Lohnt es sich, ein wenig lieb zu sein?

Und gleich wird die Frage von Joachim Ringelnatz - einmal in einer nicht satirischen Laune - beantwortet:

Es lohnt sich doch

Es lohnt sich doch, ein wenig lieb zu sein
Und alles auf das Einfachste zu schrauben,
Und es ist gar nicht Großmut zu verzeihn,
Daß andere ganz anders als wir glauben.

Und stimmte es, daß Leidenschaft Natur
Bedeutete im guten und im bösen,
Ist doch ein Knoten in dem Schuhband nur
Mit Ruhe und mit Liebe aufzulösen.

Joachim Ringelnatz (1883-1934)

Gilded gold, painted lily

After publishing a poem with gilded lilies, I wanted to find out what exactly the expression means and from whence it came.

Apparently from Shakespeare, who wrote in King John:

SALISBURY:
Therefore, to be possess'd with double pomp,
To guard a title that was rich before,
To gild refined gold, to paint the lily,
To throw a perfume on the violet,
To smooth the ice, or add another hue
Unto the rainbow, or with taper-light
To seek the beauteous eye of heaven to garnish,
Is wasteful and ridiculous excess.

Which means that the expression is actually an incorrect quote. It is the gold that is gilded, while the lily gets painted, both actions denoting superfluous adornment.

An annotated sailing poem

What shall we do with the sober sailor?
… so early in the morning?

He missed his boat oh no!

He’s been missing a number of boats
Truth be told

Like the rum boat*, the hum boat**,
the society boat***,
the boot boat**** and the new boat*****.

Thank God there’s the old boat

To which he is used
At least that

– "Sloop" John B. (© 2007)

* Otherwise there would be no complaining about sobriety
** Otherwise there would be song
*** Otherwise there would be company, including three marvelously gilded lilies most likely
**** Always good for a kick in the you know what
***** That is yet to emerge