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Title:MaximsandReflections

Author:JohannWolfgangvonGoethe

Translator:ThomasBaileySaunders

ReleaseDate:September8,2010[EBook#33670]

Language:English

***STARTOFTHISPROJECTGUTENBERGEBOOKMAXIMSANDREFLECTIONS***

ProducedbyChristineBellandMarcD'Hoogheat

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THEMAXIMSANDREFLECTIONS

OF

GOETHE

TRANSLATEDBYBAILEYSAUNDERS

WITHAPREFACE

NEWYORK

THEMACMILLANCOMPANY

1906

GoetheGoethe

CONTENTS

TRANSLATOR'SPREFACEIIIIII

LIFEANDCHARACTERIIIIIIIVVVIVII

LITERATUREANDART

SCIENCENATURE:APHORISMS

INDEX

TRANSLATOR'SPREFACE

I

ThetranslationofGoethe's"ProseMaxims"nowofferedtothepublicisthefirstattemptthathasyetbeenmadetopresentthegreaterpartoftheseincomparablesayings in English. In the complete collection they are over a thousand innumber,andnotmoreperhapsthanahundredandfiftyhavealreadyfoundtheirway into our language, whether as contributions to magazines here and inAmerica,orinvolumesofmiscellaneousextractfromGoethe'swritings.Someareat timesquotedas though theywerecommonliteraryproperty.Tosay thattheyareimportantasawholewouldbeafeebletributetoaworkeloquentforitself,andbeyondtheneedofpraise;butsodeepisthewisdomofthesemaxims,sowidetheirreach,socompactaproductaretheyofGoethe'swonderfulgenius,that it is something of a reproach to literature to find the most of them leftuntranslatedforthesixtyyearstheyhavebeenbeforetheworld.Fromonepointofview,theneglecttheyhavesufferedisinnowaysurprising:theyaretoohighandseveretobepopularsosoon;andwhentheymeetwithawideacceptanceaswith other great works, much of it will rest upon authority. But even for thedeepersideofhiswritings,Goethehasnotbeendeniedafairmeasureofpopularsuccess.Nootherauthorofthelasttwocenturiesholdssohighaplace,or,asaninevitable consequence, has been attacked by so large an army of editors andcommentators;anditmightwellbesupposedbynowthatnocornerofhiswork,and least of all one of the best, had remained almost unnoticed, and to themajorityunknown.ManyofthesemaximswereearlytranslatedintoFrench,butwithlittlesuccess;andeveninGermanyitwasonlysolateastheyear1870thatthey appeared in a separate form, with the addition of some sort of criticalcommentandabriefexplanationoftheiroriginandhistory.[1]

Butalthoughtowhatiscalledthereadingpublicthesemaximsareasyet,nolessin fact than inmetaphor, a closed book, its pages have long been a source ofprofit and delight to some of thosewho are best able to estimate their value.Whatthatvalueis,Ishallpresentlyendeavourtoexplain.Noone,I think,can

perceivetheirworthwithoutalsodiscerninghownearlytheytouchtheneedsofourownday,andhowgreatlytheymayhelpusinfacingcertainproblemsoflifeandconduct,someofthem,intruth,asoldastheworlditself,whichappeartousnowwithpeculiarforceandsubtlety.

Itwasinthisrespectthattheywerewarmlyrecommendedtomesomeyearsagobymyexcellentfriend,ProfessorHarnack,thehistorianofDogma,awriterwithafineandprudententhusiasmforallennoblingliterature.ItistohimthatIowetheresolvetoperformforthemaxims,asfarasIcould,theofficeoftranslator;ahumbleoffice,butnot,asIhavegoodreasontoknow,withoutitsdifficulty,or,as I venture tohope,without its use.Ofmanyof them the language is hardlylucideven toaGerman, and Ihavegratefully toacknowledge theassistance Ihavereceivedfromtheprivilegeofdiscussingthemwithsodistinguishedamanofletters.

To ProfessorHuxley I am also deeply indebted. I owe himmuch for friendlyencouragement,andstillmoreforhelpofanaltogetherinvaluablekind;forinitsmeasureofknowledgeandskill,itisadmittedlybeyondthepowerofanyotherlivingEnglishman.Themaximsdeal,notalonewithLifeandCharacter,wheremostofthemareadmirable,butalsowithcertainaspectsofScienceandArt;andthese are matters in which I could exercise no judgment myself, although Iunderstoodthat,whilemanyofthemaximsonScienceandArtwereattractive,theywerenotallofgreatmerit.ProfessorHuxleynotonlydidmethehonourtoselectthemaximsonScience,buthewasfurthergoodenoughtoassistmewiththem,andtoreadandapprovethetranslationasitnowstands.Theweightandtheinterestofhisauthoritywillthusgiveadditionalvaluetothatsectionofthebook, and also do much to overcome the objections that exist to making aselectionatall.

Foraselectionisanecessaryevil.Itisanevilbecause,evenifitleavesthebest,it takes away something of a man's work; if it shows us the heights he hasreached,itobliteratesthestepsofhisascent;itendangersthoughtsthatmaybeimportant but imperfectly understood; and it hinders a fair and completejudgment.Butintheenditisanecessity:weareconcernedchieflywiththebestand clearest results, and it is only the few who care to follow the elaboratedetailsofeffortandprogress,oftenpainfulandobscure.Thereisnoauthorwithwhom,formostreaders,selectionissonecessaryasitiswithGoethe;andinnootherkindofliteratureisitsoamplyjustifiedorsoclearlydesirableaswheretheaimistostatebroadtruthsoflifeandconductandmethodinamanneradmittingofnomistakeoruncertainty.Whenawriter attemptsachievements, asGoethe

did,inalmosteveryfieldofthought,itneedbenosurprisetoanyonewhohasheard of human fallibility that in solid results he is not equally successfuleverywhere. In deciding what shall be omitted, there is no difficulty withmaxims which time has shown to be wrong or defective; they have only anhistorical interest. But great care is necessary with others that are tentative,questionable,orobscureenough toneed the lightofacommentary,sometimesdubious;whereformostofusthereisnevermuchprofitandalwaysoccasionforstumbling. I count it a singular piece of good fortune that the choice of thescientificmaximsshouldbeundertakenbysoeminentajudgeoftheirpracticalvalue,whoisalsoascholarinthelanguageandagreatadmirerofGoetheinhisotherandbetterknownproductions.For ifawriterof this immenseversatilitycannotalwayshopetotouchthehighestgoal,itiswellthatallhiseffortsshouldbeweighedinalaterdaybythebestandfriendliestknowledge.

ThemaximsonArtwereat firstamatterofsome littledifficulty. It isplain, Ithink,thattheyarebelowtheothersinvalueandinterest;andinanycollectionofsayingsthelessthereisofgeneralworth,themoredelicatebecomesthetaskof choosing the best. If I omitted them all, the selection would not be dulyrepresentative, and it seemed likely that some at least were worthy of beingpreserved, if only to illustrate Goethe's theories. I therefore sought the bestadvice;andhereagainIhavetotendermythanksforassistancesecondtononein skill and authority,—that of Sir Frederick Leighton, kindly given undercircumstanceswhichmuchincreasemyobligation.ForitismydutytosaythatSirFrederickLeightonhadnodesire,butratherreluctance,tomakeaselectionfrommaximsonArtwhichhewasoftennotpreparedtoendorse,ortoregardasinanywaycommensuratewithGoethe'sgenius;andneverthelesshedidmethehonour to point out a fewwhich Imight insert, as being of interest partly fortheirownsake,partlyalsoforthenameoftheirauthor.

Themaxims on Science andArt are, however, when taken together, hardly afifth of this volume. The others I have selected on the simple and I hopeblamelessprincipleofomittingonlywhatisclearlyunimportant,antiquated,ofpastorpassinginterest,ofpurelypersonalreference,orofanaturetooabstrusetostandwithoutnotesofexplanation,whichIshouldbesorrytoplaceatthefootof any of these pages. I have also omitted eleven maxims drawn fromHippocratesOnDiet;fifteencontaininganappreciationofSterne,togetherwithsome twenty more which Goethe himself translated from a curious workwronglyattributedtothatwriter.ItwillbeconvenientifIstatethatIhavethusomitted some hundred and twenty out of the six hundred and fifty-fivewhich

make up the section styled in the originalEthisches,which I translate byLifeandCharacter, thesectionwhichalsocontains themaximsonLiterature,nowcollected and placed in a separate section with those on Art. Sir FrederickLeightonchosethirty-fiveoutofahundredandeighteenonArt,andProfessorHuxleyseventy-sixoutoftwohundredandeightyonScience.

II

Havingthusacknowledgedbutinnowaydischargedatripledebtofgratitude,itwillbenextinorderifIbrieflystatethehistoryoftheworkwhichnowappearsinanEnglishdress,beforeattemptingtospeakofitsnatureandvalue.

Thepublicationofthemaximsbelongstothelater,thatistosay,thelastthirty,yearsofGoethe'slife;andthegreaternumberofthemappearedonlyinthelastten,whilesomeareposthumous.

It is impossible to saywithcertaintyatwhatperiodhebegan theobservationswhich were afterwards to come before the world in this shape; nor is thequestion of any real interest except to pedantic students of suchmatters. It isprobable that, like most writers, Goethe was in the habit of noting transientthoughtsofhisown,aswellasopinionsofothersthatsuggestedmorethantheyactuallyconveyed;andofpreservingforfurtherusewhathehadthus,inhisownwords, written himself and appropriated from elsewhere—Eigenes andAngeeignetes. Themaxims grewout of a collection of this character. Itwas ahabitformedprobablyinearlylife,forsomewhereintheLehrjahre—aworkofeighteen years' duration, but begun at the age of twenty-seven—he makesWilhelmMeisterspeakofthevalueofit.Buttherearereasonsforthinkingthatmost of the maxims, as they now stand, were not alone published but alsocomposed in his last years. The unity of meaning which stamps themwith acommonaim; the similarityof thecalm,dispassionate language inwhich theyarewritten;thedidactictonethatcoloursthemthroughout,combinetoshowthatthey are among the last and ripest fruits of his genius. Some were certainlycomposed between the ages of fifty and sixty; more still between that andseventy;while there isevidence,both internalandexternal,proving thatmanyandperhapsmostofthemwerehisfinalreflectionsonlifeandtheworld.Thisitisthataddssomuchtotheirinterestforashehimselffinelysaysinoneofthelast of them, "in a tranquilmind thoughts rise up at the close of life hitherto

unthinkable;likeblessedinwardvoicesalightingingloryonthesummitsofthepast."

Butwheneveralloranyofthemwerewritten,andwhateverrevisiontheymayhaveundergone,nonewerepublisheduntil1809,whenGoethewassixtyyearsofage.ItwasthenthathebroughtoutDieWahlverwandschaften.AfewofthemaximsonLifeandCharacterwerethereinsertedasformingtwoextractsfromajournaloftenquoted in theearlierpartof thestory."About this time,"writesGoethe,asheintroducesthefirstoftheseextracts,"outwardeventsareseldomernoted in Ottilie's diary, whilst maxims and sentences on life in general, anddrawn from it, become more frequent. But," he adds, "as most of them canhardlybeduetoherownreflections,it islikelythatsomeonehadgivenherabookorpaper,fromwhichshewroteoutanythingthatpleasedher."AfewmoremaximsappearedeightyearslaterinKunstundAlterthum,amagazinefoundedby Goethe in 1816 and devoted to the discussion of artistic questions; and alargernumberfirstsawthelightinthesamepublicationatvariousdatesuntilitsextinction in 1828. Some of the observations on Science hadmeanwhile beenincorporatedwithtwotreatisesonbranchesofthatsubject.

EckermanntellsacuriousstoryofthewayinwhichGoethethencontinuedthepublication of themaxims.WilhelmMeistersWanderjahre had appeared in itsfirstformin1821.Afterwards,in1829,Goethedecidedtoremodelandlengthenit, and to make two volumes out of what had originally been only one. Hissecretarywasemployed tocopy itout in its revised form.Hewrote ina largehand, which gave the impression that the story might well fill even threevolumes;anddirectionstothiseffectweresenttothepublisher.Butitwassoondiscoveredthatthelasttwovolumeswouldbeverythin,andthepublisheraskedfor more manuscript. Goethe, in some perplexity, sent for Eckermann, andproducingtwolargebundlesofunpublishedpapers,containing,ashesaid,someveryimportantthings,—"opinionsonlife,literature,scienceandart,allmingledtogether,"proposed tohim to lengthenout thevolumesby inserting selectionsfrom them. "You might," he suggested, "fill the gaps in theWanderjahre bymaking up some six or eight sheets from these detached pieces. Strictlyspeaking, they have nothing to do with the story; but we may justify theproceedingby the fact that Imention an archive inMakarie's house, inwhichsuch miscellanies are preserved. In this way we shall not only get over ourdifficulty, but find a good vehicle for giving much interesting matter to theworld."Eckermannapprovedtheplan,anddividedhisselectionintotwoparts;andwhentheneweditionoftheWanderjahreappeared,oneofthemwasstyled

AusMakariens Archiv, and the other Betrachtungen im Sinne der Wanderer:Kunst, Ethisches, Natur. The remainder of the unpublished maxims appearedposthumously, either in the Nachgelassene Werke in 1833, or in the quartoeditionof1836.

Instructions had been given to Eckermann to collect all the maxims, arrangethem under different heads, and include them in appropriate volumes; but heresolved to deviate from his instructions to the extent of publishing them alltogether; and the alteration is certainly an advantage. A slight re-arrangementwasmade by vonLoeper,whowas deterred from undertaking amore radicalone,althoughhethoughtitmightbedonewithprofit,bytheconsiderationthatwhenaliteraryworkofundesignedandfortuitousformhaslivedanynumberofyearsinacertainshape,thatfactaloneisaweightyargumentagainstanychangeinit.Inatranslation,perhaps,wheretheworkispresentedanewandtoafreshpublic, the change might be allowable; and I should have undertaken it, hadtherenotbeenamoreseriousreason,whichvonLoeperalsourges,againstanyattemptatsystematicre-arrangement:thefurtherfact,namely,thatmanyofthemaximshaveamixedcharacter,placingthemaboveourdistinctionsofscientificandethical,andmakingitdifficulttodecideunderwhichheadingtheyoughttofall. I have, therefore, generally followed the traditional order; with thisexception,that,forobviousreasons,themaximsdealingwithLiteraturearehereplacedtogether;andasonlyafewofthoseonArtappearinthesepages,Ihaveincluded them in the same section. In one or two cases I have united closelyconnectedmaximswhich are separated in the original; and, for the sake of ashort title, I have slightly narrowed the meaning of the word Spruch, whichapplies to any kind of shrewd saying, whether it be strictly a maxim or anaphorism.Somelittlelibertiesofthiskindmay,Ithink,betakenbyatranslatoranxious to put the work before his own public in an orderly and convenientform.

Thelastsectioninthisbookrequiresawordofexplanation.ItisalittleessayonNaturewhichistobefoundwithavarietyofotherfragmentsinthelastvolumeofGoethe's collectedworks.Tooshort to standby itself, if it appearsat all, itmust be in company with kindred matter; and as a series of aphorisms,presenting a poetic view of Nature unsurpassed in its union of beauty andinsight, it is no inappropriate appendage to themaxims on Science. It is littleknown, and it deserves to be widely known. I venture to think that even inGermany the ordinary reader is unaware of its existence.For us inEngland itwas,sotospeak,discoveredbyProfessorHuxley,whomanyyearsagogavea

translationofitasaproemtoascientificperiodical.Perhapsthatproemmayyetberecoveredasgoodsalvagefromthewatersofoblivion,whichsoonerorlateroverwhelmallmagazines.MeanwhileIputforwardthisversion.

Forsixtyyears thisessayhasstoodunquestionedinGoethe'sworks;butdoubthas recentlybeencaston itsauthorship.Theaccounthithertogiven restsuponthe excellent ground of Goethe's own declaration. The essay, it appears, waswrittenabouttheyear1780,andofferedtotheDuchessAmalia.Sometimeafterher death itwas found amongst her papers, and sent toGoethe inMay, 1828,when, as he wrote to his friend the Chancellor von Müller, he could notrememberhavingcomposed it; althoughhe recognised thewritingas thatofapersonofwhoseservicesheused toavailhimselfsomefortyyearspreviously.That at so great a distance of time a prolific author could not recall thecompositionofsoshortapieceisnot,indeed,improbable;butGoetheproceededtosaythatitagreedverywellwiththepantheisticideaswhichoccupiedhimattheageofthirty,andthathisinsightthenmightbecalledacomparative,whichwas thus forced to express its strife towards an as yet unattained superlative.Notwithstandingthisdeclaration,theessayisnowclaimedastheproductionofacertain Swiss friend ofGoethe's, by nameTobler, on external evidencewhichneednotbeexaminedhere,andon the internalevidenceaffordedby thestyle,whichiscertainlymorepointedandantitheticthanisusualwithGoethe.Butamaster of language who attempted every kind of compositionmay well haveattemptedthis;andeventhosewhocreditanotherwiseunknownpersonwiththeactualwriting of the essay candidly admit that it is based upon conversationswithGoethe.Itissoclearlyinspiredwithhisgeniusthathecanhardlybeforcedtoyieldthecreditofittoanother.

III

Itisnowishorbusinessofminetointroducethesemaximsbyaddingonemoretotheinnumerableessays,someofthemadmirable,whichhavebeenwrittenonGoethe.Ihavefoundthetranslationofoneofhisworksaharderandcertainlyamore profitable task than a general discourse on them all; and I profoundlybelievethat,ratherthanreadwhathasbeenwrittenonGoethe,it isverymuchbetter to read Goethe himself. It is in this belief that I hope the presenttranslationmayhelpinasmallwaytoincreasethedirectknowledgeofhimin

thiscountry.ButtherearesomeremarkswhichImaybeallowedtomakeonthenatureanduseofmaxims,andthepeculiarvalueofthoseofGoethe;sofar,atleast,astheydealwithlifeandcharacterandwithliterature.IfProfessorHuxleycouldbeinducedtopublishthecommentswhichhemadetomeasIreadhimthescientificmaxims,besidesbeing thebestof introductions to thatsectionofthe book, they would form a keen and clear review of Goethe's scientificachievements,andanemphatictestimonytohiswonderfulanticipationsoflatertheories.

Between a maxim, an aphorism, and an apophthegm, and in a more obviousdegree, between these and an adage and a proverb, the etymologist and thelexicographermayeasilyfindadistinction.Buttheyare,oneandall,fragmentsofthewisdomoflife,treasuredupinshort,pithysentencesthatstateordefinesome general truth of experience; and perhaps with an adage and a maxim,enjoinitspracticeasamatterofconduct.Intheliteratureofeveryagetherehavebeenwriterswho,insteadoffollowingalessseveremethod,thusbrieflyrecordthelessonstaughtthembyawideviewofthedoingsofmen;fromthedim,far-off beginnings of Ptah Hotep the Egyptian to the authors of the Proverbs ofSolomonandtheBookofWisdom,fromTheognisandPlutarchdownwards toourowntime.Theygiveus theshrewdestof their thoughts,detachedfromthefactswhich gave them birth. But the professedwriters ofmaxims are not theonlyoralwaysthebestauthorsofthem.Thereisnogreatwriterwhoisnotrichinwisesentences;wherewehavetheadvantageofseeingforourselvesthetrainof thought that induced and the occasion that called them forth. Terse andpregnantsayingsarescatteredinnumerablythroughthepagesofthefinestpoets,thegreatorators,philosophers,andhistorians,wherever they touch thehighestleveloftruthandinsight;beit intheloftyinterpretationoflife, thedefenceofactionorpolicy,theanalysisofcharacterandconduct,ortherecordofprogress;and then it is that large ideasandwideobservations takeon imperceptibly thenature ofmaxim or aphorism, illumining, like points of light,whole fields ofthought and experience. And the test of their value is that they lose little ornothingbybeingdeprivedoftheirparticularcontextandpresentedastruthsofgeneral import. A collection of proverbs, shrewd sayings, and pointedexpressions,takenfromthewholerangeofGreekandLatinliterature,wasmadebytheindustryofErasmusinhisgreatfolioofAdagia;andperhapssomefuturestudent,asdiligentashe,maygatheruptheaphoristicwisdominthewritingsofmodern times.Goethehimselfhas in allhisgreatworksawealthof aphorismunsurpassed by any other writer whatever, even though it be Montaigne orBaconorShakespeare;andsayingsofhisnottobefoundinthiscollectionare

someofthebestthatheuttered.

Thebesettingsinof themaxim-writer is toexaggerateonesideofamatterbyneglectinganother;tosecurepointandemphasisofstyle,bylimitingtherangeofthought;andhenceit is thatmostmaximspresentbutaportionoftruthandcannotbereceivedunqualified.Theymustoftenbebroughtbackto the testoflifeitself,andconfrontedandcomparedwithothersidesoftheexperiencetheyprofesstoembody.Andwhenamaximstandsthistrialandprovesitsworth,itisnoteveryonetowhomitisofvalue.Tosomeitmaybeapositiveevil.Itmakesthestrongestappeal to thosewhonever seemore thanoneaspectofanything,hardening their hearts and blunting theirminds; and even to thosewho couldmakeagooduseof it, thereare timeswhenitmaymisleadandbedangerous.Maximsintheirapplicationseemtoneedsomethingofthephysician'sart:theymustbehandledwithcare,andappliedwithdiscretion.Likepowerfuldrugstheymay act with beneficent effect on a hardy constitution; they may brace it toeffort,orcalm the feverofamisguidedactivity;butgreat is themischief theyworkwherethemindisweakordisorganised.Asamedicinemaysaveamanatonetimethatwouldkillhimatanother,sothewisecounselofto-daymayeasilybecomethepoisonoussuggestionofto-morrow.

