von Rückgebern der Rückgiebigste

English translation: most generous/altruistic among the reciprocators

14:16 Feb 25, 2019
German to English translations [PRO]
Art/Literary - Poetry & Literature / Artist\'s self-characterisation
German term or phrase: von Rückgebern der Rückgiebigste
I'm translating a passage by the famous early 20th-century Austrian artist, Egon Schiele. He is talking about his school days in the passage below. His language is deliberately poetic and, at times, he uses words that he may have invented himself. I don't know precisely when he wrote this, but he died in 1918 at the age of 28. I would be grateful if any native speakers of German / Austrian German could tell me how they read this term: 'Rückgeber'. Does he mean 'responsive' or 'reflective' or perhaps 'challenging' in the sense of challenging people? Or maybe something else?

Meine rohen Lehrer waren mir stets Feinde. Sie—und andere—verstanden es nicht, daß ich von Vornehmen der Vornehmste, von Rückgebern der Rückgiebigste bin; daß ich den Tod liebe und das Leben; daß ich alles zugleich bin, aber niemals alles zu gleicher Zeit tue. Ich bin kein zwiespältiges Wesen. Mensch und Künstler in einem bin ich. Und ich bin für mich und die, denen die durstige Trunksucht nach Freisein bei mir alles schenkt—und für alle auch, weil alle ich auch liebe. In mir ist ein ewiges Träumen voll süßesten Lebensüberschusses. Rastlos, mit bangen Schmerzen innen in der Seele, lodert, brennt, wächst das Träumen zum Kampf, Herzenskrampf. Ich bin wahnwitzig rege mit aufgeregter Lust—denn nun kann ich endlich die spendende Sonne wiedersehen und frei sein.
Helen Shiner
United Kingdom
Local time: 05:02
English translation:most generous/altruistic among the reciprocators
Explanation:
I am sure a more elegant expression can be found. But I am not sure what else this could possibly mean.

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Note added at 26 mins (2019-02-25 14:42:35 GMT)
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I don't think we need the definite article ("the") before "reciprocators"
Selected response from:

Michael Martin, MA
United States
Local time: 01:02
Grading comment
I haven't used your version, but you got me to 'reciprocate', so thank you.
4 KudoZ points were awarded for this answer



Summary of answers provided
4most generous/altruistic among the reciprocators
Michael Martin, MA
Summary of reference entries provided
Discussed here
philgoddard

Discussion entries: 15





  

Answers


23 mins   confidence: Answerer confidence 4/5Answerer confidence 4/5
most generous/altruistic among the reciprocators


Explanation:
I am sure a more elegant expression can be found. But I am not sure what else this could possibly mean.

--------------------------------------------------
Note added at 26 mins (2019-02-25 14:42:35 GMT)
--------------------------------------------------

I don't think we need the definite article ("the") before "reciprocators"

Michael Martin, MA
United States
Local time: 01:02
Works in field
Native speaker of: Native in GermanGerman, Native in EnglishEnglish
PRO pts in category: 43
Grading comment
I haven't used your version, but you got me to 'reciprocate', so thank you.
Notes to answerer
Asker: Thank you. I am currently using a version of your suggestion.


Peer comments on this answer (and responses from the answerer)
neutral  philgoddard: I don't think people will understand "reciprocators", though I suspect this is the kind of thing he means.
6 mins
  -> I like "most giving of givers". That said, people who don't understand "reciprocators" may also have trouble with the rest of this or other quotes..
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Reference comments


9 mins
Reference: Discussed here

Reference information:
This article reproduces the quote and then says: 'Die „Rückgiebigkeit“, als Ausgleich zur „Vornehmheit“, ist kein Bestandteil des sich voll entfaltenden Industrie- und Finanzgesellschaft. In der hat alles einen zählenden und zählbaren Wert, trägt alles ein Preisschild.'
Trouble is, I don't understand the first few words of this. 'Rückgiebigkeit' appears to be a coinage by Schiele.

http://www.freitag.de/autoren/columbus/totalkunst-und-gesamt...

philgoddard
United States
Native speaker of: English
PRO pts in category: 8
Note to reference poster
Asker: Yes, I saw that. Thank you. The passage appears a few times on the internet, but with nothing to illuminate what Schiele might mean.

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