Herzensbildung

cultivation of the heart, moral and emotional education

noun HER-tsens-bil-dung Rare

Usage Note

Herzensbildung refers to the cultivation of emotional and moral qualities — kindness, empathy, integrity — as distinct from intellectual Bildung (education). It implies that true Bildung must include the formation of character, not just the mind.

Examples

"Wahre Herzensbildung lässt sich nicht aus Büchern allein schöpfen."

Natural Translation

True cultivation of the heart cannot be drawn from books alone.

Literal Translation

True heart-formation lets itself not from books alone draw.

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