With writers who depend for effect onmere qualities of style and ignore theweightier matters of depth and truth of observation, Goethe has nothing incommon;norwiththosewhovainlyimaginethatinsightisakindofart,withamethodthatmaybelearnedandapplied.Byconstantpracticeamanofliterarytalentmay, it is true,attaina fairmasteryof language terseandattractive,andthensethimself,ifhewill, tothedeliberatecreationofaphoristicwisdomoraphilosophyofproverbs;mistakingthedexteroushandlingofacommonplaceforthe true process of discovery. The popular literature of the last generationsupplies a terrible instance of the length towhich themanufacture ofmaximscanthusbecarried,foratimewithimmensesuccess;andwehaveseenhowafewyearssufficetocarrythemandtheirauthortoobscurity.Howdifferentisthetrueprocess!Themaximthat increasesknowledgeandenriches literature isofslowandrareappearance;itspringsfromafinefacultyofobservationwhichisinnoone'sarbitrament,andonlylessrarethanthegiftofutterancewhichaddscharmtoathoughtthatitselfstrikeshomewiththepowerofimpregnabletruth.Noamountorintensityofeffortwillaloneproduceit;buttothemindofgeniusitcomes likeasuddenrevelation, flashing its lightona longcourseofpatientattention. "Whatwe callDiscovery," saysGoethe, "is the serious exercise andactivity of an original feeling for truth. It is a synthesis of world and mind,

givingthemostblessedassuranceoftheeternalharmonyofthings."

It is, then,depthand truthand sanityofobservationwhichchieflymark thesesayingsofGoethe.Itisnoconcernofhistodazzlethemindbythebrillianceofhis wit; nor does he labour to say things because they are striking, but onlybecause they are true.He is always in contactwith realities, always aiming attruth;andhetakesakindlyandagenerousviewoftheworld.Hehasnoneofthedespair thatdepresses,noneof themalice thatdestroys.Therearewriterswhoprofess to honour a lofty ideal by a cynical disparagement of everything thatfalls short of it; who unveil the selfish recesses of the heart as a mistakenstimulus to itsvirtues;whopay their tribute togreatworkbybelittlinghumanendeavour. Goethe shows us amore excellent way. Touched with a profoundfeelingoftheworthoflife,thewisdomoforder,thenobilityofeffort,hegivesusanidealtopursueandshowsusthemeansofpursuingit.Outofthefulnessofalargeexperience,uniqueinthehistoryofliterature,heunfoldstheschemeofapracticableperfection,andenforcesthelessonshehaslearnedfromthesteady,passionless,andundauntedobservationofhumanaffairs.

ToGoethe these sayingsweremerely reflections oropinions; it is his literaryexecutors and his editors who called them by more ambitious titles, so as tochallengeacomparisonwithcertainotherfamousbooksofwisethought.Theyarethereflectionsofalongliferichinalltheintellectualtreasuresoftheworld,in itsversatility amazing, in its insightwell-nigh fathomless; a life that, inhisownwords,approachedtheinfinitebyfollowingthefiniteoneveryside.Suchamanneedonlyspeaktouttersomethingimportant;andweonourpartneedonlyrememberhowwidewastherangeofhisknowledge,howfullandcompletehisexistence,tosettheutmostvalueonhisreflectionsattheendofit.Butthatheknewnothingofthepinchofpovertyandwassparedthehorrorsofdisease,thathesufferednogreatmisfortune,andbaskedinthebrightsideoftheworld,freefromtheillsthatcometomostmen,therewasnopageofthebookoflifethatwasnotthrownopentohim.Thethingsofthemind,thethingsofart,thethingsof nature—in their theory and in their practice he had worked at them all;regarding them as so many varied manifestations of an eternal Idea in itselfinscrutableandhereunattainable.Therewasnokindofliteraturewithwhichhewasunfamiliar,whetheritwasancientormodern,oftheEastoroftheWest;andthe great spiritual influences of the world, Hebraism, Hellenism, Christianity,Mediævalism,—atoneoranothertimeinhislifehewasintouchwiththemall,andfoundhisaccountinthemall.Inmattersoflearninghewasoccupiedwithnothing but what was actual and concrete; it was only to abstract studies, to

logic,metaphysics,mathematics, thathewas indifferent; inhisownphrase,heneverthoughtaboutthinking.Therewashardlyanybranchofthenaturalscienceof his day that he did not cultivate, that he did not himself practise; geology,mineralogy,botany,zoology,anatomy,meteorology,optics; andhemadesomeremarkablediscoveriesandthestrangestprophecies.ToArthegavealife-longdevotion. While still a youth, he wrote an important essay on Gothicarchitecture;heengraved,drew,painted,andforatimetookupsculpture.Inallthe higher forms of Art, with the single exception ofmusic, he had somuchpractical interest that he often doubtedwhether in followingLiterature he hadnotmistaken,oratleastundulynarrowed,thesphereofhisactivity.Hewaslittleabroad,butnooneeverprofitedmorebyhistravelsthanGoethe.TwicehewenttoItaly,andwhatachangeofmindwasproducedbythatchangeofsky!Romewas to him a new birth, a new conception of life. And besides Literature,Science,andArt,hebusiedhimselfwithAdministration,withthedutiesoftheCourt,with thepractical details of theTheatre; but out of themall he learnedsomething himself and taught something to others. He lived the fullest lifegrantedtoman.Hehadayouthofthewildestenthusiasmandromance;aprimeofaclassicausterity,ofacalmearnestness;amajesticageoftheripestwisdom,whentherecametohim,asitwereasecondyouth,withsomethingofthefireoftheoldromanticfeelinglightedupinhimanew.Andoutofalltheseprodigiousefforts in somanydirections, hepassedunharmed, andnever lost himself.Hesteadily pursued his own task and refused to be drawn aside. He stood alooffromthecontroversiesofhistime.Thebattlesofbelief,philosophicalsystems,FrenchRevolutions,WarsofLiberation,strugglesofdemocracyandnationality,—thesethingsmovedhimlittleornotatall.Butheisnotonthataccounttobeheld,assomefoolishcriticshaveheldhim,indifferent,selfish,orlessserious,orless complete aman than his fellows.He did the best in any one's power: heresolutelykept tohisownbusiness,and,neitherheatingnorresting,workedathisownhighaims,inthestrugglenotmerelytolearnandtoknow,buttoactandtodo.Hefeltprofoundlythatthebestanyonecanachieveforhimselfisoftenthebest he can achieve for others. Thewholemoral ofWilhelmMeister is that aman's first andgreatestduty,whether toothersor tohimself, is to see thathisbusinessinlife isaworthyoneandsuitedtohiscapacities.Ifhediscovershisvocationandpursues it steadily,hewillmakehisouter lifeof thegreatestuseand service to the world, and at the same time produce the utmost harmonywithin.ThatwaswhatGoethetriedtodoinhisownperson,andhelabouredathis self-imposed task with a perseverance, a real unselfishness, and adeterminationentirelyadmirable.

Itisalmostthelastfruitofthislifeofconcentratedactivity,thefinaloutcomeofthis indomitablecharacter, that ishereputbeforeus.Andweshall find that tothe complex phenomena of the world Goethe applied no other measure butreason and the nature and needs of man. With a full consciousness of themysteries that surround our existence, he never made the futile endeavour topass beyond the bounds of present knowledge and experience, or to resolvecontradictionsbymanipulating thefacts. In thesedetachedreflectionshedoes,indeed,propoundatheoryandsketchoutasystemofconduct;buttheycannot,liketheThoughtsofPascal,forinstance,bebroughtunderasingleanddefinitepointofview.Theyareamirroroflifeitself,andtheinnerandouterfactsoflifein all their diversity. The unity they possess is the unity that is stamped uponthemby the all-embracingpersonalityof their author, always andunweariedlystrivingtomakehislifesystematic,distinct,andfruitful;andtojudgethemasawhole,amanmustbeabletofathomsogreatagenius.ButtoeveryoneineverywalkoflifeGoethehasawordofwisecounsel,asthoughheunderstoodeveryform of existence and could enter into its needs. In a fine passage in theWanderjahre, he likens the thought that thus in wondrous fashion takes athousandparticularshapes,toamassofquicksilver,which,asitfalls,separatesinto innumerableglobules, spreadingoutonall sides.Andwhile thesesayingsmaypresentthoughtsinseemingcontradictiononewithanother,asthemomentthat called them forth presented this or that side of experience, their inmostnatureisacommontendencytorealiseagreatidealoflife.Itislittletheyowetothe form inwhich theyarecast; theyarenot theelementsofanartisticwholewhichmust be seized beforewe can understand the fullmeaning of its parts.Theyareamiscellaneousrecordoftheshrewdestobservation;andtoreadthemas they should be read, a few at a time, is like the opportunity of repeatedconversewithamanofextraordinarygifts,greatinsight,andthewidestculture,whotouchesprofoundlyandsuggestivelynowonthis,nowonthataspectoflifeand the world and the progress of knowledge. It is the fruit of his ownexperiencethatGoethegivesus;andweshalldowelltothinkofitashehimselfthoughtofanotherbook,andtobearinmindthat"everywordwhichwetakeinageneralsenseandapplytoourselves,had,undercertaincircumstancesoftimeandplace,apeculiar,specialanddirectlyindividualreferences."

Goethe isnoexception to the restofmankind innotbeingequallywiseat alltimes,andinthemaximstherearedegreesofvalue:theydonotallshinewiththe like brilliance. Some of them are valuable only for what they suggest; ofsome,again, it iseasy to see that, theyappearasmattersof speculation ratherthan as certainties. They raise difficulties, ask for criticism, if possible,

correction; or, itmay be, they call attention to the contrary view and invite aharmonyofopposites.Someofthemmakeagreatdemanduponourability"tounderstandaproverbandtheinterpretation;thewordsofthewiseandtheirdarksayings."Theirvaluesometimesdependsonthewaytheyareviewed,theculturebrought to their understanding, the temper in which they are approached.Welook at them, and at first admire; we change our point of view, and findsomethingtocriticiseanddispute.Theobscurityofmaxims,asGoetheremindsus, is only relative; not everything can be explained to the reader which waspresent to the mind of the writer. Some of them seem at first to be of littleinterest; onone side theymayeven repel, but fromanother theyattract again,and win perhaps a partial approval. They seem to move as we change ourposition, and to bewithout fixed or certain character.But some, again, are soclearandunmistakable,soimmeasurablyabovecriticismorobjection,thatlikethefurthestof thestars theyhavenoparallax:whateverpositionwetake, theirlightissteadfast.

LetnoonesupposethatinthemainGoethe'sreflectionsonlifehadneverbeenmadebefore; that itwasnot so,nooneknewbetter thanhe.Asaprefaceandnoteofwarningtothemall,hereiteratesthewordsofthepreacher:"thereisnonewthingunderthesun."Yes!saysGoethe,thereisnothingworththinkingbutithasbeenthoughtbefore;wemustonlytrytothinkitagain."Itisonlywhenwearefaithful,"hesayselsewhere,[2]"inarrestingandnotingourpresentthoughts,thatwehaveanyjoyintradition;sincewefindthebestthoughtsalreadyuttered,the finest feelings already expressed.This it is that gives us the perception ofthat harmonious agreement to which man is called, and to which he mustconform,oftenagainsthiswillasheismuchtoofondoffancyingthattheworldbeginsafreshwithhimself."WhatGoethemeansisthatweshalldobesttofindout thetruthofall thingsforourselves,forononesidetruthis individual;andthatweshallbehappyifour individual truth isalsouniversal,oraccordswiththewisestthoughtofthepast.Itisinthispracticallightthatwemustviewthemaxims,andnotasmereacademicgeneralities.Itiseasytoreadtheminanhourandforgetthemassoon;easytoviewthemwithatepidinterestastheworkofagreatauthor;butnoonewillfullyunderstandthevalueofanyofthem,whohasnotexperienceenoughtoknowitstruth.Wellisitforusifwiththeexperiencewealsogainthetruth!Ifanyoneshouldsaythatsomeofthesemaximsareveryobvious, and so simply true as almost to be platitudes, I would bid himrememberthatthebesteducationisoftentodiscovertheseverysimpletruthsforoneself, and learn to see howmuch there is in commonplaces. For thosewhohavegrownoldintheworldareneverwearyoftellingusthatthefurtherwego,

themoreweshallfind,ingeneral,thatthesamethingswillhappentousashavehappened to others; and it will then be our advantage if we have the samereflections,bestofall ifwecomeofourselves to thesameconclusions,as thewisest of those who have gone before us; next best, if we can really andintelligentlyfollowinthefootstepsoftheirthought.

ButalthoughthematterofGoethe'ssayingsisnotoriginalinthesenseofbeingnew to the world—while it was original for him, since he discovered it forhimselfandonhisownpath,theirmannerissomethingnew,andtheirrangeisunparalleled.Takeanyothersetofmaximsyouwill,nowhereistheresowideanoutlook,nowhere so just anestimateofhumandifficulties,nowhereanaimatonce so loftyandsopracticable.Nowhere is therea larger, stronger,healthier,moretolerantviewoflifeandtheworld,oranatmosphereclearerof themiststhattoooftenobscureanddistortourvision.Andintheirexpression,nowhereistheresolittleofthebesettingsintosacrificetruthtoeffect.Goethehasnoneoftheshallowmaliceanduncharitablecandour thatwithwritersofanearlieragepassed for the practical wisdom of every day; and we need only contrast hismaximswith the similarworkofLaRochefoucauld,Helvetius, andChamfort,admirableas theymaybe in theirexposureofhumanselfishness, todetermineonwhichsideisthegreaterservicetomankind.Howdifferenttheviewsoftheworld taken by how many writers!—the secret of it all is that the menthemselvesaredifferent.

It was said of Goethe that his heart, which few knew, was as great as hisintellect,whichallknew.Certainlyhiswritingsandnot leasthismaximsareaprofound example of the truth that in the last resort it is moral rather thanintellectualqualities thatmakegreat literature.It isnot tobedeniedthatmuchmaybedonebyamerefacilityofstyle,acommandofwords,afinetaste,awideacquaintancewiththeturnsandresourcesoflanguage;butintheendtheeffectisproducedbythemanhimself,hischaracterandhisstrength.Tothestrenuous,earnestman, likeGoethe, theworld offers a stirring spectacle and provides agreatopportunity;andhegraspsanduses themboth to thebestofhispeculiarcapacity. It is diversity of temperament dealing with partial knowledge thatmakessomanyandsuchvariousdoctrines.Aman'sviewsof lifeare, inshort,thosewhichhedeserves tohave,andhiswritingsarecast in themouldofhischaracter. It is nomore strange that the authors of books should give us suchvaried pictures of the humanity around us, than that painters should conceivenaturalobjects sodifferently.Literature, too, is likeagalleryof landscapeandportrait: it is thesameworldwhichispresented, thesamemenandthings;but

thewayof lookingat it varieswith the artist;who,whateverhis trainingmayhavebeen,willseeinNaturewhathebringstoithimself.Arsesthomoadditusnaturæ.IfthisbetrulytodefinetheessenceandmethodofArt,itisequallytruetosaythatLiteratureismanaddedtolife;and,hereasthere,everythingdependsonthecharacterandcapacityoftheman.

NoonehasasyetsaidthathedoubtsGoethe'scapacity,althoughtherearemanywho have solemnly pronounced him uninteresting. The critic who can readGoethe'sworkswithrealattention,andthenventuretocallthemdull,issimplyshowingthathehasnocalltotheofficeheassumes,ornointerestinliteratureofthehighestclass.What is true,ofcourse, is thatGoethe isprofoundlyserious,andheis,therefore,notalwaysentertaining;butthatisenoughtomakehimpassfordullintheeyesofthosewhotakeliteratureonlyasapastime,—asubstituteforacigar,orsomethingtolull themtosleepwhentheyaretired.Butanotherand more formidable accusation is made against Goethe which affects hischaracter,andwouldgofar todestroy thevalueofhiswritings if itwere true;buttomanyitiscuriouslyinconsistentwiththeotherchargeofbeingdull.Itisthat he is immoral. Now of all the great writers of the world, Goethe isadmittedly the greatest teacher. He is essentially and frankly didactic; andnowhere is there so large and worthy a body of literature from a single penwhich is informedwith so high and so serious a purpose. Roundly to call itsauthorimmoralisachargewhichsufficientlyrefutesitselfbyitsownignoranceand absurdity. The charge comes, as a rule, from thosewho judge life by theneeds and duties of a young girl, and they confound thewhole ofmorality—characterandconductinallrelationstoone'sfellow-men—withonesectionofit. They forget thatGoethewas aman of the old régime; that his faultswerethose of his time and class. They forget that an extreme repugnance to allmonasticism,asceticism,andRomanCatholicismingeneral,naturallyledhimtopay a diminished regard to the one virtue of which the Christian world issometimesapt to exaggerate the importance, andonwhich it isoften ready tohang all the law and the prophets. To some, again, Goethe appears to be asupremely selfish wizard, dissecting human passion in the coldest blood, andmakingpoeticalcapitaloutof theemotional tortureshecausedinothers.This,too, is a chargewhich themerest acquaintancewithhis life andworkmustofnecessityrefute:itistoosimpleaslandertobeseriouslydiscussed.Sincetheseare charges which have, however, kept many estimable people from readingGoethe, it may be some consolation to them to know that the maxims areentirelyfreefromanypossibilityofobjectiononthisground.

TheelementofmoralteachingwhichrunsthroughGoethe'smatureworkslikeagoldenthread,re-appears in themaximsfreeanddetachedfromthepoeticandromantic environment which in such varied shapes is woven around it inWerther, Tasso,Meister, above all inFaust. To do the next duty; tomeet theclaims of each day; to persist with a single mind and unwearied effort on adefinite,positive,productivepath;cheerfullytorenouncewhatisdeniedus,andvigorously to make the best of what we have; to restrain vague desires anduncertainaims;toceasebewailingthevanityofallthingsandthefleetingnatureof thisourworld,anddowhatwecan tomakeourstay in itof lastinguse,—theseare lessonswhichwillalwaysbeneeded,andall themoreneededas lifebecomes increasingly complex. They are taught in the maxims with a greatvarietyofapplication,andnowheresoconciselysummarisedasinoneofthem."The mind endowed with active powers," so it runs, "and keeping with apracticalobjecttothetaskthatliesnearest,istheworthiestthereisonearth."

Goethehasbeencalled,andwith truth, theprophetofculture;but theword isoftenmisunderstood.Wecannottooclearlyseethatwhatisheremeantisnotamere range of intellectual knowledge, pursued with idolatrous devotion: it ismoral discipline, a practical endeavour, forming wise thought and noblecharacter.Andthisistheproduct,notoflearning,butofwork:ifwearetoknowandrealisewhatthereisinus,andmakethebestofit,ouraimmustbepracticalandcreative."Leteveryman,"heurges,"askhimselfwithwhichofhisfacultieshe can and will somehow influence his age." And again: "From this timeforward,ifamandoesnotapplyhimselftosomeartorhandiwork,hewillbeina bad way. In the rapid changes of the world, knowledge is no longer afurtherance. By the time a man has taken note of everything, he has losthimself."Thecultureofwhichhespeaksisnotmainlyintellectual.Weusethewordinawaythatisapttolimitandconcealitsmeaning,andweoftenapplyittoastrangeformofmentalgrowth,atoncestuntedandoverfed,towhich,ifwemayjudgebyitsfruits,anybreathofrealculturewouldbefatal.Ithasnothingtodowithlearninginthegeneralandnarrowsenseoftheword,orwiththeoftenperniciouseffectsofmerelearning.Inthelanguageofthehourwearewonttogive the exclusive name of culture to a wide acquaintance with books andlanguages;whetherornotitresults,asithasbeforenowresulted, inawantofculture in character and outward demeanour, in airs of conceit, in foolisharrogance,inmaliceandacrimony.

Auniformactivitywithamoralaim—that, inGoethe'sview, is thehighestwecanachieveinlife."Characterinmattersgreatandsmallconsists,"hesays,"ina

man steadily pursuing the things ofwhich he feels himself capable." It is thegospel of work: our endeavour must be to realise our best self in deed andaction;tostriveuntilourpersonalityattains,inAristotle'sword,itsentelechy;itsfulldevelopment.Bythisalonecanweresolveallthedoubtsandhesitationsandconflictswithinthatundermineanddestroythesoul."Trytodoyourduty,andyouwillknowatoncewhatyouareworth."Andwithallourdoing,whatshouldbe thegoalofouractivity?Innowiseourownself,ourownweal."Amanishappyonlywhenhedelightsinthegood-willofothers,"andwemustofatruth"giveupexistence inorder to exist";wemustnever suppose thathappiness isidenticalwithpersonalwelfare.Inthemoralsphereweneed,asKanttaught,acategorical imperative;but, saysGoethe, that isnot theendof thematter; it isonly the beginning. We must widen our conception of duty and recognise aperfectmorality only "where aman loveswhat he commands himself to do.""Voluntarydependenceisthebeststate,andhowshouldthatbepossiblewithoutlove?" And just in the same sense Goethe refuses to regard all self-denial asvirtuous,butonlytheself-denialthatleadstosomeusefulend.Allotherformsof it are immoral, since they stunt and cramp the freedevelopmentofwhat isbestinus—thedesire,namely,todealeffectivelywithourpresentlife,andmakethemostandfairestofit.

