The German national character is a favorite subject of character experts, probably because the less mature a nation, the more she is an object of criticism and not of history.

Quote by Karl Wilhelm Friedrich Schlegel

Topics: Karl Wilhelm Friedrich Schlegel Quotes

Strictly speaking, the idea of a scientific poem is probably as nonsensical as that of...

Strictly speaking, the idea of a scientific poem is probably as nonsensical as that of...

Like Leibniz's possible worlds, most men are only equally entitled pretenders to existence. There are...

Like Leibniz's possible worlds, most men are only equally entitled pretenders to existence. There are...

All the classical genres are now ridiculous in their rigorous purity.

All the classical genres are now ridiculous in their rigorous purity.

Every uneducated person is a caricature of himself.

Every uneducated person is a caricature of himself.

Whoever does not philosophize for the sake of philosophy, but rather uses philosophy as a...

Whoever does not philosophize for the sake of philosophy, but rather uses philosophy as a...

Novels are the Socratic dialogues of our time. Practical wisdom fled from school wisdom into...

Novels are the Socratic dialogues of our time. Practical wisdom fled from school wisdom into...

What is lost in the good or excellent translation is precisely the best.

What is lost in the good or excellent translation is precisely the best.

Think of something finite molded into the infinite, and you think of man.

Think of something finite molded into the infinite, and you think of man.

Art and works of art do not make an artist; sense and enthusiasm and instinct...

Art and works of art do not make an artist; sense and enthusiasm and instinct...

Religion is not only a part of education, an element of humanity, but the center...

Religion is not only a part of education, an element of humanity, but the center...

The difference between religion and morality lies simply in the classical division of things into...

The difference between religion and morality lies simply in the classical division of things into...

Many a witty inspiration is like the surprising reunion of befriended thoughts after a long...

Many a witty inspiration is like the surprising reunion of befriended thoughts after a long...

Morality without a sense of paradox is mean.

Morality without a sense of paradox is mean.

Wit as an instrument of revenge is as infamous as art is as a means...

Wit as an instrument of revenge is as infamous as art is as a means...

God is each truly and exalted thing, therefore the individual himself to the highest degree....

God is each truly and exalted thing, therefore the individual himself to the highest degree....

No idea is isolated, but is only what it is among all ideas.

No idea is isolated, but is only what it is among all ideas.

The historian is a prophet looking backward.

The historian is a prophet looking backward.

The genuine priest always feels something higher than compassion.

The genuine priest always feels something higher than compassion.

The poetry of this one is called philosophical, of that one philological, of a third...

The poetry of this one is called philosophical, of that one philological, of a third...

One has only as much morality as one has philosophy and poetry.

One has only as much morality as one has philosophy and poetry.