To truly appreciate the mountain tops one must have been in the valleys

[Leviwosc]

In the Netherlands it's quite common to encounter small decorative tiles on the wall with a saying printed on it. Usually this saying is a bit tacky and cliché. An example: "Gratitude is a flower that blooms in only a few gardens".

However, sometimes I encounter tiles with a saying that I really like a lot and which holds an undeniable truth. Like this Dutch saying:

"Om de bergtoppen te kunnen waarderen dient men in de dalen te hebben vertoefd."

(To truly appreciate the mountain tops one must have been in the valleys)

Of course the message is figurative. You're perfectly capable to be seized by the beauty of a mountain top when you're not in a valley. The message is that you can only truly enjoy highlights when you have experienced at least some lows in life.

I'd love to have this saying translated in more languages. I like it a lot and eventually I want to create an art piece with it. Several Dutch tiles with the same saying translated in different languages on one wall.

Please make your translation a formal translation!

My sincere gratitude in advance for your effort.



Afrikaans: Om die bergtoppe werklik te kan waardeer moet 'n mens in die dale sy gewees
Dutch: Om de bergtoppen werkelijk te kunnen waarderen dient men in de dalen te hebben vertoefd.
English: To truly appreciate the mountain tops one must have been in the valleys.
West-Frisian: Om de berchtoppen werklik te kinne wurdearje moatte hja yn 'e dellingen toevje hawwe.

[Dormouse559]

Adding French

Afrikaans: Om die bergtoppe werklik te kan waardeer moet 'n mens in die dale sy gewees
Dutch: Om de bergtoppen werkelijk te kunnen waarderen dient men in de dalen te hebben vertoefd.
English: To truly appreciate the mountain tops one must have been in the valleys.
West-Frisian: Om de berchtoppen werklik te kinne wurdearje moatte hja yn 'e dellingen toevje hawwe.

French: Pour vraiment apprécier le sommet il faut avoir été dans la vallée.

[linguoboy]

For the English version, I would suggest substituting "peaks" for "mountain tops". Yes, it's less specific and more likely to be used metaphorically, but I think the fact that it's explicitly contrasted with "valleys" foregrounds the literal meaning enough that you're still left with a concrete image.

German: Man muss die Täler durchschritten haben, um die Gipfel schätzen zu können.

[Linguaphile]

I like linguoboy's change for English. Adding Spanish and Estonian, small change to German. Also, for French, is there a reason "valley" and "summit" are singular here? I would have said "Pour vraiment apprécier les sommets il faut avoir été dans les vallées."

Afrikaans: Om die bergtoppe werklik te kan waardeer moet 'n mens in die dale sy gewees
Dutch: Om de bergtoppen werkelijk te kunnen waarderen dient men in de dalen te hebben vertoefd.
English: To truly appreciate the peaks one must have been in the valleys.
German: Man muss die Täler durchschritten haben, um die Gipfel wirklich schätzen zu können.
West-Frisian: Om de berchtoppen werklik te kinne wurdearje moatte hja yn 'e dellingen toevje hawwe.

French: Pour vraiment apprécier le sommet il faut avoir été dans la vallée.
Spanish: Para apreciar verdaderamente los picos hay que haber estado en los valles.

Estonian: Mägede tippude tõesti hindamiseks tuleb enne orgudes olnud.

[Dormouse559]

Also, for French, is there a reason "valley" and "summit" are singular here? I would have said "Pour vraiment apprécier les sommets il faut avoir été dans les vallées."

It felt more proverb-y, at least compared to the French aphorisms I've come across.

[Linguaphile]

Also, for French, is there a reason "valley" and "summit" are singular here? I would have said "Pour vraiment apprécier les sommets il faut avoir été dans les vallées."

It felt more proverb-y, at least compared to the French aphorisms I've come across.

Makes sense.

[plengfruit]

Never heard this proverb before, can't think of an equivalent in Polish, so I'm adding a more-or-less direct translation. Which I guess works too.

Afrikaans: Om die bergtoppe werklik te kan waardeer moet 'n mens in die dale sy gewees
Dutch: Om de bergtoppen werkelijk te kunnen waarderen dient men in de dalen te hebben vertoefd.
English: To truly appreciate the peaks one must have been in the valleys.
German: Man muss die Täler durchschritten haben, um die Gipfel wirklich schätzen zu können.
West-Frisian: Om de berchtoppen werklik te kinne wurdearje moatte hja yn 'e dellingen toevje hawwe.

French: Pour vraiment apprécier le sommet il faut avoir été dans la vallée.
Spanish: Para apreciar verdaderamente los picos hay que haber estado en los valles.

Polish: By w pełni docenić szczyt należy wpierw znaleźć się w dolinie.

Estonian: Mägede tippude tõesti hindamiseks tuleb enne orgudes olnud.