AndhereitisthatGoethe'smoralcodeisfusedwithhisreligiousbelief."Piety,"hesays,"isnotanendbutameans:ameansofattainingthehighestculturebythe purest tranquillity of soul." This is the piety he preaches; not the morbidintrospection that leads tonousefulend, thestateofbroodingmelancholy, thetimorousself-abasement, theanxiousspeculationastosomeotherconditionofbeing.Andthistranquillityofsoul,Goethetaughtthatitshouldbeours,inspiteofthethousandillsoflifewhichgiveuspauseinouroptimism.Itisattainedbythefirmassurancethat,somewhereandsomehow,apowerexiststhatmakesformoralgood;thatourmoralendeavoursaremet,sotospeak,half-waybyamoralorderintheuniverse,whichcomestotheaidofindividualeffort.Andthesumand substance of his teaching, whether in the maxims or in any other of hismatureproductions,isthatwemustresignourselvestothispower,ingratitudeand reverence towards it and all its manifestations in whatever is good andbeautiful. This isGoethe's strong faith, his perfect and serene trust.He finelyshadowsitforthintheclosingwordsofPandora,whereEosproclaimsthattheworkofthegodsistoleadoureffortstotheeternalgood,andthatwemustgivethemfreeplay:—

Waszuwünschenist,ihruntenfühltes;

Waszugebensei,diewissen'sdroben.GrossbeginnetihrTitanen;aberleitenZudemewigGuten,ewigSchönen,IstderGötterWerk;dielasstgewähren.

AndsotooinFaust:itisthelongstruggletorealiseanIdeal,dimlyseenonlife'slabyrinthinewayoferror,thatleadsatlasttotheperfectredemption:—

Werimmerstrebendsichbemüht,Denkönnenwirerlösen.

And throughout theperplexitiesof lifeand theworld,whereall thingsarebutsigns and tokens of some inner and hidden reality, it is the ideal of love andservice,dasEwig-Weibliche,thatdrawsuson.

Butthisassurancecannotbereachedbyameretheory;andGoetheisnotslowtodeclarehowheviewsattempts to reach it in thatway."CredoDeum! that,"heremindsushere,"isafine,aworthythingtosay;buttorecogniseGodwhenandwhereherevealshimself,istheonlytrueblissonearth."Allelseismystery.Wearenotborn,ashesaidtoEckermann,tosolvetheproblemsoftheworld,buttofindoutwheretheproblembegins,andthentokeepwithinthelimitsofwhatwecangrasp.Theproblem,heurged,istransformedintoapostulate:ifwecannotgetasolutiontheoretically,wecangetitintheexperienceofpracticallife.Wereachitbytheuseofan"activescepticism,"ofwhichhesaysthat"itcontinuallyaims at overcoming itself and arriving bymeans of regulated experience at akindofconditionedcertainty."Buthewouldhavenothingtodowithdoctrinalsystems,and,likeSchiller,professednoneoftheformsofreligionfromafeelingofreligionitself.Toseehowheviewssomeparticularquestionsoftheologythereader may turn with profit to his maxims on the Reformation and earlyChristianity,andtohisadmirableremarksontheuseandabuseoftheBible.Thebasisofreligionwasforhimitsownearnestness;anditwasnotalwaysneedful,heheld,fortruthtotakeadefiniteshape:"itisenoughifithoversaboutuslikeaspirit andproducesharmony." "I believe,"he said toEckermann, "inGodandNature and the victoryof goodover evil; but Iwas also asked to believe thatthreewasone,andonewas three.That jarreduponmyfeelingfor truth;andIdidnotseehowitcouldhavehelpedmeintheleast."Asforlettingourmindsroambeyondthispresentlife,hethoughttherewasactualdangerinit;althoughhe looked fora futureexistence,acontinuationofworkandactivity, inwhichwhatishereincompleteshouldreachitsfulldevelopment.Andwhateverbethesecretsoftheuniverse,assuredlythebestwecandoistodoourbesthere;and

theworstofblasphemies is toregard this lifeasaltogethervanity; foras thesepagestellus,"itwouldnotbeworthwhiletoseeseventyyearsifallthewisdomofthisworldwerefoolishnesswithGod."

In Goethe we pass, as over a bridge, from the eighteenth century to thenineteenth;butthoughhelivedtoseeathirdofthenineteenthcentury,hehardlybelongs to it. Of its political characteristics he had few or none. He was nodemocrat.Astheprophetofinwardculture,hetooktheFrenchRevolutionforadisturbance,aninterruption,andnotadevelopmentintheprogressoftheworld'shistory;andforallitshorrorsandtheperniciousdemoralisationofitsleaders,hehad the profoundest aversion. But afterwards he came to see that it hadbeneficialresults;thatarevolutionisultimatelyneverthefaultofthepeople,butoftheinjusticeandincapacityofthegovernment;andthatwherethereisarealnecessityforagreatreform,theoldleavenmustberootedout.[3]Butheknewthe danger of such a process, and he indicates it here in an admirable saying:"Before the French Revolution it was all effort; afterwards it all changed todemand"; and this may be supplemented by his opinion on the nature ofrevolutionary sentiments: "Men think theywould bewell-off if theywere notruled,andfailtoperceivethattheycanruleneitherthemselvesnorothers."Andifhe,hadthusnotheoreticalsympathywithdemocraticmovements,hehadlittlefeelingforthatothergreatpoliticaltendencyofourtime—nationality;convincedashewasthatinterestinthewealandwoeofanotherpeopleisalwaysamarkofthehighestculture.Butapartfrompoliticsthereisonecharacteristicofourowntime inwhichhe fullyandespeciallyshares, ifonly for the reason thathedidmuchhimself toproduce it;andhereinhehas influencedusprofoundlyand isinfluencing us still. The nineteenth century has this advantage over everyprecedingage,thatinitforthefirsttimehonestdoubt,insteadofdistinguishinga few,hasbecomeacommonvirtue.Goethe isoneof the surest and safestofthosewhohaveledthetransition."Wepraisetheeighteenthcentury,"hewrites,"forconcerningitselfchieflywithanalysis.Thetaskremainingtothenineteenthis to discover the false syntheseswhich prevail, and to analyse their contentsanew."Oftheaimofanalysisandthepropercourseofinquiry,noonehasgivenabetteraccountthanGoetheinwhathesays,inthewordsIhavequoted,aboutactive scepticism; and in the sphere ofmorals and religion it will perhaps befoundhereafterthathehascontributed,insomedegreeatleast,totheattainmentofthat"conditionedcertainty,"forwhich,aswehope,alloureffortsaremade.

In the maxims on Literature there is some excellent criticism on literarymethods,andmuchthatmaywellbetakentoheartbycertainwritersofourown

day.Goethehadlittlebutrebukeforthewholeoftheromanticmovement,whichbeganinhisoldage.TheGermanformofithethoughtunnatural,andatbestaconventionalimitationofanearlierperiod;andtheFrenchform,ofwhichVictorHugo was then the rising star, he thought a perversion of naturalism, anexaggerationofituntilitbecameinsipidormerelyrevolting.ToByronalonehegave the tributeof themostungrudgingadmiration: in theoppositionbetweenclassicismandromanticism,hedeclinedtotakehimforafollowerofeither,butasthecompleterepresentativeofhisowntime.Themaximthat"theclassicalishealth,andtheromantic,disease,"maynotaltogethercommenditselftousnow;butwithwonderful insightGoetheforesawthedirectioninwhichtheromanticmovementwould lead."The romantic,"hesayshere,"isalreadyfallen into itsownabysm.Itishardtoimagineanythingmoredegradedthantheworstofthenewproductions."Ifhecouldhavesaidthistwogenerationsago,whatwouldhehavesaidnow?Howcouldhehavespokenwithoutcontemptofthosewhomakeall that is common and unclean in itself a subject with which literature mayproperlybeoccupied?Thesearethewriterswhoprofesstoberealists,underacompletelymistakennotionofwhatrealismmeans,asappliedtoart;andtothemthechiefrealitiesseemtobejusttheverythingsthatdecentpeoplekeepoutofsight.Theyforgetthatinliterature,asinallart,thedominatingrealitiesarethehighestIdeals.AsanantidotetothispoisonofcorruptionGoethepointedtotheancientworld,andbidusstudytherethetypesoftheloftiestmanhood."Bodieswhichrotwhiletheyarestillaliveandareedifiedbythedetailedcontemplationoftheirowndecay;deadmenwhoremainintheworldfortheruinofothers,andfeedtheirdeathontheliving—tothis,"heexclaimed,"havecomeourmakersofliterature.Whenthesamethinghappenedinantiquity, itwasonlyasastrangetoken of some rare disease; but with the moderns the disease has becomeendemic and epidemic." Akin to these pseudo-realists, and coming under thesameban,aresomeofourmodernnovel-writerswhodo,indeed,avoidthedepthofdegradation,buttrytomovethefeelingsbydwellinginasimilarfashiononmatterswhicharenot,andnevercanbe,fitsubjectsofliterarytreatment;suchaspainful deaths by horrible distempers, or the minute details of prolongedoperations. It is poor skill that cannot find material enough in the moralsufferings of men and women, and is driven to seek effect in descriptions ofdiseaseandsurgery.Surelyinanyliteratureworthyofthenamethesearetopicswhich a richer imagination and a more prolific art would have foundunnecessary,andbettertastewouldhaveleftundescribed.

To another class of writers—those who handle a pretty pen without havinganything definite to present, or anything important to say,Goethe has also an

applicableword.Itisaclasswhichisalwaysincreasinginnumber,andtendstoincrease in talent.Wemayadmit that second-or third-ratework, especially inpoetry,wasneverbeforedonesowellasit isdonenow;andstillwemayfindsomeusefultruthinadistinctionwhichGoethedrewforthebenefitoftheminorpoets and the minor prose-writers of his own age. "Productions are nowpossible," he said, "which, without being bad, have no value. They have novalue, because they contain nothing; and they are not bad, because a generalformofgoodworkmanshipispresenttotheauthor'smind."Inoneofthemanyneglected volumes of his miscellaneous writings Goethe has a series ofadmirablenotesforaproposedworkonDilettantism;andtherethereader,ifheisinterestedinGoethe'sliterarycriticism,willfindsomeinstructiveremarksinclose connection with this aphorism, and also certain rules for discriminatingbetween good and indifferent workwhich ought to receive themost attentivestudy.Andthestylistswhoneglectplainlanguageforamosaicofcuriousphraseandoverstrainedepithet,mayprofitablyrememberthat,asGoetheheresays,"itisnotlanguageinitselfwhichiscorrectorforcibleorelegant,butthemindthatisembodiedinit."

"Translators,"hetellsus,"singthepraisesofsomehalf-veiledbeautyandrousean irresistible longing for the original." To them also he gives a piece ofexcellent advice: "The translator must proceed until he reaches theuntranslatable."Thisisacounselofexhortationaswellasofwarning.Itbidsthetranslatorsparenoeffort,buttellshimthatatacertainpointhiseffortsareofnoavail.Butnone the less,Goethemighthaveadded, the faithful translatormuststriveasifthishindrancetoperfectiondidnotexist;foritisthusonlythathe,oranyoneelse,candoanythingworthdoing.Onmethodsoftranslationmuchmaybesaid,anditissometimesurged,inagivencase,thatitisnotliteralorthatitistoofree.Adistinguishedwriterhasrecentlylaiddownthatatranslationshouldreproduceeverywordandphraseandsentenceoftheoriginalasaccuratelyasadelicatetracingreproducesthelinesofadrawing.Thisisadvicewhichmayholdintheschool-room,but,Iventuretomaintain,nowhereelse.Insofaraseverylanguage has a peculiar genius, a literal translationmust necessarily be a badone; and any faithful translation will of its nature be free. In other words, atranslator will err if he slavishly adheres to mere expression; he must havecompletelibertytogivehisauthor'smeaningandstyleinthemannerwhichheholdstobetruesttotheoriginal;andso,intranslatingfromaforeigntongue,itwill bewell for him to have some knowledge of his own.But hemust guardagainst the abuse of his position: his liberty may become license, and histranslationinsteadofbeingfaithfulmaybephantastic.Thetranslator'sfirstand

lastdutyis,then,toeffacehimself.Hisfirstdutyistostandentirelyatthepointof view of his author's thought; his last, to find the clearest and nearestexpression in his own language both for that thought and for whatever ischaracteristicinthewayofconveyingit;neitheraddinganythingofhisownnortaking away anything from his author. The best translation is thus a re-embodimentoftheauthor'sspirit,arealmetempsychosis.Nothingcanbedonewithoutideals,andthisistheidealatwhichthepresenttranslationaims.Thatitfails of its aim and hasmany defects, no one knows better than the translatorhimself; and he can only cherish the hope that where he falls short he issometimesclosetotheconfinesofwhatcannotbetranslated.

December2,1892.

[1] Goethe's Sprüche in Prosa: zum ersten Mal erläutert und auf ihre QuellenzurückgeführtvonG.v.Loeper,Berlin,1870.Thisformsthetextofthetranslation.

[2]WilhelmMeistersWanderjahre,Bk.I.ch.10.

[3]GesprächemitEckermann,III.4January,1824.

GoetheGoethe

LIFEANDCHARACTER

I

1

Thereisnothingworththinkingbutithasbeenthoughtbefore;wemustonlytrytothinkitagain.

2

Howcanamancometoknowhimself?Neverbythinking,butbydoing.Trytodoyourduty,andyouwillknowatoncewhatyouareworth.

3

Butwhatisyourduty?Theclaimsoftheday.

4

The world of reason is to be regarded as a great and immortal being, whoceaselesslyworks outwhat is necessary, and somakes himself lord also overwhatisaccidental.

5

ThelongerIlive,themoreitgrievesmetoseeman,whooccupieshissupremeplacefortheverypurposeofimposinghiswilluponnature,andfreeinghimselfand his from an outrageous necessity,—to see him taken up with some falsenotion,anddoingjusttheoppositeofwhathewantstodo;andthen,becausethewholebentofhismindisspoilt,bunglingmiserablyovereverything.

6

Begenuineandstrenuous;earn foryourself,and look for,grace from those inhigh places; from the powerful, favour; from the active and the good,advancement;fromthemany,affection;fromtheindividual,love.

7

Tellmewithwhomyou associate, and Iwill tell youwhoyou are. If I knowwhatyourbusinessis,Iknowwhatcanbemadeofyou.

8

Everymanmustthinkafterhisownfashion;foronhisownpathhefindsatruth,orakindoftruth,whichhelpshimthroughlife.Buthemustnotgivehimselftherein;hemustcontrolhimself;merenakedinstinctdoesnotbecomehim.

9

Unqualifiedactivity,ofwhateverkind,leadsatlasttobankruptcy.

10

Intheworksofmankind,as in thoseofnature, it is really themotivewhichischieflyworthattention.

11

Mengetoutofcountenancewith themselvesandothersbecause they treat themeansas theend,andso, fromsheerdoing,donothing,or,perhaps, justwhattheywouldhaveavoided.

12

Ourplansanddesignsshouldbesoperfectintruthandbeauty,thatintouchingthem theworld couldonlymar.We should thus have the advantageof settingrightwhatiswrong,andrestoringwhatisdestroyed.

13

It isaveryhardandtroublesomethingtodisposeofwhole,half-,andquarter-mistakes;tosiftthemandassigntheportionoftruthtoitsproperplace.

14

Itisnotalwaysneedfulfortruthtotakeadefiniteshape;itisenoughifithoversaboutuslikeaspiritandproducesharmony;if it iswaftedthroughtheair likethesoundofabell,graveandkindly.

15

Generalideasandgreatconceitarealwaysinafairwaytobringaboutterrible

misfortune.

16

Youcannotplaytheflutebyblowingalone:youmustuseyourfingers.

17

InBotany there is a species of plants called Incompletæ; and just in the sameway itcanbesaid that therearemenwhoare incompleteand imperfect.Theyarethosewhosedesiresandstrugglesareoutofproportiontotheiractionsandachievements.

18

Themostinsignificantmancanbecompleteifheworkswithinthelimitsofhiscapacities,innateoracquired;butevenfinetalentscanbeobscured,neutralised,anddestroyedbylackofthisindispensablerequirementofsymmetry.Thisisamischiefwhichwilloftenoccurinmoderntimes;forwhowillbeabletocomeuptotheclaimsofanagesofullandintenseasthis,andonetoothatmovessorapidly?

19

It is onlymen of practical ability, knowing their powers and using themwithmoderationandprudence,whowillbesuccessfulinworldlyaffairs.

20

It is a great error to take oneself formore than one is, or for less than one isworth.

21

FromtimetotimeImeetwithayouthinwhomIcanwishfornoalterationorimprovement,onlyIamsorrytoseehowoftenhisnaturemakeshimquitereadytoswimwiththestreamofthetime;anditisonthisthatIwouldalwaysinsist,thatmaninhisfragileboathastherudderplacedinhishand, just thathemaynotbeatthemercyofthewaves,butfollowthedirectionofhisowninsight.

22

Buthowisayoungmantocomeofhimselftoseeblameinthingswhicheveryoneisbusywith,whicheveryoneapprovesandpromotes?Whyshouldhenot

followhisnaturalbentandgointhesamedirectionasthey?

23

Imustholditforthegreatestcalamityofourtime,whichletsnothingcometomaturity,thatonemomentisconsumedbythenext,andthedayspentintheday;sothatamanisalwayslivingfromhandtomouth,withouthavinganythingtoshowforit.Havewenotalreadynewspapersforeveryhouroftheday!Agoodhead could assuredly intercalate one or other of them. They publish abroadeverything that every one does, or is busy with or meditating; nay, his verydesignsaretherebydraggedintopublicity.Noonecanrejoiceorbesorry,butasapastime forothers; and so itgoeson fromhouse tohouse, fromcity tocity,fromkingdomtokingdom,andatlastfromonehemispheretotheother,—allinposthaste.

24

Aslittleasyoucanstifleasteam-engine,solittlecanyoudothisinthemoralsphereeither.Theactivityofcommerce,therushandrustleofpaper-money,theswelling-upofdebtstopaydebts—allthesearethemonstrouselementstowhichinthesedaysayoungmanisexposed.Wellisitforhimifheisgiftedbynaturewithasober,quiettemperament;neithertomakeclaimsontheworldoutofallproportiontohisposition,noryetlettheworlddetermineit.

25

But on all sides he is threatened by the spirit of the day, and nothing ismoreneedfulthantomakehimseeearlyenoughthedirectioninwhichhiswillhastosteer.

26

Thesignificanceofthemostharmlesswordsandactionsgrowswiththeyears,andifIseeanyoneaboutmeforanylengthoftime,Ialwaystrytoshowhimthedifferencethereisbetweensincerity,confidence,andindiscretion;nay, thatin truth there is no difference at all, but a gentle transition fromwhat ismostinnocenttowhatismosthurtful;atransitionwhichmustbeperceivedorratherfelt.

27

Hereinwemustexerciseourtact;otherwiseintheverywayinwhichwehave

wonthefavourofmankind,weruntheriskoftriflingitawayagainunawares.Thisisalessonwhichamanlearnsquitewellforhimselfinthecourseoflife,but only after havingpaid a dear price for it; nor canhe, unhappily, sparehisposterityalikeexpenditure.

28

Loveof truthshowsitself in this, thatamanknowshowtofindandvalue thegoodineverything.

29

Charactercallsforthcharacter.

30

If I am to listen to anotherman's opinion, itmust be expressed positively.OfthingsproblematicalIhaveenoughinmyself.

31

Superstitionisapartoftheverybeingofhumanity;andwhenwefancythatwearebanishingitaltogether,ittakesrefugeinthestrangestnooksandcorners,andthensuddenlycomesforthagain,assoonasitbelievesitselfatallsafe.

32

I keep silence about many things, for I do not want to put people out ofcountenance; and I amwell content if they arepleasedwith things that annoyme.

33

Everythingthatfreesourspiritwithoutgivinguscontrolofourselvesisruinous.

34

Amanisreallyaliveonlywhenhedelightsinthegood-willofothers.

35

Pietyisnotanend,butameans:ameansofattainingthehighestculturebythepuresttranquillityofsoul.

36

Henceitmaybeobservedthatthosewhosetuppietyasanendandobjectaremostlyhypocrites.

37

Whenamanisoldhemustdomorethanwhenhewasyoung.

38

Tofulfiladutyisstillalwaystofeelitasadebt,foritisneverquitesatisfyingtooneself.

39

Defects are perceived only by onewho has no love; therefore, to see them, aman must become uncharitable, but not more so than is necessary for thepurpose.

40

The greatest piece of good fortune is thatwhich corrects our deficiencies andredeemsourmistakes.

41

Reading ought to mean understanding; writing ought to mean knowingsomething; believing ought tomean comprehending;whenyou desire a thing,youwillhavetotakeit;whenyoudemandit,youwillnotgetit;andwhenyouareexperienced,yououghttobeusefultoothers.

42

Thestreamisfriendlytothemillerwhomitserves;itlikestopouroverthemillwheels;whatisthegoodofitstealingthroughthevalleyinapathy?

43

Whosoiscontentwithpureexperienceandactsuponithasenoughoftruth.Thegrowingchildiswiseinthissense.

44

Theory is in itself of no use, except in so far as it makes us believe in theconnectionofphenomena.

45

When a man asks too much and delights in complication, he is exposed toperplexity.

46

Thinking by means of analogies is not to be condemned. Analogy has thisadvantage,thatitcomestonoconclusion,anddoesnot,intruth,aimatfinalityatall.Induction,onthecontrary,isfatal,foritsetsupanobjectandkeepsitinview,and,workingontowardsit,dragsfalseandtruewithitinitstrain.

