94
A pesszimista olyan ember, akinek mindig igaza van, de soha sincs öröme benne.
A pessimist is a person who is always right, but never takes pleasure in it.
By Edward Teller, Hungarian-American theoretical physicist
63
Az új magyar narancs. Kicsit sárgább, kicsit savanyúbb, de a mienk.
The new Hungarian orange. It´s a bit more yellow, a bit more sour, but it's ours.
By Péter Bacsó
The sentence comes from the Péter Bacsó´s famous parody movie The Witness (1969) which is about the attempt in communist times to cultivate oranges in Hungary. As the climate is not suitable for subtropical fruits the mission failed. In the movie, a party leader visits the scientists experimenting with orange-growing and he expresses the wish to taste an orange. As the only ripe orange is accidentally eaten, he is given a lemon instead, accompanied by this quote as an explanation. “Hungarian orange” became a symbol for the gap between the sweet party propaganda and the daily sour reality of life until today.
16
Ha nem elég jók a képeid, nem voltál elég közel.
If your pictures aren’t good enough, you’re not close enough.
By Robert Capa
Attributed to Robert Capa (1913-1954) who was a famous Hungarian war photographer and photo journalist. He is considered to be one of the greatest combat and adventure photographers in history.
65
Tiszteld a múltat, hogy érthesd a jelent, és munkálkodhass a jövőn.
Respect the past so that you can understand the present and work on the future.
By István Széchenyi (1791-1860), Hungarian politician, political theorist, and writer
He was a major reformer and writer whose practical enterprises represented an effort towards Hungarian national development. Many great developments can be attributed to his name, for example he introduced steam shipping on the Danube, built the first suspension bridge in Budapest and also wrote several books where he voiced Hungary’s need for economic advancement.
15
Aki kíváncsi, mindig talál rejtvényeket maga körül. Aki eltökélt, meg is oldja őket.
If you are curious, you'll find the puzzles around you. If you are determined, you will solve them.
By Ernő Rubik, inventor of the Rubik’s Cube
95
Létfontosságú, hogy időnként olyan dolgot csináljunk, ami nem létfontosságú.
It is vital to occasionally do something that is not vital.
By László Mérő, Hungarian psychologist
64
A verseny lovaknak való, nem embereknek.
Competitions are for horses, not artists.
By Béla Bartók, Hungarian composer