[IpseDixit]

Personally, I prefer the singular form of "peaks" and "valleys" for the Italian version.

Afrikaans: Om die bergtoppe werklik te kan waardeer moet 'n mens in die dale sy gewees
Dutch: Om de bergtoppen werkelijk te kunnen waarderen dient men in de dalen te hebben vertoefd.
English: To truly appreciate the peaks one must have been in the valleys.
German: Man muss die Täler durchschritten haben, um die Gipfel wirklich schätzen zu können.
West-Frisian: Om de berchtoppen werklik te kinne wurdearje moatte hja yn 'e dellingen toevje hawwe.

Italian: Per apprezzare veramente la vetta, bisogna essere stati a valle.
French: Pour vraiment apprécier le sommet il faut avoir été dans la vallée.
Spanish: Para apreciar verdaderamente los picos hay que haber estado en los valles.

Polish: By w pełni docenić szczyt należy wpierw znaleźć się w dolinie.

Estonian: Mägede tippude tõesti hindamiseks tuleb enne orgudes olnud.

[Leviwosc]

For the English version, I would suggest substituting "peaks" for "mountain tops". Yes, it's less specific and more likely to be used metaphorically, but I think the fact that it's explicitly contrasted with "valleys" foregrounds the literal meaning enough that you're still left with a concrete image.

Thank you for your explanation. I get your point and do not mind it at all. It still works.

I want to thank the rest of you already for the translations you've added to this topic! It's really much appreciated.

[Bernard]

+ Latin

Afrikaans: Om die bergtoppe werklik te kan waardeer moet 'n mens in die dale sy gewees
Dutch: Om de bergtoppen werkelijk te kunnen waarderen dient men in de dalen te hebben vertoefd.
English: To truly appreciate the peaks one must have been in the valleys.
German: Man muss die Täler durchschritten haben, um die Gipfel wirklich schätzen zu können.
West-Frisian: Om de berchtoppen werklik te kinne wurdearje moatte hja yn 'e dellingen toevje hawwe.

French: Pour vraiment apprécier le sommet il faut avoir été dans la vallée.
Italian: Per apprezzare veramente la vetta, bisogna essere stati a valle.
Latin: Non vere aestimabis montium cacumina nisi prius in vallibus moratus eris.
Spanish: Para apreciar verdaderamente los picos hay que haber estado en los valles.

Polish: By w pełni docenić szczyt należy wpierw znaleźć się w dolinie.

Estonian: Mägede tippude tõesti hindamiseks tuleb enne orgudes olnud.

[Leviwosc]

Wow thank you Bernard! I love the Latin translation.

[enricmm]

+ Catalan

Afrikaans: Om die bergtoppe werklik te kan waardeer moet 'n mens in die dale sy gewees
Dutch: Om de bergtoppen werkelijk te kunnen waarderen dient men in de dalen te hebben vertoefd.
English: To truly appreciate the peaks one must have been in the valleys.
German: Man muss die Täler durchschritten haben, um die Gipfel wirklich schätzen zu können.
West-Frisian: Om de berchtoppen werklik te kinne wurdearje moatte hja yn 'e dellingen toevje hawwe.

Catalan: Per valorar realment els cims, primer cal haver estat a les valls.
French: Pour vraiment apprécier le sommet il faut avoir été dans la vallée.
Italian: Per apprezzare veramente la vetta, bisogna essere stati a valle.
Latin: Non vere aestimabis montium cacumina nisi prius in vallibus moratus eris.
Spanish: Para apreciar verdaderamente los picos hay que haber estado en los valles.

Polish: By w pełni docenić szczyt należy wpierw znaleźć się w dolinie.

Estonian: Mägede tippude tõesti hindamiseks tuleb enne orgudes olnud.

[IpseDixit]

Ladin

Afrikaans: Om die bergtoppe werklik te kan waardeer moet 'n mens in die dale sy gewees
Dutch: Om de bergtoppen werkelijk te kunnen waarderen dient men in de dalen te hebben vertoefd.
English: To truly appreciate the peaks one must have been in the valleys.
German: Man muss die Täler durchschritten haben, um die Gipfel wirklich schätzen zu können.
West-Frisian: Om de berchtoppen werklik te kinne wurdearje moatte hja yn 'e dellingen toevje hawwe.

Catalan: Per valorar realment els cims, primer cal haver estat a les valls.
French: Pour vraiment apprécier le sommet il faut avoir été dans la vallée.
Italian: Per apprezzare veramente la vetta, bisogna essere stati a valle.
Ladin: Per prijèr dassen i spic, se cogn esser stac te la vals.
Latin: Non vere aestimabis montium cacumina nisi prius in vallibus moratus eris.
Spanish: Para apreciar verdaderamente los picos hay que haber estado en los valles.