47

The absent works upon us by tradition. The usual form of it may be calledhistorical;ahigherform,akintotheimaginativefaculty,isthemythical.Ifsomethird form of it is to be sought behind this last, and it has anymeaning, it istransformed into the mystical. It also easily becomes sentimental, so that weappropriatetoouruseonlywhatsuitsus.

48

Incontemplationasinaction,wemustdistinguishbetweenwhatmaybeattainedandwhatisunattainable.Withoutthis,littlecanbeachieved,eitherinlifeorinknowledge.

49

'Lesensecommunestlegéniedel'humanité.'

Common-sense,which ishereput forwardas thegeniusofhumanity,mustbeexamined first of all in the way it shows itself. If we inquire the purpose towhichhumanityputsit,wefindasfollows:Humanityisconditionedbyneeds.Ifthey are not satisfied,men become impatient; and if they are, it seems not toaffectthem.Thenormalmanmovesbetweenthesetwostates,andheapplieshisunderstanding—his so-called common-sense—to the satisfaction of his needs.When his needs are satisfied, his task is to fill up the waste spaces ofindifference. Here, too, he is successful, if his needs are confined to what isnearest and most necessary. But if they rise and pass beyond the sphere ofordinarywants,common-senseisnolongersufficient;itisageniusnomore,andhumanityentersontheregionoferror.

50

There is no piece of foolishness but it can be corrected by intelligence oraccident;nopieceofwisdombut it canmiscarryby lackof intelligenceorbyaccident.

51

Everygreatideaisatyrantwhenitfirstappears;hencetheadvantageswhichitproduceschangealltooquicklyintodisadvantages.Itispossible,then,todefendand praise any institution that exists, if its beginnings are brought toremembrance, and it is shown that everything which was true of it at thebeginningistrueofitstill.

52

Lessing,who chafed under the sense of various limitations,makes one of hischaracterssay:Noonemustdoanything.Acleverpiousmansaid:Ifamanwillssomething,hemustdoit.Athird,whowas,itistrue,aneducatedman,added:Will follows upon insight. Thewhole circle of knowledge, will, and necessitywasthusbelievedtohavebeencompleted.But,asarule,aman'sknowledge,ofwhateverkind itmaybe,determineswhathe shalldoandwhathe shall leaveundone,andsoitisthatthereisnomoreterriblesightthanignoranceinaction.

53

Therearetwopowersthatmakeforpeace:whatisright,andwhatisfitting.

54

Justice insists onobligation, lawondecorum. Justiceweighs anddecides, lawsuperintendsandorders.Justicereferstotheindividual,lawtosociety.

55

Thehistoryofknowledgeisagreatfugueinwhichthevoicesofthenationsoneaftertheotheremerge.

II

56

Ifamanistoachieveallthatisaskedofhim,hemusttakehimselfformorethanheis,andaslongashedoesnotcarryittoanabsurdlength,wewillinglyputupwithit.

57

Workmakescompanionship.

58

Peoplewhipcurdstoseeiftheycannotmakecreamofthem.

59

Itismucheasiertoputyourselfinthepositionofamindtakenupwiththemostabsoluteerror,thanofonewhichmirrorstoitselfhalf-truths.

60

Wisdomliesonlyintruth.

61

WhenIerr,everyonecanseeit;butnotwhenIlie.

62

Isnot theworldfullenoughof riddlesalready,withoutourmakingriddles toooutofthesimplestphenomena?

63

'Thefinesthairthrowsashadow.'Erasmus.

64

WhatIhavetriedtodoinmylifethroughfalsetendencies,Ihaveatlastlearnedtounderstand.

65

Generosity wins favour for every one, especially when it is accompanied bymodesty.

66

Beforethestormbreaks,thedustrisesviolentlyforthelasttime—thedustthatissoontobelaidforever.

67

Mendonot come toknowone another easily, evenwith thebestwill and thebestpurpose.Andthenill-willcomesinanddistortseverything.

68

We should know one another better if one man were not so anxious to puthimselfonanequalitywithanother.

69

Eminent men are therefore in a worse plight than others; for, as we cannotcompareourselveswiththem,weareonthewatchforthem.

70

In the world the point is, not to know men, but at any given moment to becleverer than themanwhostandsbeforeyou.Youcanprove thisatevery fairandfromeverycharlatan.

71

Noteverywherewherethereiswater,aretherefrogs;butwhereyouhavefrogs,thereyouwillfindwater.

72

Errorisquiterightaslongasweareyoung,butwemustnotcarryitonwithusintoouroldage.

Whimsandeccentricitiesthatgrowstalearealluseless,ranknonsense.

a73

IntheformationofspeciesNaturegets,asitwere,intoacul-de-sac;shecannotmakeherwaythrough,andisdisinclinedtoturnback.Hencethestubbornnessofnationalcharacter.

74

Every one has something in his naturewhich, if hewere to express it openly,wouldofnecessitygiveoffence.

75

Ifamanthinksabouthisphysicalormoralcondition,hegenerallyfindsthatheisill.

76

Natureasks that aman should sometimesbe stupefiedwithoutgoing to sleep;hencethepleasureinthesmokingoftobacco,thedrinkingofbrandy,theuseofopiates.

77

Themanwhoisupanddoingshouldseetoitthatwhathedoesisright.Whetherornotrightisdone,isamatterwhichshouldnottroublehim.

78

Manyamanknocksaboutonthewallwithhishammer,andbelievesthathehitstherightnailontheheadeverytime.

79

Paintingandtattooingofthebodyisareturntoanimalism.

80

History-writingisawayofgettingridofthepast.

81

Whatamandoesnotunderstand,hedoesnotpossess.

82

Noteveryonewhohasapregnantthoughtdeliveredtohimbecomesproductive;itprobablymakeshimthinkofsomethingwithwhichheisquitefamiliar.

83

Favour,asasymbolofsovereignty,isexercisedbyweakmen.

84

Everymanhasenoughpowerlefttocarryoutthatofwhichheisconvinced.

85

Memorymayvanishsolongasatthemomentjudgmentdoesnotfailyou.

86

Nonationgainsthepowerofjudgmentexceptitcanpassjudgmentonitself.Buttoattainthisgreatprivilegetakesaverylongtime.

87

Insteadofcontradictingmywordspeopleoughttoactinmyspirit.

88

Thosewhoopposeintellectualtruthsdobutstirupthefire,andthecindersflyaboutandburnwhattheyhadelsenottouched.

89

Manwouldnotbethefinestcreatureintheworldifhewerenottoofineforit.

90

WhatalongtimepeoplewerevainlydisputingabouttheAntipodes!

91

Certainmindsmustbeallowedtheirpeculiarities.

92

Snowisfalsepurity.

93

Whososhrinksfromideasendsbyhavingnothingbutsensations.

94

Thosefromwhomwearealwayslearningarerightlycalledourmasters;butnoteveryonewhoteachesusdeservesthistitle.

95

Itiswithyouaswiththesea:themostvariednamesaregiventowhatisintheendonlysaltwater.

96

Itissaidthatvainself-praisestinksinthenostrils.Thatmaybeso;butforthekindofsmellwhichcomesfromunjustblamebyothersthepublichasnonoseatall.

97

There are problematical natureswhich are equal to no position inwhich theyfind themselves, and which no position satisfies. This it is that causes thathideousconflictwhichwasteslifeanddeprivesitofallpleasure.

98

Ifwedoanyrealgood,itismostlyclam,vi,etprecario.

99

Dirtglittersaslongasthesunshines.

100

Itisdifficulttobejusttothepassingmoment.Weareboredbyitifitisneithergoodnorbad;butthegoodmomentlaysataskuponus,andthebadmomentaburden.

101

He is thehappiestmanwho can set the endof his life in connectionwith thebeginning.

102

So obstinately contradictory is man that you cannot compel him to hisadvantage,yetheyieldsbeforeeverythingthatforceshimtohishurt.

103

Forethoughtissimple,afterthoughtmanifold.

104

A state of things inwhich everydaybrings somenew trouble is not the rightone.

105

Whenpeople sufferby failing to lookbefore them,nothing is commoner thantryingtolookoutforsomepossibleremedy.

106

TheHindoosoftheDesertmakeasolemnvowtoeatnofish.

107

Toventure an opinion is likemoving a piece at chess: itmaybe taken, but itformsthebeginningofagamethatiswon.

108

Itisascertainasitisstrangethattruthanderrorcomefromoneandthesamesource.Thusitisthatweareoftennotatlibertytodoviolencetoerror,becauseatthesametimewedoviolencetotruth.

109

Truth belongs to theman, error to his age. This iswhy it has been said that,whilethemisfortuneoftheagecausedhiserror,theforceofhissoulmadehimemergefromtheerrorwithglory.

110

Everyonehashispeculiaritiesandcannotgetridofthem;andyetmanyaoneisdestroyedbyhispeculiarities,andthosetooofthemostinnocentkind.

111

Ifamandoesthinktoomuchofhimself,heismorethanhebelieveshimselftobe.

112

Inartandknowledge,asalsoindeedandaction,everythingdependsonapureapprehensionoftheobjectandatreatmentofitaccordingtoitsnature.

113

When intelligent and sensible people despise knowledge in their old age, it isonlybecausetheyhaveaskedtoomuchofitandofthemselves.

114

Ipitythosewhomakemuchadoaboutthetransitorynatureofallthingsandarelostinthecontemplationofearthlyvanity:arewenotheretomakethetransitorypermanent?Thiswecandoonlyifweknowhowtovalueboth.

115

Arainbowwhichlastsaquarterofanhourislookedatnomore.

116

Itusedtohappen,andstillhappens,tometotakenopleasureinaworkofartatthefirstsightofit,becauseitistoomuchforme;butifIsuspectanymeritinit,Itrytogetatit;andthenIneverfailtomakethemostgratifyingdiscoveries,—tofindnewqualitiesintheworkitselfandnewfacultiesinmyself.

117

Faithisprivatecapital,keptinone'sownhouse.Therearepublicsavings-banksand loan-offices, which supply individuals in their day of need; but here thecreditorquietlytakeshisinterestforhimself.

118

Realobscurantismisnottohinderthespreadofwhatistrue,clear,anduseful,buttobringintovoguewhatisfalse.

119

During a prolonged study of the lives of variousmen both great and small, Icameuponthisthought:Intheweboftheworldtheonemaywellberegardedasthewarp,theotherasthewoof.Itisthelittlemen,afterall,whogivebreadthtotheweb,andthegreatmenfirmnessandsolidity;perhaps,also,theadditionofsome sortofpattern.But the scissorsof theFatesdetermine its length, and tothatalltherestmustjoininsubmittingitself.

120

Truthisatorch,butahugeone,andsoitisonlywithblinkingeyesthatweallofustrytogetpastit,inactualterrorofbeingburnt.

121

'Thewisehavemuchincommonwithoneanother.'Æschylus.

122

Thereallyfoolishthinginmenwhoareotherwiseintelligentisthattheyfailtounderstandwhatanotherpersonsays,whenhedoesnotexactlyhitupontherightwayofsayingit.

123

Becauseamanspeaks,hethinksheisabletospeakaboutlanguage.

124

One need only grow old to become gentler in one's judgments. I see no faultcommittedwhichIcouldnothavecommittedmyself.

125

Themanwhoactsneverhasanyconscience;noonehasanyconsciencebutthemanwhothinks.

126

Whyshouldthosewhoarehappyexpectonewhoismiserabletodiebeforetheminagracefulattitude,likethegladiatorbeforetheRomanmob?

127

SomeoneaskedTimonabouttheeducationofhischildren. 'Letthem,'hesaid,'beinstructedinthatwhichtheywillneverunderstand.'

128

TherearepeoplewhomIwishwell,andwouldthatIcouldwishbetter.

129

Byforceofhabitwelookataclockthathasrundownasifitwerestillgoing,andwegazeatthefaceofabeautyasthoughshestillloved.

130

Hatredisactivedispleasure,envypassive.Weneednotwonderthatenvyturnssosoontohatred.

131

Thereissomethingmagicalinrhythm;itevenmakesusbelievethatwepossessthesublime.

132

Dilettantism treated seriously, and knowledge pursued mechanically, end bybecomingpedantry.

133

NoonebutthemastercanpromotethecauseofArt.Patronshelpthemaster,—thatisrightandproper;butthatdoesnotalwaysmeanthatArtishelped.

134

Themostfoolishofallerrorsisforcleveryoungmentobelievethattheyforfeittheir originality in recognising a truth which has already been recognised byothers.

135

Scholarsaregenerallymalignantwhentheyarerefutingothers;andiftheythinka man is making a mistake, they straightway look upon him as their mortalenemy.

136

Beautycanneverreallyunderstanditself.

III

137

Itismucheasiertorecogniseerrorthantofindtruth;forerrorliesonthesurface

andmay be overcome; but truth lies in the depths, and to search for it is notgiventoeveryone.

138

Weallliveonthepast,andthroughthepastaredestroyed.

139

Weareno soonerabout to learn somegreat lesson thanwe take refuge inourowninnatepovertyofsoul,andyetforallthatthelessonhasnotbeenquiteinvain.

140

Theworldofempiricalmoralityconsistsforthemostpartofnothingbutill-willandenvy.

141

Life seems sovulgar, so easily contentwith the commonplace thingsof everyday,andyet italwaysnursesandcherishescertainhigherclaimsinsecret,andlooksaboutforthemeansofsatisfyingthem.

142

Confidencesarestrangethings.Ifyoulistenonlytooneman,itispossiblethathe isdeceivedormistaken; ifyou listen tomany, theyare ina likecase; and,generally,youcannotgetatthetruthatall.

143

Nooneshoulddesiretoliveinirregularcircumstances;butifbychanceamanfallsintothem,theytesthischaracterandshowofhowmuchdeterminationheiscapable.

144

An honourablemanwith limited ideas often sees through the rascality of themostcunningjobber.

145

If a man feels no love, he must learn how to flatter; otherwise he will not

succeed.

146

Againstcriticismamancanneitherprotestnordefendhimself;hemustact inspiteofit,andthencriticismwillgraduallyyieldtohim.

147

The masses cannot dispense with men of ability, and such men are always aburdentothem.

148

Ifamanspreadsmyfailingsabroad,heismymaster,eventhoughheweremyservant.

149

Whethermemoirsarewrittenbymastersofservants,orbyservantsofmasters,theprocessesalwaysmeet.

150

Ifyoulaydutiesuponpeopleandgivethemnorights,youmustpaythemwell.

151

Icanpromisetobesincere,butnottobeimpartial.

152

Ingratitudeisalwaysakindofweakness.Ihaveneverknownmenofabilitytobeungrateful.

153

Weareallsolimitedthatwealwaysthinkweareright;andsowemayconceiveofanextraordinarymindwhichnotonlyerrsbuthasapositivedelightinerror.

154

Itisveryraretofindpureandsteadyactivityintheaccomplishmentofwhatisgoodandright.Weusuallyseepedantrytryingtokeepback,andaudacitytryingtogoontoofast.

155

Wordandpicturearecorrelativeswhicharecontinuallyinquestofeachother,asis sufficiently evident in the case ofmetaphors and similes. So from all timewhatwassaidorsunginwardlytotheearhadtobepresentedequallytotheeye.And so in childish dayswe seeword and picture in continual balance; in thebook of the law and in theway of salvation, in theBible and in the spelling-book.Whensomethingwasspokenwhichcouldnotbepictured,andsomethingpictured which could not be spoken, all went well; but mistakes were oftenmade,andawordwasusedinsteadofapicture;andthencearosethosemonstersofsymbolicalmysticism,whicharedoublyanevil.

156

Forthemanoftheworldacollectionofanecdotesandmaximsisofthegreatestvalue, if he knows how to intersperse the one in his conversation at fittingmoments,andremembertheotherwhenacasearisesfortheirapplication.

157

Whenyouloseinterestinanything,youalsolosethememoryforit.

158

Theworldisabellwithacrackinit;itrattles,butdoesnotring.

159

The importunity of youngdilettantimust bebornewithgood-will; for as theygrowoldtheybecomethetruestworshippersofArtandtheMaster.

160

Peoplehavetobecomereallybadbeforetheycarefornothingbutmischief,anddelightinit.

161

Cleverpeoplearethebestencyclopædia.

162

Therearepeoplewhomakenomistakesbecausetheyneverwishtodoanythingworthdoing.

163

If Iknowmyrelation tomyselfand theouterworld, Icall it truth.Everymancanhavehisownpeculiartruth;andyetitisalwaysthesame.

164

Nooneisthemasterofanytrulyproductiveenergy;andallmenmustletitworkonbyitself.

165

Amanneverunderstandshowanthropomorphicheis.

166

Adifferencewhichoffersnothingtotheunderstandingisnodifferenceatall.

167

Amancannotliveforeveryone;leastofallforthosewithwhomhewouldnotcaretolive.

168

If aman sets out to study all the laws, hewill haveno time left to transgressthem.

169

Thingsthataremysteriousarenotyetmiracles.

170

'Convertsarenotinmygoodbooks.'

171

Afrivolousimpulsiveencouragementofproblematicaltalentswasamistakeofmyearlyyears;andIhaveneverbeenabletoabandonitaltogether.

172

Ishould like tobehonestwithyou,withoutour fallingout;but itwillnotdo.You actwrongly, and fall between two stools; youwin no adherents and lose

yourfriends.Whatistobetheendofit?

173

Itisallonewhetheryouareofhighorofhumbleorigin.Youwillalwayshavetopayforyourhumanity.

174

WhenIhearpeoplespeakofliberalideas,itisalwaysawondertomethatmenaresoreadilyputoffwithemptyverbiage.Anideacannotbeliberal;butitmaybepotent,vigorous,exclusive,inordertofulfilitsmissionofbeingproductive.Still less can a concept be liberal; for a concept has quite another mission.Where, however, we must look for liberality, is in the sentiments; and thesentiments are the inner man as he lives and moves. A man's sentiments,however,are rarely liberal,because theyproceeddirectly fromhimpersonally,and fromhis immediate relations and requirements.Furtherwewill notwrite,andletusapplythistesttowhatweheareveryday.

175

Ifaclevermancommitsafolly,itisnotasmallone.

176

Thereisapoetrywithoutfiguresofspeech,whichisasinglefigureofspeech.

177

Iwenton troublingmyself aboutgeneral ideasuntil I learnt tounderstand theparticularachievementsofthebestmen.

178

It is only when a man knows little, that he knows anything at all. Withknowledgegrowsdoubt.

179

Theerrorsofamanarewhatmakehimreallylovable.

180

There aremenwho love their like and seek it; others love their opposite and

followafterit.

181

If a man has always let himself think the world as bad as the adversaryrepresentsittobe,hemusthavebecomeamiserableperson.

182

Ill-favour and hatred limit the spectator to the surface, even when keenperceptionisaddeduntothem;butwhenkeenperceptionuniteswithgood-willandlove,itgetsattheheartofmanandtheworld;nay,itmayhopetoreachthehighestgoalofall.

183

Rawmatterisseenbyeveryone;thecontentsarefoundonlybyhimwhohashiseyesabouthim;andtheformisasecrettothemajority.

184

Wemaylearntoknowtheworldasweplease:itwillalwaysretainabrightandadarkside.

185

Error is continually repeating itself in action, andwemust unweariedly repeatthetruthinword.

186

As inRome there is, apart from theRomans, a populationof statues, so apartfrom this realworld there isaworldof illusion,almostmorepotent, inwhichmostmenlive.

187

Mankind is like theRed Sea: the staff has scarcely parted thewaves asunder,beforetheyflowtogetheragain.

188

Thoughtscomeback;beliefspersist;factspassbynevertoreturn.

189

Ofallpeoples,theGreekshavedreamtthedreamoflifethebest.

190

Wereadilybowtoantiquity,butnottoposterity.Itisonlyafatherthatdoesnotgrudgetalenttohisson.

191

Thereisnovirtueinsubordinatingoneself;butthereisvirtueindescending,andinrecognisinganythingasaboveus,whichisbeneathus.

192

Thewholeartoflivingconsistsingivingupexistenceinordertoexist.

193

All our pursuits and actions are a wearying process. Well is it for him whoweariesnot.

194

Hopeisthesecondsouloftheunhappy.

195

Loveisatruerenovator.

196

Mankind is notwithout awish to serve; hence the chivalryof theFrench is aservitude.

197

Inthetheatrethepleasureofwhatweseeandhearrestrainsourreflections.

198

There is no limit to the increase of experience, but theories cannot becomeclearerandmorecompleteinjustthesamesense.Thefieldofexperienceisthewholeuniverseinalldirections.Theoryremainsshutupwithinthelimitsofthehumanfaculties.Hencethereisnowayoflookingattheworld,butitrecurs,andthecurious thinghappens, thatwith increasedexperiencea limited theorymay

againcomeintofavour.

It is always the same world which stands open to observation, which iscontinually being contemplated or guessed at; and it is always the samemenwho live in the trueor in the false;moreat their ease in the latter than in theformer.

199

Truth is at variancewith our natures, but not so error; and for a very simplereason.Truthrequiresus torecogniseourselvesas limited,buterrorflattersuswiththebeliefthatinonewayoranotherwearesubjecttonoboundsatall.

200

Thatsomementhinktheycanstilldowhattheyhavebeenabletodo,isnaturalenough; thatothers thinktheycandowhat theyhaveneverbeenable todo, issingular,butnotrare.

201

Atalltimesithasnotbeentheage,butindividualsalone,whohaveworkedforknowledge.ItwastheagewhichputSocratestodeathbypoison,theagewhichburntHuss.Theageshavealwaysremainedalike.

202

ThatistrueSymbolism,wherethemoreparticularrepresentsthemoregeneral,not as a dream or shade, but as a vivid, instantaneous revelation of theInscrutable.

