"Ermutigung" ("Encouragement") is a poem and song by the German Liedermacher and lyricist Wolf Biermann. It was first published in 1968 in the poetry collection Mit Marx- und Engelszungen by Verlag Klaus Wagenbach, which also released the poem set to music as part of the single 4 neue Lieder ("4 New Songs"). Biermann later released the song on his 1974 LP album aah-ja!, released by Columbia Records.The text of "Ermutigung" warns the listener/reader not to become hardened or embittered.