Modesty Is an Ornament

Bescheidenheit ist eine Zier, doch weiter kommt man ohne ihr.
Modesty is an ornament, but you get further without it. The first half is the old virtue. The second half is the joke. It is also bad grammar, since ohne takes the accusative and correct German would be ohne sie. The error is kept for the rhyme, and it marks the second half as something no one quite says in earnest.

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