203

Everything of an abstract or symbolic nature, as soon as it is challenged byrealities, ends by consuming them and itself. So credit consumes bothmoneyanditself.

204

Masteryoftenpassesforegoism.

205

With Protestants, as soon as good works cease and their merit is denied,

sentimentalitytakestheirplace.

206

If aman knowswhere to get good advice, it is as though he could supply ithimself.

207

Theuseofmottoes is to indicatesomethingwehavenotattained,butstrive toattain.Itisrighttokeepthemalwaysbeforeoureyes.

208

'Ifamancannotliftastonehimself,lethimleaveit,eventhoughhehassomeonetohelphim.'

209

Despotism promotes general self-government, because from top to bottom itmakestheindividualresponsible,andsoproducesthehighestdegreeofactivity.

210

Amanmustpaydearforhiserrorsifhewishestogetridofthem,andeventhenheislucky.

211

Enthusiasmisofthegreatestvalue,solongaswearenotcarriedawaybyit.

212

Schoolitselfistheonlytruepreparationforit.

213

Error isrelatedto truthassleeptowaking.Ihaveobservedthatonawakeningfromerroramanturnsagaintotruthaswithnewvigour.

214

Every one sufferswho does notwork for himself.Amanworks for others tohavethemshareinhisjoy.

215

Men's prejudices rest upon their character for the time being and cannot beovercome, as being part and parcel of themselves. Neither evidence norcommon-sensenorreasonhastheslightestinfluenceuponthem.

216

Characters oftenmake a lawof their failings.Menwhoknow theworld havesaid that when prudence is only fear in disguise, its scruples cannot beconquered.Theweakoftenhaverevolutionarysentiments;theythinktheywouldbewelloffiftheywerenotruled,andfailtoperceivethattheycanruleneitherthemselvesnorothers.

217

Common-sense is born pure in the healthy man, is self-developed, and isrevealed by a resolute perception and recognition of what is necessary anduseful.Practicalmenandwomenavailthemselvesofitwithconfidence.Whereit isabsent,bothsexesfindanythingnecessarywhen theydesire it,andusefulwhenitgivesthempleasure.

218

All men, as they attain freedom, give play to their errors. The strong do toomuch,andtheweaktoolittle.

219

The conflict of the old, the existing, the continuing, with development,improvement,andreform,isalwaysthesame.Orderofeverykindturnsatlasttopedantry,andtogetridoftheone,peopledestroytheother;andsoitgoesonfor a while, until people perceive that order must be established anew.Classicism and Romanticism; close corporations and freedom of trade; themaintenanceoflargeestatesandthedivisionoftheland,—itisalwaysthesameconflictwhichendsbyproducinganewone.Thebestpolicyofthoseinpowerwould be so to moderate this conflict as to let it right itself without thedestructionofeitherelement.Butthishasnotbeengrantedtomen,anditseemsnottobethewillofGod.

220

Agreatworklimitsusforthemoment,becausewefeelitaboveourpowers;andonlyinsofarasweafterwardsincorporateitwithourculture,andmakeitpartofourmindandheart,doesitbecomeadearandworthyobject.

221

Itisnowonderthatweallmoreorlessdelightinthemediocre,becauseitleavesusinpeace:itgivesusthecomfortablefeelingofintercoursewithwhatislikeourselves.

222

Thereisnouseinreprovingvulgarity,foritneverchanges.

223

Wecannotescapeacontradictioninourselves;wemusttrytoresolveit.If thecontradictioncomesfromothers,itdoesnotaffectus:itistheiraffair.

224

Therearemanythingsintheworldthatareatoncegoodandexcellent,buttheydonotcomeintocontact.

225

Whichisthebestgovernment?Thatwhichteachesustogovernourselves.

226

Whenmenhavetodowithwomen,theygetspunofflikeadistaff.

227

Itmaywellbethatamanisattimeshorriblythreshedbymisfortunes,publicandprivate:buttherecklessflailofFate,whenitbeatstherichsheaves,crushesonlythe straw; and the corn feels nothing of it and dances merrily on the floor,carelesswhetheritswayistothemillorthefurrow.

228

Howeverprobableitisthatadesiremaybefulfilled,thereisalwaysadoubt;andsowhenthedesireisrealised,itisalwayssurprising.

229

Absurditiespresentedwithgoodtasterousedisgustandadmiration.

230

Ofthebestsocietyitusedtobesaid:theirspeechinstructsthemind,andtheirsilencethefeelings.

231

Nothingismoreterriblethanignoranceinaction.

232

BeautyandGeniusmustbekeptafarifonewouldavoidbecomingtheirslave.

233

Wetreattheagedwithconsideration,aswetreatchildren.

234

Anoldmanlosesoneofthegreatestofhumanprivileges:heisnomorejudgedbyhispeers.

235

Inthematterofknowledge,ithashappenedtomeastoonewhorisesearly,andinthedarkimpatientlyawaitsthedawn,andthenthesun;butisblindedwhenitappears.

236

Great primeval powers, evolved in time or in eternity, work on unceasingly:whethertowealortowoe,isamatterofchance.

IV

237

People often say to themselves in life that they should avoid a variety ofoccupation,and,moreparticularly,be the lesswilling toenteruponnewwork

the older they grow.But it is easy to talk, easy to give advice to oneself andothers.Togrowoldisitselftoenteruponanewbusiness;allthecircumstanceschange, and a man must either cease acting altogether, or willingly andconsciouslytakeoverthenewrôle.

238

Of theAbsolute in the theoretical sense, I do not venture to speak; but this Imaintain: that ifamanrecognises it in itsmanifestation,andalwayskeepshisgazefixeduponit,hewillexperienceverygreatreward.

239

Toliveinagreatideameanstotreattheimpossibleasthoughitwerepossible.Itisjustthesamewithastrongcharacter;andwhenanideaandacharactermeet,thingsarisewhichfilltheworldwithwonderforthousandsofyears.

240

Napoleonlivedwhollyinagreatidea,buthewasunabletotakeconsciousholdof it. After utterly disavowing all ideals and denying them any reality, hezealously strove to realise them. His clear, incorruptible intellect could not,however,toleratesuchaperpetualconflictwithin;andthereismuchvalueinthethoughtswhichhewascompelled,asitwere,toutter,andwhichareexpressedverypeculiarlyandwithmuchcharm.

241

Heconsideredtheideaasathingofthemind,thathad,itistrue,noreality,butstill,onpassingaway,leftaresiduum—acaputmortuum—towhichsomerealitycouldnotbealtogetherrefused.Wemaythinkthisaveryperverseandmaterialnotion;butwhenheentertainedhisfriendswith theneverendingconsequencesof his life and actions, in full belief and confidence in them, he expressedhimselfquitedifferently.Then,indeed,hewasreadytoadmitthatlifeproduceslife;thatafruitfulacthaseffectstoalltime.Hetookpleasureinconfessingthathehadgivenagreatimpulse,anewdirection,tothecourseoftheworld'saffairs.

242

It always remainsavery remarkable fact thatmenwhosewholepersonality isalmostallidea,aresoextremelyshyofallphantasy.InthiscasewasHamann,whocouldnotbearthementionof"thingsofanotherworld."Hetookoccasion

to express himself on this point in a certain paragraph, which he wrote infourteendifferentways;andstill,apparently,hewasneverquitesatisfiedwithit.

Two of these attempts have been preserved to us; a third we have ourselvesattempted,whichweareinducedtoprintherebytheprecedingobservations.

243

Man is placed as a real being in themidst of a realworld, and endowedwithsuchorgansthathecanperceiveandproducetherealandalsothepossible.

Allhealthymenhavetheconvictionoftheirownexistenceandofanexistencearound them.However, even thebraincontainsahollowspot, that is to say,aplaceinwhichnoobjectismirrored;justasintheeyeitselfthereisalittlespotthatdoesnotsee.Ifamanpaysparticularattentiontothisspotandisabsorbedin it, he falls into a state of mental sickness, has presentiments of "things ofanotherworld,"whichare,inreality,nothingsatall;possessingneitherformnorlimit, but alarming him like dark, empty tracts of night, and pursuing him assomethingmorethanphantoms,ifhedoesnottearhimselffreefromthem.

244

Totheseveralperversitiesofthedayamanshouldalwaysopposeonlythegreatmassesofuniversalhistory.

245

Noonecanlivemuchwithchildrenwithoutfindingthattheyalwaysreacttoanyoutwardinfluenceuponthem.

246

With any specially childish nature the reaction is even passionate, while itsactionisenergetic.

247

That is why children's lives are a series of refined judgments, not to sayprejudices;andtoeffacearapidbutpartialperceptioninordertomakewayforamoregeneralone,timeisnecessary.Tobearthisinmindisoneoftheteacher'sgreatestduties.

248

Friendshipcanonlybebredinpracticeandbemaintainedbypractice.Affection,nay,loveitself,isnohelpatalltofriendship.True,active,productivefriendshipconsistsinkeepingequalpaceinlife:inmyfriendapprovingmyaims,whileIapprove his, and in thusmoving forwards together steadfastly, howevermuchourwayofthoughtandlifemayvary.

V

249

Intheworldpeopletakeamanathisownestimate;buthemustestimatehimselfatsomething.Disagreeablenessismoreeasilytoleratedthaninsignificance.

250

Youcanforceanythingonsocietysolongasithasnosequel.

251

Wedonotlearntoknowmeniftheycometous;wemustgotothemtofindoutwhattheyare.

252

Thatwehavemanycriticismstomakeonthosewhovisitus,andthat,assoonastheydepart,wepassnoveryamiablejudgmentuponthem,seemstomealmostnatural;forwehave,sotospeak,arighttomeasurethembyourownstandard.Evenintelligentandfair-mindedmenhardlyrefrainfromsharpcensureonsuchoccasions.

253

Butif,onthecontrary,wehavebeenintheirhomes,andhaveseenthemintheirsurroundings and habits and the circumstances which are necessary andinevitable for them; ifwehave seen thekindof influence they exert on thosearoundthem,orhowtheybehave,itisonlyignoranceandill-willthatcanfindfood for ridicule inwhatmust appear tous inmore thanone senseworthyofrespect.

254

Whatwecallconductandgoodmannersobtainsforusthatwhichotherwiseistobeobtainedonlybyforce,ornotevenbyforce.

255

Women'ssocietyistheelementofgoodmanners.

256

Howcan thecharacter, thepeculiarnatureofaman,becompatiblewithgoodmanners?

257

It is throughhisgoodmanners thataman'speculiarnatureshouldbemadeallthe more conspicuous. Every one likes distinction, but it should not bedisagreeable.

258

Themostprivilegedposition,inlifeasinsociety,isthatofaneducatedsoldier.Roughwarriors,atanyrate,remaintruetotheircharacter,andasgreatstrengthisusuallythecoverforgoodnature,wegetonwiththematneed.

259

Noone ismore troublesome than an awkward civilian.As his business is notwithanythingbrutalorcoarse,hemightbeexpectedtoshowdelicacyoffeeling.

260

Whenwelivewithpeoplewhohaveadelicatesenseofwhat isfitting,wegetquiteanxiousaboutthemifanythinghappenstodisturbthissense.

261

Noonewould come into a roomwith spectacles on his nose, if he knew thatwomenatonceloseanyinclinationtolookatortalktohim.

262

Afamiliarintheplaceofarespectfuldemeanourisalwaysridiculous.

263

There is no outward sign of politeness that will be found to lack some deepmoralfoundation.Therightkindofeducationwouldbethatwhichconveyedthesignandthefoundationatthesametime.

264

Aman'smannersarethemirrorinwhichheshowshisportrait.

265

There isapolitenessof theheart,and it isallied to love. Itproduces themostagreeablepolitenessofoutwarddemeanour.

266

Voluntarydependenceisthebeststate,andhowshouldthatbepossiblewithoutlove?

267

Weareneverfurtherfromourwishesthanwhenwefancywepossesstheobjectofthem.

268

Nooneismoreofaslavethanhewhothinkshimselffreewithoutbeingso.

269

Amanhas only to declare himself free to feel at the samemoment that he islimited.Shouldheventuretodeclarehimselflimited,hefeelshimselffree.

270

Againstthegreatsuperiorityofanotherthereisnoremedybutlove.

271

Itisaterriblethingforaneminentmantobegloriedinbyfools.

272

Itissaidthatnomanisaherotohisvalet.Thatisonlybecauseaherocanbe

recognisedonlybyahero.Thevaletwillprobablyknowhowtoappreciatehislike,—hisfellow-valet.

273

There is no greater consolation for mediocrity than that the genius is notimmortal.

274

Thegreatestmenarelinkedtotheiragebysomeweakpoint.

275

Wegenerallytakementobemoredangerousthantheyare.

276

Foolsandwisefolkarealikeharmless.It isthehalf-wise,andthehalf-foolish,whoarethemostdangerous.

277

Toseeadifficultthinglightlyhandledgivesustheimpressionoftheimpossible.

278

Difficultiesincreasethenearerwecometoouraim.

279

Sowingisnotsopainfulasreaping.

280

Wearefondoflookingtothefuture,becauseoursecretwishesmakeusapttoturninourfavourtheuncertaintieswhichmoveaboutinithitherandthither.

281

Itisnoteasytobeinanygreatassemblywithoutthinkingthatthechancewhichbringssomanypeopletogetherwillalsomakeusmeetourfriends.

282

Amanmay live never so retired a life but he becomes a debtor or a creditor

beforeheisawareofit.

283

Ifanyonemeetsuswhoowesusadebtofgratitude,itimmediatelycrossesourmind.How often canwemeet some one towhomwe owe gratitude,withoutthinkingofit!

284

TocommunicateoneselfisNature;toreceiveacommunicationasitisgivenisCulture.

285

No one would speak much in society if he were aware how often wemisunderstandothers.

286

It is only because we have not understood a thing that we cannot repeat itwithoutalteration.

287

To make a long speech in the presence of others without flattering youraudience,istorousedislike.

288

Everywordthatweutterrousesitscontrary.

289

Contradictionandflatterymake,bothofthem,badconversation.

290

Thepleasantestsocietyisthatinwhichthereexistsagenialdeferenceamongstthemembersonetowardsanother.

291

Bynothingdomenshowtheircharactermorethanbythethingstheylaughat.

292

Theridiculousspringsfromamoralcontrastinnocentlypresentedtothesenses.

293

Thesensualmanoftenlaughswhenthereisnothingtolaughat.Whateverit isthatmoveshim,heshowsthatheispleasedwithhimself.

294

An intelligent man finds almost everything ridiculous, a wise man hardlyanything.

295

Amanwell on in years was reproved for still troubling himself about youngwomen. 'It is theonlymeans,'he replied, 'of regainingone'syouth;and that issomethingeveryonewishestodo.'

296

Amandoesnotmindbeingblamedforhisfaults,andbeingpunishedforthem,andhepatientlysuffersmuchforthesakeofthem;buthebecomesimpatientifheisrequiredtogivethemup.

297

Certainfaultsarenecessarytotheindividualifheistoexist.Weshouldnotlikeoldfriendstogiveupcertainpeculiarities.

298

Itissaidofamanthathewillsoondie,whenheactsinanywayunlikehimself.

299

What kind of faults in ourselves shouldwe retain, nay, even cultivate? Thosewhichratherflatterotherpeoplethanoffendthem.

300

Thepassionsaregoodorbadqualities,onlyintensified.

301

Ourpassionsare, in truth, like thephoenix.When theoldoneburnsaway, thenewonerisesoutofitsashesatonce.

302

Great passions are hopeless diseases. That which could cure them is the firstthingtomakethemreallydangerous.

303

Passionisenhancedandtemperedbyavowal.Innothing,perhaps,isthemiddlecoursemoredesirablethaninconfidenceandreticencetowardsthosewelove.

304

Tositinjudgmentonthedepartedisneverlikelytobeequitable.Weallsufferfrom life; who except God can call us to account? Let not their faults andsufferings,butwhattheyhaveaccomplishedanddone,occupythesurvivors.

305

Itisfailingsthatshowhumannature,andmeritsthatdistinguishtheindividual;faults and misfortunes we all have in common; virtues belong to each oneseparately.

VI

306

Thesecretplaces in thewayof lifemaynotandcannotbe revealed: therearerocksofoffenceonwhichevery travellermuststumble.But thepoetpoints towheretheyare.

307

ItwouldnotbeworthwhiletoseeseventyyearsifallthewisdomofthisworldwerefoolishnesswithGod.

308

The true is Godlike: we do not see it itself; we must guess at it through itsmanifestations.

309

Therealscholarlearnshowtoevolvetheunknownfromtheknown,anddrawsnearthemaster.

310

In the smithy the iron is softenedbyblowingup the fire, and taking thedrossfromthebar.Assoonasitispurified,itisbeatenandpressed,andbecomesfirmagain by the addition of freshwater.The same thing happens to aman at thehandsofhisteacher.

311

Whatbelongstoaman,hecannotgetridof,eventhoughhethrowsitaway.

312

Of true religions there areonly two:oneof them recognises andworships theHoly that without form or shape dwells in and around us; and the otherrecognisesandworshipsitinitsfairestform.Everythingthatliesbetweenthesetwoisidolatry.

313

ItisundeniablethatintheReformationthehumanmindtriedtofreeitself;andthe renaissance of Greek and Roman antiquity brought about the wish andlongingforafreer,moreseemly,andelegantlife.Themovementwasfavoured

innosmalldegreeby thefact thatmen'sheartsaimedat returning toacertainsimplestateofnature,whiletheimaginationsoughttoconcentrateitself.

314

TheSaintswereallatoncedrivenfromheaven;andsenses,thought,andheartwereturnedfromadivinemotherwithatenderchild, tothegrownmandoinggoodandsufferingevil,whowaslatertransfiguredintoabeinghalf-divineinitsnature, and then recognised and honoured asGod himself.He stood against abackgroundwheretheCreatorhadopenedouttheuniverse;aspiritualinfluencewent out from him; his sufferings were adopted as an example, and histransfigurationwasthepledgeofeverlastingness.

315

Asacoalisrevivedbyincense,soprayerrevivesthehopesoftheheart.

316

Fromastrictpointofviewwemusthaveareformationofourselveseveryday,andprotestagainstothers,eventhoughitbeinnoreligioussense.

317

Itshouldbeourearnestendeavourtousewordscoincidingascloselyaspossiblewithwhatwefeel,see,think,experience,imagine,andreason.Itisanendeavourwhichwecannotevade,andwhichisdailytoberenewed.

Leteverymanexaminehimself,andhewillfindthisamuchhardertaskthanhemightsuppose;for,unhappily,amanusuallytakeswordsasmeremake-shifts;his knowledge and his thought are in most cases better than his method ofexpression.

False,irrelevant,andfutileideasmayariseinourselvesandothers,orfindtheirwayintousfromwithout.Letuspersistintheefforttoremovethemasfaraswecan,byplainandhonestpurpose.

318

Aswegrowolder,theordealsgrowgreater.

319

WhereIcannotbemoral,mypowerisgone.

320

Amanisnotdeceivedbyothers,hedeceiveshimself.

321

Laws are all made by old people and by men. Youths and women want theexceptions,oldpeopletherules.

322

It is not the intelligentmanwho rules, but intelligence; not thewiseman,butwisdom.

323

Topraiseamanistoputoneselfonhislevel.

324

Itisnotenoughtoknow,wemustalsoapply;itisnotenoughtowill,wemustalsodo.

325

Chinese, Indian, andEgyptian antiquities are nevermore than curiosities; it iswelltomakeacquaintancewiththem;butinpointofmoralandæstheticculturetheycanhelpuslittle.

326

TheGermanrunsnogreaterdangerthantoadvancewithandbytheexampleofhisneighbours.There isperhapsnonation that is fitter for theprocessofself-development;sothatithasprovedofthegreatestadvantagetoGermanytohaveobtainedthenoticeoftheworldsolate.

327

Evenmenof insightdonot see that they try toexplain thingswhich lieat thefoundationofourexperience,andinwhichwemustsimplyacquiesce.

Yet still theattemptmayhave itsadvantage,asotherwiseweshouldbreakoffourresearchestoosoon.

328

From this time forward, if a man does not apply himself to some art orhandiwork, he will be in a bad way. In the rapid changes of the world,knowledge is no longer a furtherance; by the time a man has taken note ofeverything,hehaslosthimself.

329

Besides,inthesedaystheworldforcesuniversalcultureuponus,andsoweneednot trouble ourselves further about it; we must appropriate some particularculture.

330

Thegreatestdifficultiesliewherewedonotlookforthem.

331

Ourinterestinpubliceventsismostlythemerestphilistinism.

332

Nothingismorehighlytobeprizedthanthevalueofeachday.

333

Pereant qui ante nos nostra dixerunt! This is so strange an utterance, that itcouldonlyhavecome fromonewho fanciedhimself autochthonous.Themanwholooksuponitasanhonourtobedescendedfromwiseancestors,willallowthematleastasmuchcommon-senseasheallowshimself.

334

Strictlyspeaking,everythingdependsuponaman'sintentions;wheretheseexist,thoughtsappear;andastheintentionsare,soarethethoughts.

335

Ifamanliveslonginahighposition,hedoesnot,itistrue,experienceallthataman can experience; but he experiences things like them, and perhaps somethingsthathavenoparallelelsewhere.

VII

336

Thefirstandlastthingthatisrequiredofgeniusisloveoftruth.

337

Tobeandremaintruetooneselfandothers,istopossessthenoblestattributeofthegreatesttalents.

338

Greattalentsarethebestmeansofconciliation.

339

The action of genius is in a way ubiquitous: towards general truths beforeexperience,andtowardsparticulartruthsafterit.

