der Mohr hat seine Schuldigkeit getan, der Mohr kann gehen

German

Etymology

Literally "the Moor has done his duty, the Moor can go".

The original quotation was „Der Mohr hat seine Arbeit getan, der Mohr kann gehen“ (“The Moor has done his work, the Moor can go"). It comes from the play Fiesco by Friedrich Schiller. The word Arbeit (“work”) is now more commonly replaced by Schuldigkeit (“duty”).

Pronunciation

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Proverb

der Mohr hat seine Schuldigkeit getan, der Mohr kann gehen

1. Used when a person who has done a favor or been helpful (or by extension a thing that has been useful) but whose services are no longer needed is ungratefully replaced, dismissed or let go.

Further reading

• “der Mohr hat seine Schuldigkeit getan, der Mohr kann gehen” in Digitales Wörterbuch der deutschen Sprache
• "der Mohr hat seine Schuldigkeit getan, der Mohr kann gehen" in Redensarten-Index