Johannes Daniel Falk (28 October 1768 Danzig – 14 February 1826 Weimar) was a German publisher and poet.
Falk was born in Danzig Royal Prussia, where he received his first education against the wishes of his father, who wanted to employ the child in his business as wig maker. The Danzig city council granted Falk a theology stipendium at Halle, but he did not become a preacher and frequented literary circles of Schiller and Goethe instead.
In 1816 he wrote the German text O Du Fröhliche.. to the melody of one of the most popular Christmas songs, O Sanctissima.
Falk was the founder of the Falk'sche Institute, a public education place for orphans in Weimar. He died in that city in 1826.
Famous quotes containing the words daniel and/or falk:
“And who, in time, knows whither we may vent
The treasure of our tongue, to what strange shores
This gain of our best glory shall be sent,
T’enrich unknowing nations with our stores?
What worlds in th’yet unformed Occident
May come refined with th’accents that are ours?”
—Samuel Daniel (c.1562–1619)
“Americans are rather like bad Bulgarian wine: they don’t travel well.”
—Bernard Falk (1943–1990)