340

An active scepticism is one which constantly aims at overcoming itself, andarrivingbymeansofregulatedexperienceatakindofconditionedcertainty.

341

Thegeneralnatureofthescepticalmindis its tendencytoinquirewhetheranyparticularpredicate really attaches to anyparticularobject; and thepurposeofthe inquiry is safely to apply in practice what has thus been discovered andproved.

342

Themindendowedwithactivepowersandkeepingwithapracticalobjecttothetaskthatliesnearest,istheworthiestthereisonearth.

343

Perfectionis themeasureofheaven,andthewishtobeperfect themeasureofman.

344

Notonlywhatisbornwithhim,butalsowhatheacquires,makestheman.

345

Amaniswellequippedforalltherealnecessitiesoflifeifhetrustshissenses,andsocultivatesthemthattheyremainworthyofbeingtrusted.

346

Thesensesdonotdeceive;itisthejudgmentthatdeceives.

347

Theloweranimalistaughtbyitsorgans;manteacheshisorgans,anddominatesthem.

348

All direct invitation to live up to ideals is of doubtful value, particularly ifaddressedtowomen.Whateverthereasonofitmaybe,amanofanyimportancecollects round him a seraglio of amore or less religious,moral, andæstheticcharacter.

349

When a great idea enters theworld as aGospel, it becomes an offence to themultitude,whichstagnatesinpedantry;andtothosewhohavemuchlearningbutlittledepth,itisfolly.

350

Everyideaappearsatfirstasastrangevisitor,andwhenitbeginstoberealised,itishardlydistinguishablefromphantasyandphantastery.

351

Thisitisthathasbeencalled,inagoodandinabadsense,ideology;andthisiswhythe ideologist issorepugnant to thehard-working,practicalmanofeveryday.

352

Youmay recognise theutilityof an idea, andyet not quiteunderstandhow tomakeaperfectuseofit.

353

CredoDeum!Thatisafine,aworthythingtosay;buttorecogniseGodwhereandasherevealshimself,istheonlytrueblissonearth.

354

Keplersaid:'MywishisthatImayperceivetheGodwhomIfindeverywhereintheexternalworld,inlikemanneralsowithinandinsideme.'Thegoodmanwasnot aware that in that very moment the divine in him stood in the closestconnectionwiththedivineintheUniverse.

355

Whatispredestination?Itisthis:Godismightierandwiserthanweare,andsohedoeswithusashepleases.

356

Tolerationshould,strictlyspeaking,beonlyapassingmood;itoughttoleadtoacknowledgmentandappreciation.Totolerateapersonistoaffronthim.

357

Faith,Love, andHopeonce felt, in a quiet sociable hour, a plastic impulse intheirnature;theyworkedtogetherandcreatedalovelyimage,aPandorainthehighersense,Patience.

358

'IstumbledovertherootsofthetreewhichIplanted.'Itmusthavebeenanoldforesterwhosaidthat.

359

Aleafblownbythewindoftenlookslikeabird.

360

Doesthesparrowknowhowthestorkfeels?

361

Lampsmakeoil-spots,andcandleswantsnuffing;itisonlythelightofheaventhatshinespureandleavesnostain.

362

Ifyoumissthefirstbutton-hole,youwillnotsucceedinbuttoningupyourcoat.

363

Aburntchilddreadsthefire;anoldmanwhohasoftenbeensingedisafraidofwarminghimself.

364

It isnotworthwhile todoanythingfor theworld thatwehavewithus,as theexistingordermayinamomentpassaway.Itisforthepastandthefuturethatwemustwork: for thepast, toacknowledge itsmerits; for the future, to try toincreaseitsvalue.

365

Leteverymanaskhimselfwithwhichofhisfacultieshecanandwillsomehowinfluencehisage.

366

LetnoonethinkthatpeoplehavewaitedforhimasfortheSaviour.

367

Character in matters great and small consists in a man steadily pursuing thethingsofwhichhefeelshimselfcapable.

368

Themanwhowants tobe active andhas tobe so,needonly thinkofwhat isfittingatthemoment,andhewillmakehiswaywithoutdifficulty.Thisiswherewomenhavetheadvantage,iftheyunderstandit.

369

Themomentisakindofpublic;amanmustdeceiveitintobelievingthatheisdoing something; then it leaves us alone to go ourway in secret; whereat itsgrandchildrencannotfailtobeastonished.

370

Therearemenwhoputtheirknowledgeintheplaceofinsight.

371

In some states, as a consequence of the violent movements experienced inalmostalldirections,therehascomeaboutacertainoverpressureinthesystemof education, the harm ofwhichwill bemore generally felt hereafter; thougheven now it is perfectly well recognised by capable and honest authorities.Capablemen live in a sort ofdespairover the fact that theyareboundby therulesof theiroffice to teachandcommunicate thingswhich they lookuponasuselessandhurtful.

372

There isnosadder sight than thedirect strivingafter theunconditioned in thisthoroughlyconditionedworld.

373

BeforetheRevolutionitwasalleffort;afterwardsitallchangedtodemand.

374

Cananationbecomeripe?Thatisastrangequestion.Iwouldanswer,Yes!ifallthe men could be born thirty years of age. But as youth will always be tooforwardandoldagetoobackward,thereallymaturemanisalwayshemmedinbetweenthem,andhastoresorttostrangedevicestomakehiswaythrough.

375

Itdoesnotlookwellformonarchstospeakthroughthepress,forpowershouldactandnottalk.Theprojectsoftheliberalpartyalwaysbearbeingread:themanwhoisoverpoweredmayatleastexpresshisviewsinspeech,becausehecannotact.WhenMazarin was shown some satirical songs on a new tax, 'Let themsing,'saidhe,'aslongastheypay.'

376

Vanity is adesireofpersonalglory, thewish tobeappreciated,honoured,andrunafter,notbecauseofone'spersonalqualities,merits,andachievements,butbecauseofone'sindividualexistence.Atbest,therefore,itisafrivolousbeautywhomitbefits.

377

The most important matters of feeling as of reason, of experience as ofreflection,shouldbetreatedofonlybywordofmouth.Thespokenwordatoncediesifitisnotkeptalivebysomeotherwordfollowingonitandsuitedtothehearer.Observewhathappensinsocialconverse.Ifthewordisnotdeadwhenitreaches the hearer, he murders it at once by a contradiction, a stipulation, acondition, a digression, an interruption, and all the thousand tricks ofconversation.Withthewrittenwordthecaseisstillworse.Noonecarestoreadanythingtowhichheisnotalreadytosomeextentaccustomed:hedemandstheknown and the familiar under an altered form. Still thewrittenword has thisadvantage,thatitlastsandcanawaitthetimewhenitisallowedtotakeeffect.

378

Both what is reasonable and what is unreasonable have to undergo the likecontradiction.

379

Dialecticisthecultureofthespiritofcontradiction,whichisgiventomanthathemaylearntoperceivethedifferencesbetweenthings.

380

Withthosewhoarereallyoflikedispositionwithhimselfamancannotlongbeat variance; he will always come to an agreement again.With those who arereally of adverse disposition, hemay in vain try to preserve harmony; hewillalwayscometoaseparationagain.

381

Opponentsfancytheyrefuteuswhentheyrepeattheirownopinionandpaynoattentiontoours.

382

Peoplewhocontradictanddisputeshouldnowandthenrememberthatnoteverymodeofspeechisintelligibletoeveryone.

383

Everymanhearsonlywhatheunderstands.

384

Iamquitepreparedtofindthatmanyareaderwilldisagreewithme;butwhenhehasathingbeforehiminblackandwhite,hemustletitstand.Anotherreadermayperhapstakeuptheverysamecopyandagreewithme.

385

Thetruestliberalityisappreciation.

386

For the strenuous man the difficulty is to recognise the merits of eldercontemporariesandnotlethimselfbehinderedbytheirdefects.

387

Somemen think about the defects of their friends, and there is nothing to begainedbyit.Ihavealwayspaidattentiontothemeritsofmyenemies,andfounditanadvantage.

388

Therearemanymenwhofancytheyunderstandwhatevertheyexperience.

389

Thepublicmustbetreatedlikewomen:theymustbetoldabsolutelynothingbutwhattheyliketohear.

390

Everyageofmanhasacertainphilosophyansweringtoit.Thechildcomesoutasarealist:hefindshimselfasconvincedthatpearsandapplesexistasthathehimselfexists.Theyouthinastormof innerpassionisforcedto turnhisgazewithin,andfeelinadvancewhatheisgoingtobe:heischangedintoanidealist.Butthemanhaseveryreasontobecomeasceptic:hedoeswelltodoubtwhetherthemeanshehaschosentohisendaretherightones.Beforeandduringactionhe has every reason for keeping his understanding mobile, that he may notafterwards have to grieve over a false choice.Yetwhen he grows old hewillalways confess himself a mystic: he sees that so much seems to depend onchance; that folly succeeds and wisdom fails; that good and evil fortune arebroughtunexpectedlytothesamelevel;soitisandsoithasbeen,andoldageacquiescesinthatwhichisandwasandwillbe.

391

Whenamangrowsoldhemustconsciouslyremainatacertainstage.

392

Itdoesnotbecomeanoldman to runafter the fashion,either in thoughtor indress.Buthemustknowwhereheis,andwhattheothersareaimingat.

Whatiscalledfashionisthetraditionofthemoment.Alltraditioncarrieswithitacertainnecessityforpeopletoputthemselvesonalevelwithit.

393

We have long been busy with the critique of reason. I should like to see acritique of common-sense. It would be a real benefit tomankind if we couldconvincinglyprovetotheordinaryintelligencehowfaritcango;andthatisjustasmuchasitfullyrequiresforlifeonthisearth.

394

Thethinkermakesagreatmistakewhenheasksaftercauseandeffect:theybothtogethermakeuptheindivisiblephenomenon.

395

All practicalmen try to bring theworld under their hands; all thinkers, undertheirheads.Howfareachsucceeds,theymaybothseeforthemselves.

396

Shallwesaythatamanthinksonlywhenhecannotthinkoutthatofwhichheisthinking?

397

Whatisinventionordiscovery?Itistheconclusionofwhatwewerelookingfor.

398

Itiswithhistoryaswithnatureandwitheverythingofanydepth,itmaybepast,present,or future: the furtherwe seriouslypursue it, themoredifficult are theproblems that appear. The man who is not afraid of them, but attacks thembravely,hasafeelingofhighercultureandgreatereasethefurtherheprogresses.

399

Everyphenomenoniswithinourreachifwetreatitasaninclinedplane,whichis of easy ascent, though the thick end of the wedge may be steep andinaccessible.

400

If a man would enter upon some course of knowledge, he must either bedeceived or deceive himself, unless external necessity irresistibly determineshim.Whowouldbecomeaphysicianif,atoneandthesametime,hesawbeforehimallthehorriblesightsthatawaithim?

401

Howmanyyearsmustamandonothingbeforehecanatallknowwhatistobedoneandhowtodoit!

402

Duty:whereamanloveswhathecommandshimselftodo.

LITERATUREANDART

403

WhenMadameRolandwasonthescaffold,sheaskedforpenandpaper,tonotethepeculiarthoughtsthathoveredaboutheronthelastjourney.Itisapitytheywererefused,forinatranquilmindthoughtsriseupatthecloseoflifehithertounthinkable;likeblessedinwardvoices,alightingingloryonthesummitsofthepast.

404

Literature is a fragment of fragments: the least of what happened and wasspoken,hasbeenwritten;andofthethingsthathavebeenwritten,veryfewhavebeenpreserved.

405

And yet, with all the fragmentary nature of literature, we find thousand foldrepetition;whichshowshowlimitedisman'smindanddestiny.

406

Excellentworkisunfathomable,approachitasyouwill.

407

It isnot language in itselfwhich iscorrector forcibleorelegant,but themindthat isembodied in it; andso it isnot foraman todeterminewhetherhewillgivehiscalculationsorspeechesorpoemsthedesiredqualities:thequestioniswhetherNaturehasgivenhimtheintellectualandmoralqualitieswhichfithimfor the work,—the intellectual power of observation and insight, the moralpowerofrepellingtheevilspiritsthatmighthinderhimfrompayingrespecttotruth.

408

Theappealtoposterityspringsfromthepure,strongfeelingoftheexistenceofsomething imperishable; something that, even though it be not at oncerecognised, will in the end be gratified by finding the minority turn into a

majority.

409

Whenanewliteraturesucceeds,itobscurestheeffectofanearlierone,anditsowneffectpredominates;sothatitiswell,fromtimetotime,tolookback.Whatisoriginalinusisbestpreservedandquickenedifwedonotlosesightofthosewhohavegonebeforeus.

410

The most original authors of modern times are so, not because they producewhatisnew,butonlybecausetheyareabletosaythingsthelikeofwhichseemnevertohavebeensaidbefore.

411

Thusthebestsignoforiginalityliesintakingupasubjectandthendevelopingitsofullyastomakeeveryoneconfessthathewouldhardlyhavefoundsomuchinit.

412

There aremany thoughts that come only fromgeneral culture, like buds fromgreenbranches.Whenrosesbloom,youseethembloomingeverywhere.

413

Lucidityisaduedistributionoflightandshade.'Hamann.

414

Amanwhohas no acquaintancewith foreign languagesknowsnothingof hisown.

415

Wemustrememberthattherearemanymenwho,withoutbeingproductive,areanxioustosaysomethingimportant,andtheresultsaremostcurious.

416

Deepandearnestthinkersareinadifficultpositionwithregardtothepublic.

417

Somebooksseem tohavebeenwritten,not to teachusanything,but to letusknowthattheauthorhasknownsomething.

418

Anauthorcanshownogreater respect forhispublic thanbyneverbringing itwhatitexpects,butwhathehimselfthinksrightandproperinthatstageofhisownandothers'cultureinwhichforthetimehefindshimself.

419

The so-calledNature-poets aremenof active talent,with a fresh stimulus andreaction from an over-cultured, stagnant,mannered epoch of art. They cannotavoidcommonplace.

420

Productions are now possiblewhich, without being bad, have no value. Theyhave no value, because they contain nothing; and they are not bad, because ageneralformofgood-workmanshipispresenttotheauthor'smind.

421

All lyrical work must, as a whole, be perfectly intelligible, but in someparticularsalittleunintelligible.

422

Aromanceisasubjectiveepicinwhichtheauthorbegsleavetotreattheworldafterhisownideas.Theonlyquestionis,whetherhehasanyideas;therestwillfollowofitself.

423

Subjectiveorso-calledsentimentalpoetryhasnowbeenadmittedtoanequalitywithobjectiveanddescriptive.Thiswasinevitable;becauseotherwisethewholeofmodernpoetrywouldhavetobediscarded.Itisnowobviousthatwhenmenoftrulypoeticalgeniusappear,theywilldescribemoreoftheparticularfeelingsoftheinnerlifethanofthegeneralfactsofthegreatlifeoftheworld.Thishasalready taken place to such a degree thatwe have a poetrywithout figures ofspeech,whichcanbynomeansberefusedallpraise.

424

Superstition is the poetry of life, and so it does not hurt the poet to besuperstitious.

425

Thatglorioushymn,VeniCreatorSpiritus,isreallyanappealtogenius.Thatiswhyitspeakssopowerfullytomenofintellectandpower.

426

Translatorsarelikebusymatch-makers:theysingthepraisesofsomehalf-veiledbeauty,andextolhercharms,andarouseanirresistiblelongingfortheoriginal.

427

ASpinozainpoetrybecomesaMachiavelliinphilosophy.

428

Againstthethreeunitiesthereisnothingtobesaid,ifthesubjectisverysimple;but there are times when thrice three unities, skilfully interwoven, produce averypleasanteffect.

429

ThesentimentalityoftheEnglishishumorousandtender;oftheFrench,popularandpathetic;oftheGermans,naïveandrealistic.

430

Mysticismisthescholasticoftheheart,thedialecticofthefeelings.

431

If a man sets out to reproach an author with obscurity, he should first of allexamine his own mind, to see if he is himself all clearness within. Twilightmakesevenplainwritingillegible.

432

It iswithbooksaswithnewacquaintances.Atfirstwearehighlydelighted, ifwe findageneralagreement,—ifwearepleasantlymovedonanyof thechiefsidesofourexistence.Withacloseracquaintancedifferencescometolight;andthenreasonableconductmainlyconsists innotshrinkingbackatonce,asmay

happeninyouth,butinkeepingfirmholdofthethingsinwhichweagree,andbeing quite clear about the things inwhichwediffer,without on that accountdesiringanyunion.

433

In psychological reflection the greatest difficulty is this: that inner and outermustalwaysbeviewedinparallellines,or,rather,interwoven.Itisacontinualsystole anddiastole, an inspiration and an expirationof the living soul. If thiscannotbeputintowords,itshouldbecarefullymarkedandnoted.

434

MyrelationswithSchillerrestedonthedecidedtendencyofbothofustowardsasingle aim, and our common activity rested on the diversity of themeans bywhichweendeavouredtoattainthataim.

435

Once when a slight difference was mentioned between us, of which I wasremindedbyapassageinaletterofhis,Imadethefollowingreflections:Thereisagreatdifferencebetweenapoetseekingtheparticularfortheuniversal,andseeingtheuniversalintheparticular.TheonegivesrisetoAllegory,wheretheparticularservesonlyasinstanceorexampleofthegeneral;buttheotheristhetrue nature of Poetry, namely, the expression of the particular without anythoughtof,orreferenceto,thegeneral.Ifamangraspstheparticularvividly,healsograsps thegeneral,withoutbeingawareof itat the time;orhemaymakethediscoverylongafterwards.

436

Theremaybeeclecticphilosophers,butnotaneclecticphilosophy.

437

Buteveryoneisaneclecticwho,outofthethingsthatsurroundandtakeplaceabouthim,appropriateswhatissuitedtohisnature;andthisiswhatismeantbycultureandprogress,inmattersoftheoryorpractice.

438

Variousmaximsof theancients,whichwearewont to repeatagainandagain,hadameaningquitedifferent from thatwhich is apt toattach to them in later

times.

439

The saying that no one who is unacquainted with or a stranger to geometryshouldenterthephilosopher'sschool,doesnotmeanthatamanmustbecomeamathematiciantoattainthewisdomoftheworld.

440

Geometryisheretakeninitsprimaryelements,suchasarecontainedinEuclidandlaidbeforeeverybeginner;andthenitisthemostperfectpropædeuticandintroductiontophilosophy.

441

When a boy begins to understand that an invisible point must always comebeforeavisibleone,andthat theshortestwaybetweentwopoints isastraightline,beforehecandrawitonhispaperwithapencil,heexperiencesacertainpride and pleasure.And he is notwrong; for he has the source of all thoughtopened to him; idea and reality, potentia et actu, are become clear; thephilosopher has no new discovery to bring him; as a mathematician, he hasfoundthebasisofallthoughtforhimself.

442

Andifweturntothatsignificantutterance,Knowthyself,wemustnotexplainitin an ascetic sense. It is in nowise the self-knowledge of our modernhypochondrists, humorists, and self-tormentors. It simply means: pay someattentiontoyourself;takenoteofyourself;sothatyoumayknowhowyoucometo stand towards those like you and towards the world. This involves nopsychologicaltorture;everycapablemanknowsandfeelswhatitmeans.Itisapiece of good advice which every one will find of the greatest advantage inpractice.

443

Letusrememberhowgreat theancientswere;andespeciallyhowtheSocraticschoolholdsuptousthesourceandstandardofalllifeandaction,andbidsusnotindulgeinemptyspeculation,butliveanddo.

444

So longasour scholasticeducation takesusback toantiquityand furthers thestudy of the Greek and Latin languages, we may congratulate ourselves thatthesestudies,sonecessaryforthehigherculture,willneverdisappear.

445

If we set our gaze on antiquity and earnestly study it, in the desire to formourselves thereon, we get the feeling as if it were only then that we reallybecamemen.

446

Thepedagogue,intryingtowriteandspeakLatin,hasahigherandgranderideaofhimselfthanwouldbepermissibleinordinarylife.

447

Inthepresenceofantiquity, themindthat issusceptibletopoetryandartfeelsitselfplacedinthemostpleasingidealstateofnature;andeventothisdaytheHomerichymnshavethepoweroffreeingus,atanyrate,formoments,fromthefrightfulburdenwhichthetraditionofseveralthousandyearshasrolleduponus.

448

Thereisnosuchthingaspatrioticartandpatrioticscience.Bothartandsciencebelong,likeallthingsgreatandgood,tothewholeworld,andcanbefurtheredonly by a free and general interchange of ideas among contemporaries, withcontinualreferencetotheheritageofthepastasitisknowntous.

449

Poeticaltalentisgiventopeasantaswellastoknight;allthatisrequiredisthateachshallgrasphispositionandtreatitworthily.

450

An historic sense means a sense so cultured that, in valuing the deserts andmeritsofitsowntime,ittakesaccountalsoofthepast.

451

Thebestthathistorygivesusistheenthusiasmitarouses.

452

Thehistorian'sduty is twofold:first towardshimself, then towardshisreaders.As regardshimself, hemust carefully examine into the things that couldhavehappened; and, for the reader's sake, he must determine what actually didhappen. His action towards himself is a matter between himself and hiscolleagues;butthepublicmustnotseeintothesecretthatthereislittleinhistorywhichcanbesaidtobepositivelydetermined.

453

Thehistorian's duty is to separate the true from the false, the certain from theuncertain,andthedoubtfulfromthatwhichcannotbeaccepted.

454

Itisseldomthatanyoneofgreatagebecomeshistoricaltohimself,andfindshiscontemporariesbecomehistoricaltohim,sothatheneithercaresnorisabletoarguewithanyone.