Polish: By w pełni docenić szczyt należy wpierw znaleźć się w dolinie.

Estonian: Mägede tippude tõesti hindamiseks tuleb enne orgudes olnud.

[Homine.Sardu]

Added Sardinian

Afrikaans: Om die bergtoppe werklik te kan waardeer moet 'n mens in die dale sy gewees
Dutch: Om de bergtoppen werkelijk te kunnen waarderen dient men in de dalen te hebben vertoefd.
English: To truly appreciate the peaks one must have been in the valleys.
German: Man muss die Täler durchschritten haben, um die Gipfel wirklich schätzen zu können.
West-Frisian: Om de berchtoppen werklik te kinne wurdearje moatte hja yn 'e dellingen toevje hawwe.

Catalan: Per valorar realment els cims, primer cal haver estat a les valls.
French: Pour vraiment apprécier le sommet il faut avoir été dans la vallée.
Italian: Per apprezzare veramente la vetta, bisogna essere stati a valle.
Ladin: Per prijèr dassen i spic, se cogn esser stac te la vals.
Latin: Non vere aestimabis montium cacumina nisi prius in vallibus moratus eris.
Sardinian : Pro pretziare de a beru su cùccuru de sos montes, bisonzat de essere istados in sas baddes.
Spanish: Para apreciar verdaderamente los picos hay que haber estado en los valles.

Polish: By w pełni docenić szczyt należy wpierw znaleźć się w dolinie.

Estonian: Mägede tippude tõesti hindamiseks tuleb enne orgudes olnud.

[aaakknu]

+ Ukrainian

Afrikaans: Om die bergtoppe werklik te kan waardeer moet 'n mens in die dale sy gewees
Dutch: Om de bergtoppen werkelijk te kunnen waarderen dient men in de dalen te hebben vertoefd.
English: To truly appreciate the peaks one must have been in the valleys.
German: Man muss die Täler durchschritten haben, um die Gipfel wirklich schätzen zu können.
West-Frisian: Om de berchtoppen werklik te kinne wurdearje moatte hja yn 'e dellingen toevje hawwe.

Catalan: Per valorar realment els cims, primer cal haver estat a les valls.
French: Pour vraiment apprécier le sommet il faut avoir été dans la vallée.
Italian: Per apprezzare veramente la vetta, bisogna essere stati a valle.
Ladin: Per prijèr dassen i spic, se cogn esser stac te la vals.
Latin: Non vere aestimabis montium cacumina nisi prius in vallibus moratus eris.
Sardinian : Pro pretziare de a beru su cùccuru de sos montes, bisonzat de essere istados in sas baddes.
Spanish: Para apreciar verdaderamente los picos hay que haber estado en los valles.

Polish: By w pełni docenić szczyt należy wpierw znaleźć się w dolinie.
Ukrainian: Для того, щоб по-справжньому цінувати вершини, потрібно спершу побувати у долині.

Estonian: Mägede tippude tõesti hindamiseks tuleb enne orgudes olnud.

Why "olnud" and not "olla"? As far as I know, after "tuleb" da-infinitive is used.
I would say:
Mägede tippude tõeliseks hindamiseks tuleb enne orgudes olla.
Although you've been studying Estonian longer than me, so you should know better.

[Linguaphile]

Estonian: Mägede tippude tõesti hindamiseks tuleb enne orgudes olnud.

Why "olnud" and not "olla"? As far as I know, after "tuleb" da-infinitive is used.
I would say:
Mägede tippude tõeliseks hindamiseks tuleb enne orgudes olla.
Although you've been studying Estonian longer than me, so you should know better.

Hmm, looking at it now, mine was one of the most awkward-sounding translations I've ever written, I think! I do like that you used tõeline in place of tõesti. As I re-read it I'm also wondering if varem could be better than enne. As for olla, you may be right too. My translation doesn't sound right to me now. I think the reason I used olnud was because of the grammatical tense of the original sentence: "one must have been". Da-infinitive is indeed used with tuleb when an infinitive is needed, but there is no infinitive in the original sentence and I think I used olnud trying to find a way to say "one must have been". I don't think I did it correctly though. It sounds so awkward. Mägede tippude tõeliseks hindamiseks tuleb enne orgudes olla avoids that by saying "to truly appreciate the mountain tops one must first be in the valleys" but it doesn't seem to change the meaning, and it does sound much better than mine. Aitäh teile!

[Multiturquoise]

+ Turkish, changing Estonian.

Afrikaans: Om die bergtoppe werklik te kan waardeer moet 'n mens in die dale sy gewees
Dutch: Om de bergtoppen werkelijk te kunnen waarderen dient men in de dalen te hebben vertoefd.
English: To truly appreciate the peaks one must have been in the valleys.
German: Man muss die Täler durchschritten haben, um die Gipfel wirklich schätzen zu können.
West Frisian: Om de berchtoppen werklik te kinne wurdearje moatte hja yn 'e dellingen toevje hawwe.

