In Goethe’s Faust I (1808), Faust sits down to translate the opening of the Gospel of John. He begins with Geschrieben steht: »Im Anfang war das Wort!« (It is written: In the beginning was the word!) He rejects it. He tries Im Anfang war der Sinn, in the beginning was the meaning, and then Im Anfang war die Kraft, in the beginning was the power. He rejects both. Only his fourth attempt satisfies him: Und schreibe getrost: Im Anfang war die Tat! (And I write with confidence: In the beginning was the deed!)