455

Onacloserexaminationofthematter,itwillbefoundthatthehistoriandoesnoteasily grasp history as something historical. Inwhatever age hemay live, thehistorian always writes as though he himself had been present at the time ofwhich he treats, instead of simply narrating the facts and movements of thattime.Eventhemerechronicleronlypointsmoreorlesstohisownlimitations,orthepeculiaritiesofhistownormonasteryorage.

456

Wereallylearnonlyfromthosebookswhichwecannotcriticise.Theauthorofabookwhichwecouldcriticisewouldhavetolearnfromus.

457

That is thereasonwhytheBiblewillneverloseitspower;because,as longastheworldlasts,noonecanstandupandsay:Igraspitasawholeandunderstandallthepartsofit.Butwesayhumbly:asawholeitisworthyofrespect,andinallitspartsitisapplicable.

458

There isandwillbemuchdiscussionas to theuseandharmofcirculatingtheBible.One thing is clear tome:mischiefwill result, asheretofore,byusing it

phantastically as a system of dogma; benefit, as heretofore, by a lovingacceptanceofitsteachings.

459

I am convinced that the Bible will always be more beautiful the more it isunderstood;themore,thatis,weseeandobservethateverywordwhichwetakein a general sense and apply specially to ourselves, had, under certaincircumstances of time and place, a peculiar, special, and directly individualreference.

460

The incurable evil of religious controversy is that while one party wants toconnectthehighestinterestofhumanitywithfablesandphrases,theothertriestorestitonthingsthatsatisfynoone.

461

If one has not read the newspapers for somemonths and then reads them alltogether,onesees,asoneneversawbefore,howmuchtimeiswastedwiththiskindofliterature.

462

Theclassicalishealth;andtheromantic,disease.

463

Ovidremainedclassicaleveninexile:itisnotinhimselfthatheseesmisfortune,butinhisbanishmentfromthemetropolisoftheworld.

464

Theromanticisalreadyfallenintoitsownabysm.Itishardtoimagineanythingmoredegradedthantheworstofthenewproductions.

465

Bodies which rot while they are still alive, and are edified by the detailedcontemplation of their owndecay; deadmenwho remain in theworld for theruinofothers,andfeedtheirdeathontheliving,—tothishavecomeourmakersofliterature.

When the same thing happened in antiquity, itwas only as a strange tokenofsome rare disease; butwith themoderns the disease has become endemic andepidemic.

466

Literaturedecaysonlyasmenbecomemoreandmorecorrupt.

467

Whatadayitiswhenwemustenvythemenintheirgraves!

468

Thethingsthataretrue,good,excellent,aresimpleandalwaysalike,whatevertheirappearancemaybe.Buttheerrorthatweblameisextremelymanifoldandvarying;itisinconflictnotonlywiththegoodandthetrue,butalsowithitself;it isself-contradictory.Thusitisthatthewordsofblameinourliteraturemustnecessarilyoutnumberthewordsofpraise.

469

TheGreeks,whosepoetryandrhetoricwasofasimpleandpositivecharacter,express approvalmore often than disapproval.With the Latinwriters it is thecontrary;andthemorepoetryandtheartsofspeechdecay,themorewillblameswellandpraiseshrink.

470

'What are tragedies but the versified passions of people who make Heavenknowswhatoutoftheexternalworld?'

471

There are certain empirical enthusiasts who are quite right in showing theirenthusiasm over new productions that are good; but they are as ecstatic as iftherewerenoothergoodworkintheworldatall.

472

InSakontalathepoetappearsinhishighestfunction.Astherepresentativeofthemost natural condition of things, the finest mode of life, the purest moralendeavour,theworthiestmajesty,andthemostsolemnworship,heventuresoncommonandridiculouscontrasts.

473

Shakespeare'sHenryIV.Ifeverythingwerelostthathaseverbeenpreservedtous of this kind ofwriting, the arts of poetry and rhetoric could be completelyrestoredoutofthisoneplay.

474

Shakespeare's finest dramas are wanting here and there in facility: they aresomethingmorethantheyshouldbe,andforthatveryreasonindicatethegreatpoet.

475

Shakespeare is dangerous reading for budding talents: he compels them toreproducehim,andtheyfancytheyareproducingthemselves.

476

YorickSternewas the finest spirit thateverworked.Toreadhim is toattainafine feeling of freedom; his humour is inimitable, and it is not every kind ofhumourthatfreesthesoul.

477

Thepeculiarvalueof so-calledpopularballads is that theirmotivesaredrawndirectfromnature.This,however,isanadvantageofwhichthepoetofculturecouldalsoavailhimself,ifheknewhowtodoit.

478

But inpopular ballads there is always this advantage, that in the art of sayingthingsshortlyuneducatedmenarealwaysbetterskilledthanthosewhoareinthestrictsenseofthewordeducated.

479

Gemüth=Heart.Thetranslatormustproceeduntilhereachestheuntranslatable;andthenonlywillhehaveanideaoftheforeignnationandtheforeigntongue.

480

When we say of a landscape that it has a romantic character, it is the secret

feelingofthesublimetakingtheformofthepast,or,whatisthesamething,ofsolitude,absence,orseclusion.

481

The Beautiful is a manifestation of secret laws of nature, which, without itspresence,wouldneverhavebeenrevealed.

482

Itissaid:Artist,studynature!Butitisnotrifletodevelopthenobleoutofthecommonplace,orbeautyoutofuniformity.

483

WhenNaturebegins torevealheropensecret toaman,hefeelsanirresistiblelongingforherworthiestinterpreter,Art.

484

ForallotherArtswemustmakesomeallowance;buttoGreekArtalonewearealwaysdebtors.

485

There is no surerwayof evading theworld thanbyArt; andno surerwayofunitingwithitthanbyArt.

486

Even in the moments of highest happiness and deepest misery we need theArtist.

487

False tendenciesof the senses are akindofdesire after realism, alwaysbetterthanthatfalsetendencywhichexpressesitselfasidealisticlonging.

488

ThedignityofArtappearsperhapsmostconspicuouslyinMusic;for inMusicthereisnomaterialtobededucted.Itiswhollyformandintrinsicvalue,anditraisesandennoblesallthatitexpresses.

489

It is only by Art, and especially by Poetry, that the imagination is regulated.Nothingismorefrightfulthanimaginationwithouttaste.

490

IfweweretodespiseArtonthegroundthatitisanimitationofNature,itmightbe answered that Nature also imitates much else; further, that Art does notexactlyimitatethatwhichcanbeseenbytheeyes,butgoesbacktothatelementofreasonofwhichNatureconsistsandaccordingtowhichNatureacts.

491

Further, theArtsalsoproducemuchoutofthemselves,and,ontheotherhand,add much where Nature fails in perfection, in that they possess beauty inthemselves. So it was that Pheidias could sculpture a god although he hadnothing that could be seen by the eye to imitate, but grasped the appearancewhichZeushimselfwouldhaveifheweretocomebeforeoureyes.

492

Artrestsuponakindofreligioussense:itisdeeplyandineradicablyinearnest.ThusitisthatArtsowillinglygoeshandinhandwithReligion.

493

Anoblephilosopherspokeofarchitectureasfrozenmusic;anditwasinevitablethatmanypeopleshouldshaketheirheadsoverhisremark.Webelievethatnobetterrepetitionofthisfinethoughtcanbegiventhanbycallingarchitectureaspeechlessmusic.

494

Art is essentially noble; therefore the artist has nothing to fear from a low orcommonsubject.Nay,bytakingitup,heennoblesit;andsoitisthatweseethegreatestartistsboldlyexercisingtheirsovereignrights.

495

Ineveryartistthereisagermofdaring,withoutwhichnotalentisconceivable.

496

All theartistswhoarealreadyknown tome fromsomanysides, Ipropose toconsiderexclusivelyfromtheethicalside;toexplainfromthesubject-matterand

method of their work the part played therein by time and place, nation andmaster, and their own indestructible personality; to mould them to what theybecameandtopreservetheminwhattheywere.

497

Artisamediumofwhatnotonguecanutter;andthusitseemsapieceoffollytotrytoconveyitsmeaningafreshbymeansofwords.But,bytryingtodoso,theunderstandinggains;andthis,again,benefitsthefacultyinpractice.

498

Anartistwhoproducesvaluableworkisnotalwaysabletogiveanaccountofhisownorothers'performances.

499

Weknowofnoworldexceptinrelationtomankind;andwewishfornoArtthatdoesnotbearthemarkofthisrelation.

500

Higher aims are in themselves more valuable, even if unfulfilled, than loweronesquiteattained.

501

Blunt naïvety, stubborn vigour, scrupulous observance of rule, and any otherepithetswhichmayapply toolderGermanArt, areapartof everyearlier andsimpler artisticmethod.TheolderVenetians, Florentines, andothers had it alltoo.

502

BecauseAlbrechtDürer,with his incomparable talent, could never rise to theideaofthesymmetryofbeauty,oreventothethoughtofafittingconformitytotheobjectinview,arewenevertospurntheground!

503

Albrecht Dürer had the advantage of a very profound realistic perception, anaffectionatehumansympathywithallpresentconditions.Hewaskeptbackbyagloomyphantasy,devoidbothofformandfoundation.

504

ItwouldbeinterestingtoshowhowMartinSchönstandsnearhim,andhowthemeritsofGermanArtwererestrictedtothesetwo;andusefulalsotoshowthatitwasnoteveningeveryday.

505

IneveryItalianschoolthebutterflybreaksloosefromthechrysalis.

506

AfterKlopstockreleasedusfromrhyme,andVossgaveusmodelsofprose,arewetomakedoggerelagainlikeHansSachs?

507

Letusbemany-sided!Turnipsaregood,buttheyarebestmixedwithchestnuts.Andthesetwonobleproductsoftheearthgrowfarapart.

508

IneverykindofArtthereisadegreeofexcellencewhichmaybereached,sotospeak,by themereuseofone'sownnatural talents.Butat the same time it isimpossibletogobeyondthatpoint,unlessArtcomestoone'said.

509

In thepresenceofNatureevenmoderate talent is alwayspossessedof insight;hencedrawingsfromNaturethatareatallcarefullydonealwaysgivepleasure.

510

Tomakemanysketches issueat last inacompletework is something thatnoteventhebestartistsalwaysachieve.

511

In the sphere of trueArt there is no preparatory school, but there is away ofpreparation; and the best preparation is the interest of the most insignificantpupil in the work of the master. Colour-grinders have often made excellentpainters.

512

If an artist graspsNature aright and contrives to give its form a nobler, freergrace,noonewillunderstand thesourceofhis inspiration,andeveryonewillswearthathehastakenitfromtheantique.

513

Instudyingthehumanform,letthepainterrejectwhatisexaggerated,false,andmechanical;butlethimlearntograspofwhatinfinitegracethehumanbodyiscapable.

514

Kanttaughtusthecritiqueofthereason.WemusthaveacritiqueofthesensesifArt ingeneral,andespeciallyGermanArt, isever to regain its toneandmoveforwardonthepathoflifeandhappiness.

SCIENCE

515

Inthesphereofnaturalscienceletusrememberthatwehavealwaystodealwithan insoluble problem. Let us prove keen and honest in attending to anythingwhichisinanywaybroughttoournotice,mostofallwhenitdoesnotfitinwithourprevious ideas.For it isonly thereby thatweperceive theproblem,whichdoesindeedlieinnature,butstillmoreinman.

516

Amancannotwellstandbyhimself,andsoheisgladtojoinaparty;becauseifhedoesnotfindrestthere,heatanyratefindsquietandsafety.

517

Itisamisfortunetopassatoncefromobservationtoconclusion,andtoregardbothasofequalvalue;butitbefallsmanyastudent.

518

Inthehistoryofscienceandthroughoutthewholecourseofitsprogressweseecertainepochsfollowingoneanothermoreorlessrapidly.Someimportantviewis expressed, it may be original or only revived; sooner or later it receivesrecognition; fellowworkers springup; theoutcomeof it finds itsway into theschools; it is taughtandhandeddown;andweobserve,unhappily, that itdoesnotintheleastmatterwhethertheviewbetrueorfalse.Ineithercaseitscourseisthesame;ineithercaseitcomesintheendtobeamerephrase,alifelesswordstampedonthememory.

519

Firstletamanteachhimself,andthenhewillbetaughtbyothers.

520

Theories are usually the over-hasty efforts of an impatient understanding thatwouldgladlyberidofphenomena,andsoputs intheirplacepictures,notions,nay, often mere words. We may surmise, or even see quite well, that such

theoriesaremake-shifts;butdonotpassionandparty-spiritloveamake-shiftatalltimes?Andrightly,too,becausetheystandinsomuchneedofit.

521

Itisdifficulttoknowhowtotreattheerrorsoftheage.Ifamanopposethem,hestandsalone;ifhesurrendertothem,theybringhimneitherjoynorcredit.

522

TherearesomehundredChristiansects,everyoneofthemacknowledgingGodand the Lord in its own way, without troubling themselves further about oneanother. In the study of nature, nay, in every study, things must of necessitycome to the same pass. For what is the meaning of every one speaking oftoleration,andtryingtopreventothersfromthinkingandexpressingthemselvesaftertheirownfashion?

523

To communicate knowledge by means of analogy appears to me a processequallyusefulandpleasant.Theanalogouscaseisnottheretoforceitselfontheattentionorproveanything;itoffersacomparisonwithsomeothercase,butisnot inunionwith it.Severalanalogouscasesdonot join toformaseriedrow:theyarelikegoodsociety,whichalwayssuggestsmorethanitgrants.

524

Toerristobeasthoughtruthdidnotexist.Tolaybaretheerrortooneselfandothersisretrospectivediscovery.

525

With thegrowthof knowledgeour ideasmust from time to timebeorganisedafresh.Thechangetakesplaceusuallyinaccordancewithnewmaximsastheyarise,butitalwaysremainsprovisional.

526

Whenwe find factswithin our knowledge exhibited by somenewmethod, oreven,itmaybe,describedinaforeignlanguage,theyreceiveapeculiarcharmofnoveltyandwearafreshair.

527

Iftwomastersofthesameartdifferintheirstatementofit,inalllikelihoodtheinsolubleproblemliesmidwaybetweenthem.

528

Theorbitsofcertainties touchoneanother;but in the interstices there is roomenoughforerrortogoforthandprevail.

529

Wemore readily confess to errors,mistakes, and shortcomings in our conductthaninourthought.

530

Andthereasonofitisthattheconscienceishumbleandeventakesapleasureinbeing ashamed.But the intellect is proud, and if forced to recant is driven todespair.

531

Thisalsoexplainshowit is that truthswhichhavebeenrecognisedareat firsttacitly admitted, and then gradually spread, so that the very thing which wasobstinatelydeniedappearsatlastassomethingquitenatural.

532

Ignorantpeopleraisequestionswhichwereansweredbythewisethousandsofyearsago.

533

Whenamanseesaphenomenonbeforehim,histhoughtsoftenrangebeyondit;whenhehearsitonlytalkedabout,hehasnothoughtsatall.

534

Authority.Mancannotexistwithoutit,andyetitbringsinitstrainjustasmuchoferrorasoftruth.Itperpetuatesonebyonethingswhichshouldpassawayonebyone;itrejectsthatwhichshouldbepreservedandallowsittopassaway;anditischieflytoblameformankind'swantofprogress.

535

Authority—thefact,namely, thatsomethinghasalreadyhappenedorbeensaidordecided,isofgreatvalue;butitisonlyapedantwhodemandsauthorityforeverything.

536

Anoldfoundationisworthyofallrespect,butitmustnottakefromustherighttobuildafreshwhereverwewill.

537

Our advice is that everyman should remain in the path he has struck out forhimself,andrefusetobeoverawedbyauthority,hamperedbyprevalentopinion,orcarriedawaybyfashion.

538

Thevariousbranchesofknowledgealwaystendasawholetostrayawayfromlife,andreturnthitheronlybyaroundaboutway.

539

Fortheyare,intruth,text-booksoflife:theygatherouterandinnerexperiencesintoageneralandconnectedwhole.

540

Animportantfact,aningeniousaperçu,occupiesaverygreatnumberofmen,atfirstonlytomakeacquaintancewithit;thentounderstandit;andafterwardstoworkitoutandcarryitfurther.

541

Ontheappearanceofanythingnewthemassofpeopleask:Whatistheuseofit?Andtheyarenotwrong.Foritisonlythroughtheuseofanythingthattheycanperceiveitsvalue.

542

Thetrulywiseaskwhatthethingisinitselfandinrelationtootherthings,anddonottroublethemselvesabouttheuseofit,—inotherwords,aboutthewayinwhich it may be applied to the necessities of existence and what is alreadyknown.Thiswillsoonbediscoveredbymindsofaverydifferentorder—mindsthatfeelthejoyofliving,andarekeen,adroit,andpractical.

543

Every investigator must before all things look upon himself as one who issummonedtoserveonajury.Hehasonlytoconsiderhowfarthestatementofthe case is complete and clearly set forth by the evidence.Then he draws hisconclusionandgiveshisvote,whetheritbethathisopinioncoincideswiththatoftheforemanornot.

544

And inacting thushe remainsequallyateasewhether themajorityagreewithhimor he finds himself in aminority. For he has donewhat he could: he hasexpressedhisconvictions;andheisnotmasterofthemindsorheartsofothers.

545

In the world of science, however, these sentiments have never been of muchaccount. There everything depends on making opinion prevail and dominate;fewmenarereallyindependent;themajoritydrawstheindividualafterit.

546

Thehistoryofphilosophy,ofscience,ofreligion,allshowsthatopinionsspreadinmasses,butthatthatalwayscomestothefrontwhichismoreeasilygrasped,that is to say, ismost suited and agreeable to the humanmind in its ordinarycondition.Nay,hewhohaspractisedself-cultureinthehighersensemayalwaysreckonuponmeetinganadversemajority.

547

Thereismuchthatistruewhichdoesnotadmitofbeingcalculated;justasthereare a great many things that cannot be brought to the test of a decisiveexperiment.

548

It is just for this that man stands so high, that what could not otherwise bebroughttolightshouldbebroughttolightinhim.

Whatisamusicalstring,andallitsmechanicaldivision,incomparisonwiththemusician's ear?Maywe not also say, what are the elementary phenomena ofnatureitselfcomparedwithman,whomustcontrolandmodifythemallbefore

hecaninanywayassimilatethemtohimself?

549

Toanewtruththereisnothingmorehurtfulthananolderror.

550

Theultimateoriginofthingsiscompletelybeyondourfaculties;hencewhenweseeanythingcomeintobeing,welookuponitashavingbeenalreadythere.Thisiswhywefindthetheoryofemboîtementintelligible.

551

Therearemanyproblemsinnaturalscienceonwhichwecannotfittinglyspeakunlesswecallmetaphysicstoouraid;butnotthewisdomoftheschools,whichconsistsinmereverbiage.Itisthatwhichwasbeforephysics,existswithit,andwillbeafterit.

552

Sincemenarereallyinterestedinnothingbuttheirownopinions,everyonewhoputs forward an opinion looks about him right and left for means ofstrengtheninghimselfandothersinit.Amanavailshimselfofthetruthsolongasitisserviceable;butheseizesonwhatisfalsewithapassionateeloquenceassoonashecanmakeamomentaryuseofit;whetheritbetodazzleotherswithitas a kind of half-truth, or to employ it as a stopgap for effecting an apparentunionbetweenthings thathavebeendisjointed.Thisexperienceat firstcausedme annoyance, and then sorrow; and now it is a source of mischievoussatisfaction. I havepledgedmyself never again to expose aproceedingof thiskind.

553

EverythingthatwecallInventionorDiscoveryinthehighersenseofthewordisthe serious exercise andactivityof anoriginal feeling for truth,which, after alongcourseofsilentcultivation,suddenlyflashesoutintofruitfulknowledge.Itisarevelationworkingfromwithinontheouterworld,andletsamanfeelthatheismadeintheimageofGod.ItisasynthesisofWorldandMind,givingthemostblessedassuranceoftheeternalharmonyofthings.

554

A man must cling to the belief that the incomprehensible is comprehensible;

otherwisehewouldnottrytofathomit.

555

Therearepedantswhoarealsorascals,andtheyaretheworstofall.

556

Amandoesnotneedtohaveseenorexperiencedeverythinghimself.Butifheistocommithimselftoanother'sexperiencesandhiswayofputtingthem,lethimconsider that he has to do with three things—the object in question and twosubjects.

557

Thesupremeachievementwouldbetoseethatstatingafactisstartingatheory.

558

If I acquiesce at last in some ultimate fact of nature, it is, no doubt, onlyresignation;butitmakesagreatdifferencewhethertheresignationtakesplaceatthe limits of human faculty, orwithin the hypothetical boundaries ofmy ownnarrowindividuality.

559

Ifwe lookat theproblems raisedbyAristotle,weareastonishedathisgiftofobservation.Whatwonderful eyes theGreeks had formany things!Only theycommitted the mistake of being over-hasty, of passing straightway from thephenomenontotheexplanationofit,andtherebyproducedcertaintheoriesthatarequite inadequate.But this is themistakeofall times,andstillmade inourownday.

560

Hypothesesarecradle-songsbywhichtheteacherlullshisscholarstosleep.Thethoughtful and honest observer is always learning more and more of hislimitations;hesees that thefurtherknowledgespreads, themorenumerousaretheproblemsthatmaketheirappearance.

561

Our mistake is that we doubt what is certain and want to establish what isuncertain.MymaximinthestudyofNatureisthis:holdfastwhatiscertainand

keepawatchonwhatisuncertain.

562

Whatamasteramanwouldbeinhisownsubjectifhetaughtnothinguseless!

