The Goebbels saga. Pt 3.

[Richard Hargreaves]

Ich vertrete heute die Meinung, daß es besser ist, sich auf einen langen und harten Krieg einzurichten und keine Enttäuschungen zu erleben, als sich auf ein frischfröhliches Jagen einzustellen und dann im Herbst wieder vor den zerbrochenen Illusionen zu stehen.

Today I believe that it is better to prepare ourselves for a long, hard war and not experience any disappointment, than to cheerfully ... only to face shattered illusions once again in the autumn.

It's the Jagen einzustellen that I can't translate adequately. "stop chasing" "stop the pursuit"? I presume he's saying that Germany shouldn't take her foot off the accelerator.

Otherwise today's chunk of Goebbels has been a rather quick translate for a change.

[pak]

I think "engage" can apply here.

"..., than to engage in a cheerfull hunt only ...."

[fridgeman]

Hello Richard!

"...als sich auf ein frischfröhliches Jagen einzustellen..."

Today I believe that it is better to prepare ourselves for a long, hard war and not experience any disappointment,
as to make arrangements for a cheerful hunt, only to face shattered illusions once again in the autumn.

or

Today I believe that it is better to prepare ourselves for a long, hard war and not experience any disappointment,
as to prepare for a cheerful hunt, only to face shattered illusions once again in the autumn.

[Richard Hargreaves]

Many thanks gents. Einstellen is a horrible verb because of its many (and wildly differing) meanings.

Why can't German be a simple, logical language like English?

[HeinrichFrey]

G.B. Shaw (I think it was him who) wanted an alphabet for the Englisch language. The example was that ghoti means fish...
enouGH, wOmen, naTIon. So far my English lessons over 30 years ago. Richard You can still earn the price

[Richard Hargreaves]

Fortunately I did seven years of Latin which works in a very similar manner to German and features an equal love of subordinate clauses.

[Hans]

Who would have thought there was anything subordinate about us Germans.

- Hans