Catalan: Per valorar realment els cims, primer cal haver estat a les valls.
French: Pour vraiment apprécier le sommet il faut avoir été dans la vallée.
Italian: Per apprezzare veramente la vetta, bisogna essere stati a valle.
Ladin: Per prijèr dassen i spic, se cogn esser stac te la vals.
Latin: Non vere aestimabis montium cacumina nisi prius in vallibus moratus eris.
Sardinian : Pro pretziare de a beru su cùccuru de sos montes, bisonzat de essere istados in sas baddes.
Spanish: Para apreciar verdaderamente los picos hay que haber estado en los valles.

Polish: By w pełni docenić szczyt należy wpierw znaleźć się w dolinie.
Ukrainian: Для того, щоб по-справжньому цінувати вершини, потрібно спершу побувати у долині.

Estonian: Mägede tippude tõeliseks hindamiseks tuleb enne orgudes olla.

Turkish: Zirveleri takdir edebilmek için vadilerde bulunmuş olmak gerekir.

[Dark_Horse]

+ Greek

Afrikaans: Om die bergtoppe werklik te kan waardeer moet 'n mens in die dale sy gewees
Dutch: Om de bergtoppen werkelijk te kunnen waarderen dient men in de dalen te hebben vertoefd.
English: To truly appreciate the peaks one must have been in the valleys.
German: Man muss die Täler durchschritten haben, um die Gipfel wirklich schätzen zu können.
West Frisian: Om de berchtoppen werklik te kinne wurdearje moatte hja yn 'e dellingen toevje hawwe.

Catalan: Per valorar realment els cims, primer cal haver estat a les valls.
French: Pour vraiment apprécier le sommet il faut avoir été dans la vallée.
Italian: Per apprezzare veramente la vetta, bisogna essere stati a valle.
Ladin: Per prijèr dassen i spic, se cogn esser stac te la vals.
Latin: Non vere aestimabis montium cacumina nisi prius in vallibus moratus eris.
Sardinian : Pro pretziare de a beru su cùccuru de sos montes, bisonzat de essere istados in sas baddes.
Spanish: Para apreciar verdaderamente los picos hay que haber estado en los valles.

Polish: By w pełni docenić szczyt należy wpierw znaleźć się w dolinie.
Ukrainian: Для того, щоб по-справжньому цінувати вершини, потрібно спершу побувати у долині.

Estonian: Mägede tippude tõeliseks hindamiseks tuleb enne orgudes olla.

Greek: Για να εκτιμήσει κανείς πραγματικά την κορυφή, θα πρέπει πρώτα να έχει βρεθεί στην κοιλάδα.

Turkish: Zirveleri takdir edebilmek için vadilerde bulunmuş olmak gerekir.

[MarkusP]

Swedish

Afrikaans: Om die bergtoppe werklik te kan waardeer moet 'n mens in die dale sy gewees
Dutch: Om de bergtoppen werkelijk te kunnen waarderen dient men in de dalen te hebben vertoefd.
English: To truly appreciate the peaks one must have been in the valleys.
German: Man muss die Täler durchschritten haben, um die Gipfel wirklich schätzen zu können.
Swedish: För att uppskatta bergstopparna måste man ha varit i dalarna.
Värmlandic: För te öppskatt berjstöppan móst en 'a vôr i dâlan.
West Frisian: Om de berchtoppen werklik te kinne wurdearje moatte hja yn 'e dellingen toevje hawwe.

Catalan: Per valorar realment els cims, primer cal haver estat a les valls.
French: Pour vraiment apprécier le sommet il faut avoir été dans la vallée.
Italian: Per apprezzare veramente la vetta, bisogna essere stati a valle.
Ladin: Per prijèr dassen i spic, se cogn esser stac te la vals.
Latin: Non vere aestimabis montium cacumina nisi prius in vallibus moratus eris.
Sardinian : Pro pretziare de a beru su cùccuru de sos montes, bisonzat de essere istados in sas baddes.
Spanish: Para apreciar verdaderamente los picos hay que haber estado en los valles.

Polish: By w pełni docenić szczyt należy wpierw znaleźć się w dolinie.
Ukrainian: Для того, щоб по-справжньому цінувати вершини, потрібно спершу побувати у долині.

Estonian: Mägede tippude tõeliseks hindamiseks tuleb enne orgudes olla.

Greek: Για να εκτιμήσει κανείς πραγματικά την κορυφή, θα πρέπει πρώτα να έχει βρεθεί στην κοιλάδα.

Turkish: Zirveleri takdir edebilmek için vadilerde bulunmuş olmak gerekir.[/quote]