563

Thegreatestpieceof folly is thateveryman thinkshimselfcompelled tohanddownwhatpeoplethinktheyhaveknown.

564

Ifmanyamandidnotfeelobligedtorepeatwhatisuntrue,becausehehassaiditonce,theworldwouldhavebeenquitedifferent.

565

Everymanlooksattheworldlyingreadybeforehim,orderedandfashionedintoacompletewhole,asafterallbutanelementoutofwhichhisendeavour is tocreate a special world suited to himself. Capable men lay hold of the worldwithout hesitation and try to shape their course as best they can; others dallyoverit,andsomedoubtevenoftheirownexistence.

Themanwhofeltthefullforceofthisfundamentaltruthwoulddisputewithnoone,butlookuponanother'smodeofthoughtequallywithhisown,asmerelyaphenomenon.Forwe findalmostdaily thatonemancan thinkwitheasewhatanother cannot possibly think at all; and that, too, not inmatterswhichmighthavesomesortofeffectupon theircommonwealorwoe,but in thingswhichcannottouchthematall.

566

There is nothingmore odious than themajority; it consists of a fewpowerfulmentoleadtheway;ofaccommodatingrascalsandsubmissiveweaklings;andof amassofmenwho trot after them,without in the leastknowing theirownmind.

567

When I observe the luminous progress and expansion of natural science inmodern times, I seem tomyself like a traveller going eastwards at dawn, andgazingatthegrowinglightwithjoy,butalsowithimpatience;lookingforward

withlongingtotheadventofthefullandfinallight,but,nevertheless,havingtoturnawayhiseyeswhenthesunappeared,unabletobearthesplendourhehadawaitedwithsomuchdesire.

568

Wepraisetheeighteenthcenturyforconcerningitselfchieflywithanalysis.Thetaskremainingtothenineteenthistodiscoverthefalsesyntheseswhichprevail,andtoanalysetheircontentsanew.

569

A school may be regarded as a single individual who talks to himself for ahundredyears, and takes an extraordinarypleasure inhis ownbeing, howeverfoolishandsillyitmaybe.

570

Inscienceitisaserviceofthehighestmerittoseekoutthosefragmentarytruthsattainedbytheancients,andtodevelopthemfurther.

571

Ifamandevoteshimselftothepromotionofscience,heisfirstlyopposed,andthenheisinformedthathisgroundisalreadyoccupied.Atfirstmenwillallowno value to what we tell them, and then they behave as if they knew it allthemselves.

572

Nature fills all spacewithher limitlessproductivity. Ifweobservemerelyourown earth, everything that we call evil and unfortunate is so because Naturecannot provide room for everything that comes into existence, and still lessendowitwithpermanence.

573

Everything that comes into being seeks room for itself and desires duration:henceitdrivessomethingelsefromitsplaceandshortensitsduration.

574

Thereissomuchofcryptogamyinphanerogamythatcenturieswillnotdecipherit.

575

Whata truesayingit is thathewhowants todeceivemankindmustbeforeallthingsmakeabsurdityplausible.

576

Thefurtherknowledgeadvances, thenearerwecometo theunfathomable: themore we know how to use our knowledge, the better we see that theunfathomableisofnopracticaluse.

577

Thefinestachievementforamanofthoughtistohavefathomedwhatmaybefathomed,andquietlytoreveretheunfathomable.

578

Thediscerningmanwhoacknowledgeshislimitationsisnotfaroffperfection.

579

Therearetwothingsofwhichamancannotbecarefulenough:ofobstinacyifhe confines himself to his own line of thought; of incompetency, if he goesbeyondit.

580

Incompetencyisagreaterobstacletoperfectionthanonewouldthink.

581

Thecenturyadvances;buteveryindividualbeginsanew.

582

Whatfriendsdowithusandforusisarealpartofourlife;foritstrengthensandadvancesourpersonality.Theassaultofourenemiesisnotpartofourlife;itisonly part of our experience;we throw it off and guard ourselves against it asagainst frost, storm, rain,hail,oranyotherof theexternalevilswhichmaybeexpectedtohappen.

583

Amancannotlivewitheveryone,andthereforehecannotliveforeveryone.Toseethistrutharightistoplaceahighvalueuponone'sfriends,andnottohateorpersecuteone'senemies.Nay,thereishardlyanygreateradvantageforamantogain than to find out, if he can, the merits of his opponents: it gives him adecidedascendencyoverthem.

584

Everyoneknowshowtovaluewhathehasattainedinlife;mostofallthemanwho thinks and reflects in his old age.He has a comfortable feeling that it issomethingofwhichnoonecanrobhim.

585

Thebestmetempsychosisisforustoappearagaininothers.

586

It isveryseldomthatwesatisfyourselves;all themoreconsolingis it tohavesatisfiedothers.

587

We look back upon our life only as on a thing of broken pieces, because ourmisses and failures are always the first to strike us, and outweigh in ourimaginationwhatwehavedone,andattained.

588

Thesympatheticyouthseesnothingofthis;hereads,enjoys,andusestheyouthofonewhohasgonebeforehim,andrejoicesinitwithallhisheart,asthoughhehadoncebeenwhathenowis.

589

Sciencehelpsusbeforeallthingsinthis,thatitsomewhatlightensthefeelingofwonder with which Nature fills us; then, however, as life becomes more andmorecomplex, it createsnewfacilities for theavoidanceofwhatwoulddousharmandthepromotionofwhatwilldousgood.

590

It is alwaysoureyesalone,ourwayof lookingat things.Naturealoneknowswhatshemeansnow,andwhatshehadmeantinthepast.

NATURE:APHORISMS

Nature!Weare surroundedbyher and locked inher clasp:powerless to leaveher,andpowerlesstocomeclosertoher.Unaskedandunwarnedshetakesusupintothewhirlofherdance,andhurriesonwithustillwearewearyandfallfromherarms.

She creates new formswithout end:what exists now, neverwas before;whatwas,comesnotagain;allisnewandyetalwaystheold.

Weliveinthemidstofherandarestrangers.Shespeakstousunceasinglyandbetrays not her secret.We are always influencing her and yet can do her noviolence.

Individualityseemstobeallheraim,andshecaresnoughtforindividuals.Sheisalways building and always destroying, and her workshop is not to beapproached.

Naturelivesinherchildrenonly,andthemother,whereisshe?Sheisthesoleartist,—out of the simplest materials the greatest diversity; attaining, with notraceofeffort, the finestperfection, theclosestprecision,alwayssoftlyveiled.Eachofherworkshasanessenceofitsown;everyshapethatshetakesisinideautterlyisolated;andyetallformsone.

Sheplaysadrama;whethersheseesitherself,weknownot;andyetsheplaysitforus,whostandbutalittlewayoff.

Thereisconstantlifeinher,motionanddevelopment;andyetsheremainswhereshewas.Sheiseternallychanging,norforamomentdoesshestandstill.Ofrestshe knows nothing, and to all stagnation she has affixed her curse. She issteadfast;herstepismeasured,herexceptionsrare,herlawsimmutable.

Shehasthought,andshepondersunceasingly;notasaman,butasNature.Themeaningofthewholeshekeepstoherself,andnoonecanlearnitofher.

Menareall inher,andsheinallmen.Withallsheplaysafriendlygame,andrejoicesthemoreamanwinsfromher.Withmanyhergameissosecret,thatshebringsittoanendbeforetheyareawareofit.

Even what is most unnatural is Nature; even the coarsest Philistinism hassomethingofhergenius.Whodoesnot seeher everywhere, seeshernowherearight.

She loves herself, and clings eternally to herself with eyes and heartsinnumerable. She has divided herself that shemay be her own delight. She isever making new creatures spring up to delight in her, and imparts herselfinsatiably.

Sherejoicesinillusion.Ifamandestroysthisinhimselfandothers,shepunisheshimlike thehardest tyrant. Ifhefollowsher inconfidence,shepresseshimtoherheartasitwereherchild.

Herchildrenarenumberless.Tonooneofthemisshealtogetherniggardly;butshehasher favourites,onwhomshe lavishesmuch, and forwhomshemakesmanyasacrifice.Overthegreatshehasspreadtheshieldofherprotection.

She spurts forth her creatures out of nothing, and tells them notwhence theycomeandwhithertheygo.Theyhaveonlytogotheirway:sheknowsthepath.

Herspringsofactionarefew,buttheyneverwearout:theyarealwaysworking,alwaysmanifold.

The drama she plays is always new, because she is always bringing newspectators.Lifeisherfairestinvention,andDeathisherdeviceforhavinglifeinabundance.

Sheenvelopsmanindarkness,andurgeshimconstantlytothelight.Shemakeshim dependent on the earth, heavy and sluggish, and always rouses him upafresh.

Shecreateswants,becauseshelovesmovement.Howmarvellousthatshegainsitallsoeasily!Everywantisabenefit,soonsatisfied,soongrowingagain.Ifshegivesmore,itisanewsourceofdesire;butthebalancequicklyrightsitself.

Everymomentshestartsonthelongestjourneys,andeverymomentreacheshergoal.

Sheamusesherselfwithavainshow;buttousherplayisall-important.

Sheletseverychildworkather,everyfooljudgeofher,andthousandspassherbyand seenothing; and shehasher joy in themall, and in themall findsher

account.

Manobeysher lawseven inopposing them:heworkswithher evenwhenhewantstoworkagainsther.

Everything she gives is found to be good, for first of all she makes itindispensable.Shelingers,thatwemaylongforpresence;shehurriesby,thatwemaynotgrowwearyofher.

Speech or language she has none; but she creates tongues and hearts throughwhichshefeelsandspeaks.

Her crown isLove.Only throughLove canwe comenear her.Sheputs gulfsbetweenallthings,andallthingsstrivetobeinterfused.Sheisolateseverything,that shemay draw everything together.With a few draughts from the cup ofLovesherepaysforalifefulloftrouble.

Sheisallthings.Sherewardsherselfandpunishesherself;andinherselfrejoicesand is distressed. She is rough and gentle, loving and terrible, powerless andalmighty.Inhereverythingisalwayspresent.PastorFuturesheknowsnot.ThePresentisherEternity.Sheiskind.Ipraiseherwithallherworks.Sheiswiseandstill.Noonecanforcehertoexplainherself,orfrightenherintoagiftthatshedoesnotgivewillingly.Sheiscrafty,butforagoodend;anditisbestnottonoticehercunning.

She iswhole and yet never finished.As sheworks now, so can shework forever.

Toeveryonesheappearsinaformofhisown.Shehidesherselfinathousandnamesandterms,andisalwaysthesame.

Shehasplacedmeinthisworld;shewillalsoleadmeoutofit.Itrustmyselftoher.Shemaydowithmeasshepleases.Shewillnothateherwork. Ididnotspeakofher.No!whatistrueandwhatisfalse,shehasspokenitall.Everythingisherfault,everythingishermerit.

INDEX

Absent,the,47.Absolute,the,238.Abstractions,howdestroyed,203.Absurdities,229,575.Acquaintances,new,432.Acquirements,344.Actingunlikeoneself,298.Activity,342,368,372,401.Æschylus,sayingof,121.Age,391.AgeandYouth,37,233-4,237,295,321,374.Agesoflife,390.Agreementanddisagreement,384.Aims,278,342,500.Altruism,167,214,583.Analogies,46,523.Analysis,568.Ancientliterature,447.Ancients,the,443,445,570.Anthropomorphism,165.Antiquities,325.Antiquityandposterity,190.Architecture,aspeechlessmusic,493.Aristotle,559.Art,492,494,499,508.ArtandNature,482-3,490-1,509,512.ArtandtheWorld,485-6.Artist,the,495-8.Artisticcriticism,116.Assemblies,281.Attainable,the,48.Attainments,584,587.Authority,534-7.Authorship,418.

Ballads,477-8.Beauty,136,232,481.Bible,the,457-9.Books,417,420,432,456.

Causeandeffect,394.Century,the,andtheindividual,581.Character,367.Characteristics,7,29,74,91,110,179,291,297,311,344.Children,245-7.Christ,314.Classicism,462-3.Cleverfolly,175.Common-sense,49,217.Complications,45.Confessionoferror,529.Confidences,142.Conscience,125.Conscienceandintellect,530.Contemporaries,386,454.Contradictions,87,102,223,288-9,378,382.Converts,170.Criticism,146,182,304,456.Critiqueofcommon-sense,393.Critiqueofthesenses,514.Cryptogamy,574.Culture,328-9,412.

Dangerousmen,275-6.Debtorandcreditor,282-3.Deception,320,400.Defects,89.Despotism,advantagesof,209.Dialectic,379.Difficulties,277-8,330,398.Dilettanti,159.Discovery,397,553.Dispositions,likeandunlike,380.

Distinctions,166.Doggerel,506.Doinggood,98.Dürer,Albrecht,502-3.Dutiesandrights,150.Duty,3,38,402.

Eclecticism,436-7.Education,444.Education,overpressurein,371.Eighteenthcentury,568.Emboîtement,theoryof,550.Empiricalmorality,140.Encyclopædia,thebest,161.Enemies,582.Enemies'merits,387,583.Enthusiasm,211,471.Erasmus,sayingof,63.Errorandhalf-truth,59,61,72,564.Errorsoftheage,521.Excellenceunfathomable,406.Existenceofevil,572-3.Experience,43,556.

Factsandtheories,557.Factsandthoughts,188.Factsnewlystated,526.Faith,117.Falsenotions,5,200.Falsetendencies,64.Familiarity,262.Fashion,392.Fastidiousness,260.Faults,296-7,299,304-5.Favour,83.Fear,275.Figurativesayings:aleafandabird,359.anoldmanwarminghimself,363.

blowingtheflute,16.buttoningone'scoat,362.curdsandcream,58.dirtandthesun,99.dustandthestorm,66.frogsandwater,71.heroesandvalets,272.Hindoosofthedesert,106.hittingthenail,78.lampsandthelightofheaven,361.liftingthestone,208.mankindandtheRedSea,187.namesforthesea,95.snow,92.theAntipodes,disputingabout,90.theforesterandthetree,358.theironinthesmithy,310.themillstream,42.therainbow,115.thesparrowandthestork,360.theworldabell,158.turnipsandchestnuts,507.

Flattery,145,287,289.Fools,271,276.Forethought,103.Form,thehuman,513.Freedomandslavery,268-9.Friends'defects,387.Friendship,248,582.Fulfilmentofdesire,228,267.Fulfilmentofduty,38.Future,the,280.

Generalideas,15,177.Generosity,65.Genius,232,273,336-9,425.Gentlejudgments,124.Germanart,501.

Germans,the,326.God,307,353.Godlike,the,308.Goodadvice,206.Goodmanners,254-7,263-5.Goodwillofothers,34.Government,thebest,225.Gracefulmisery,126.Gratitude,283.Greatideas,239,349,350-2.Greatmen,274.Greatmenandlittlemen,69,119,271.Greatmenandthemasses,147.GreekandLatin,studyof,444,446.GreekandLatinwriters,469.Greekart,484.Greeks,the,189,443,559.

Habit,129.Hatredandenvy,130.Hearingandunderstanding,383.Highpositions,335.Historian'sduty,the,452-3,455.Historicsense,460.History,80,451.Historyofknowledge,55.Honourandrascality,144.Hope,194,280,315.Hypotheses,560.

Ideals,141,348.Ideasandsensations,93.Ignorance,231.Illusions,186.Imagination,howregulated,489.Imprudence,50,105.Incompetenceandimperfection,17,18.Incompetency,579-80.Individualsandtheage,201,581.

Influencingone'sage,365.Ingratitude,152.Inquiry,limitsof,327,554,558,576-7.Insight,370.Intelligence,322.Intention,334.Interestinpublicevents,331.Introspection,75.Investigator,thetrue,543-4.Irregularcircumstances,143.Isolationofthegood,224.Italianart,505.

Judgment,85-6.Justiceandlaw,54.

Kepler,sayingof,354.Knowledge,235,324,370,525-6,538.Knowledgeanddoubt,178.Knowledgeandnewideas,82.Knowledge,branchesof,539.Knowledgeofoneanother,67-70,251-3.Knowledge,thecontemptfor,113.

Languageandthought,317,407.Languages,knowledgeof,414.Laws,321.Laws,studyof,168.Leasing,sayingof,52.Lessons,139.Liberalideas,174,375.Liberality,thetruest,385.Life,theartof,101,192,282,584.Limitations,578.Literatureafragment,404-5.Literature,corrupt,465-7.Literature,new,409.Love,195,270.Loveoftruth,28.

Lovingone'slike,180.Lucidity,413.Lyrics,421.

Majorities,544-6,566.Malignanceofscholars,135.Manandhisorgans,347.Masters,94,310.Mastery,204.Matter,contentsandform,183.Maximsandanecdotes,156.Maximsoftheancients,438-42.Meansandend,11.Mediocrity,221,273.Memoirs,149.Memory,157.Menandwomen,226,295.Metaphysics,551.Metempsychosis,thebest,585.Methodinartandknowledge,112.Mischief,160.Misfortunes,227.Mistakes,13,40,153,162,210,218,285-6,524,561.Misunderstanding,122.Moment,the,akindofpublic,369.Monarchsandthepress,375.Moods,100.Morality,319.Motive,10.Mottoes,207.Music,488.Mysteriesandmiracles,169.Mysticism,430.

Napoleon,240-1.Nationalcharacter,73,374,429.Nature,572,590.Natureandart,482-3,490-1,509,512.Natureandculture,284,477.

Nature-poets,419.Nature,studyof,561.Newspapers,23,375,461.

Obscurantism,88.Obscurityinanauthor,431.Observationandconclusion,517,559.Obstinacy,579.Opinions,107,552.Opponents,381-2.Opposition,88.Originality,1,134,409-11,536-7.Origins,550.Ovid,463.

Parties,516.Passions,300-3.Past,the,138.Patience,357.Patriotisminartandscience,448.Patrons,133.Payingforone'shumanity,173.Peace,53.Pedantry,132,535,555.Pereantquiantenosnostradizerunt!333.Perfection,343,578,580.Perseverance,193,537.Perversitiesoftheday,244.Pessimism,181,184.Phenomena,howtoapproach,399.Philosophyandtheagesoflife,390.Piety,35-6.Plainspeaking,172.Plansanddesigns,12.Poeticaltalent,449.Poetry,176.Posterity,theappealto,408.Powerofconviction,84.Practicalmenandthinkers,395.

Praisingaman,323.Prayer,315.Predestination,355.Prejudices,215.Primevalpowers,236.Problemofscience,515,551.Problematicalnatures,97.Problematicalopinions,30.Problematicaltalents,171.Problems,527.Productiveenergy,164.Productivity,415.Progressandproblems,398.Progress,conflictsof,219.Progressofscience,567.Propædeutics,212,511.Protestants,205.Prudentenergy,16.Psychology,433.Public,the,96,369,389,416,541.

Questions,532.

Reason,4.Reformation,the,313,316.Religion,312.Religiouscontroversy,460.Renaissance,the,313.Revolution,sayingonthe,373.Revolutionarysentiments,216.Rhythm,131.Riddles,62.Ridiculous,the,291-4.Right,doingwhatis,77.Rocksofoffence,306.Roland,Madame,403.Romances,422.Romanticlandscape,480.Romanticism,462,464.

Sakontala,472.Satisfaction,586.Scepticism,340-1.Schiller,Goetheand,434-5.Scholar,thereal,309.Schön,Martin,504.Schoolsofthought,569.Science:itscourse,518,540-1,545-6,567,570-1,589.Science:itsproblem,515.Sects,522.Self-appreciation,20,56,111,249,366.Self-guidance,21-2,24-5,33.Self-knowledge,2.Senses,345-6.Senses,falsetendenciesof,487.Sentimentalpoetry,423.Sentimentality,national,429.Service,196.Shakespeare,473-5.Silence,32.Sincerityandimpartiality,151.Sketches,510.Society,250.Society,soldiersandciviliansin,258-9.Society,thebest,230,289.Soporifics,76.Sowingandreaping,279.Spectacles,261.Speech,382.Speechandlanguage,123.Speechandwriting,377.Speeches,287.Spinozisminpoetry,427.Steadyactivity,154.Sterne,476.Subordination,191.Successintheworld,6,19,368.Superiorityofanother,270.

Superstition,31,424.Symbolism,202.

Tact,26-7.Tattle,148.Tattooing,79.Teaching,519,562-3.Theatre,effectofthe,197.Theory,44,520,557.Theoryandexperience,198."Thingsofanotherworld,"242-3.Thinkers,416.Thinkingforoneself,8.Thoroughness,41.Thought,1,396,412,533,563.Thoughtsatthecloseoflife,403.Timon,sayingof,127.Toleration,356.Tradition,392,563.Tragedies,470.Translation,426,479.Troubles,104.Truth,14,28,60,120,163,336,531,547,553.Truthanderror,108-9,137,185,199,213,468,528,549,552.Truthtooneselfandothers,337.Tyrannyofgreatideas,51.

Ultimatefacts,558.Unconditioned,strivingafterthe,372.Understanding,81,383,388.Unfathomable,the,576-7.Unities,thethree,428.Unjustblame,96.Unqualifiedactivity,9.Useandvalue,541-2.

Valueofeachday,332.Vanitasvanitatum!114.Vanity,376.

VeniCreatorSpiritus,425.Visitors,252-3.Voluntarydependence,266.Vulgarity,222.

Wisdomofthisworld,307.Wishingpeoplewell,128.Will,324.Wordandpicture,155.Wordsofpraiseandblame,468.Work,57.Workforthepastandthefuture,364.Work,howitlimitsus,220.World,the,158,565.Worthiestlot,the,342.

Youth,588.

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