (born 1959), nature photographer, aphorist and translator.

The Romans in Germany

Salvete! DW Travel host Lukas Stege follows in the Romans’ footsteps through Germany. Accompany him on his journey along the līmes – the border between the Roman Empire and Germany – from Cologne to the Saalburg, a reconstructed Roman fort close to Frankfurt.

Purposes of a plan

A plan is a detailed proposal or scheme for achieving a specific goal. In Germany, as in any other country, a plan can serve a variety of purposes, depending on the context in which it is being used. Some possible purposes of a plan might include:

Setting out a clear strategy for achieving a particular objective, such as increasing sales or improving efficiency
Providing a roadmap for the implementation of a project or initiative, outlining the steps that need to be taken and the resources that will be required
Facilitating communication and coordination among team members or stakeholders by clearly outlining roles and responsibilities
Allowing for the tracking of progress towards a goal and making adjustments as needed to ensure that the goal is achieved

Plans can be created for personal, business, or organizational purposes, and can range from simple to-do lists to complex, multi-faceted proposals.

Source: ChatGPT. Question: For Germans what is the purpose of a plan?

Planung. Vorwegnahme.

Wikipedia in German defines Planung as: Planning describes the human capability or activity of thoughtful – or thought-anticipation – of actions that appear to be necessary in order to reach a goal.

Die Planung beschreibt die menschliche Fähigkeit Fähigkeit oder Tätigkeit zur gedanklichen Vorwegnahme von Handlungsschritten, die zur Erreichung eines Zieles notwendig scheinen.

Planning – another definition

Definition: Planning is the fundamental management function, which involves deciding beforehand, what is to be done, when is it to be done, how it is to be done and who is going to do it. It is an intellectual processwhich lays down an organisation’s objectives and develops various courses of action, by which the organisation can achieve those objectives. It maps out exactly, how to attain a specific goal.