An aphorism ought to be entirely isolated from the surrounding world like a little work of art and complete in itself like a hedgehog.
—Karl Wilhelm Friedrich Schlegel
Topics: Proverbial Wisdom
Virtue is reason which has become energy.
—Karl Wilhelm Friedrich Schlegel
Topics: Virtue
It is peculiar to mankind to transcend mankind.
—Karl Wilhelm Friedrich Schlegel
Topics: Humanity, Humankind
Good drama must be drastic.
—Karl Wilhelm Friedrich Schlegel
Topics: Theater
Prudishness is pretense of innocence without innocence. Women have to remain prudish as long as men are sentimental, dense, and evil enough to demand of them eternal innocence and lack of education. For innocence is the only thing which can ennoble lack of education.
—Karl Wilhelm Friedrich Schlegel
Topics: Innocence
The innermost meaning of sacrifice is the annihilation of the finite just because it is finite. In order to demonstrate that this is the only purpose, the most noble and beautiful must be chosen; above all, man, the fulfillment of the earth. Human sacrifices are the most natural sacrifices. Man, however, is more than the fulfillment of the earth; he is reasonable, and reason is free and nothing but an eternal self-determination toward the infinite. Thus man can sacrifice only himself, and that is what he does in the omnipresent sanctissimum of which the masses are not aware. All artists are self-sacrificing human beings, and to become an artist is nothing but to devote oneself to the subterranean gods. The meaning of divine creation is primarily revealed in the enthusiasm of annihilation. Only in the throes of death is the spark of eternal life ignited.
—Karl Wilhelm Friedrich Schlegel
Topics: Creation
What is called good society is usually nothing but a mosaic of polished caricatures.
—Karl Wilhelm Friedrich Schlegel
Topics: Society
Irony is the form of paradox. Paradox is what is good and great at the same time.
—Karl Wilhelm Friedrich Schlegel
Every uneducated person is a caricature of himself.
—Karl Wilhelm Friedrich Schlegel
Topics: Education
A critic is a reader who ruminates. Thus, he should have more than one stomach.
—Karl Wilhelm Friedrich Schlegel
Topics: Criticism, Critics
Genius is, to be sure, not a matter of arbitrariness, but rather of freedom, just as wit, love, and faith, which once shall become arts and disciplines. We should demand genius from everybody, without, however, expecting it.
—Karl Wilhelm Friedrich Schlegel
Topics: Genius
Wondering Whom to Read Next?
- Jacques Derrida French Philosopher, Literary Theorist
- Hans-Georg Gadamer German Philosopher
- John Rawls American Philosopher
- Ludwig Andreas Feuerbach German Philosopher
- Marshall Mcluhan Canadian Thinker
- Friedrich Schleiermacher German Theologian
- Georg Wilhelm Friedrich Hegel German Philosopher
- Karl Marx German Philosopher, Economist
- Jose Ortega y. Gasset Spanish Philosopher
- Umberto Eco Italian Novelist
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