Why do I need to know this?
If you’re getting down on yourself for not doing something you are still learning just right – be it playing the piano or speaking German – you can gently comfort yourself with this phrase. Or you can confidently cite it to reassure your perfectionist friend or family member that they are indeed making great strides towards their goal.
What does it mean?
Literally translated as “There is still no master which has fallen from the sky,” the expression gets the idea across that no one is born – or comes pummeling down from the heavens – as an expert at something.
Rather they become a Meister (or at least halfway decent) through continuous hard work and discipline.
READ ALSO: How to remember the gender of German words
The saying is similar to the also widely used “Übung macht den Meister” (Practice makes the master) or the English version: Practice makes perfect.
Not surprisingly, Austrians and Germans – who pride themselves on industriously reaching their goals – have several other equivalent sayings. They include “Ohne Fleiß kein Preis” (There’s no prize without hard work) and “Von nichts kommt nichts” (Nothing comes out of nothing).
Where does it come from?
The popular phrase can be traced back to the Latin “Nemo magister natus”, or no one is born a master. Another version is “Nemo nascitur artifex” or no one is born an artist. This explains why so many languages have similar expressions.
What are some examples of how it’s used?
Don’t be so strict with yourself. No master has fallen from the sky yet.
Don’t be so hard on yourself. No one is born perfect.
My coach said no perfect swimmer had fallen from the sky.
My coach said that no one is born a perfect swimmer.
READ ALSO: Six German expressions to entice your Wanderlust