A classification is a definition comprising a system of definitions. Karl Wilhelm Friedrich Schlegel More Quotes by Karl Wilhelm Friedrich Schlegel More Quotes From Karl Wilhelm Friedrich Schlegel There are writers in Germany who drink the Absolute like water; and there are books in which even the dogs make references to the Infinite. Karl Wilhelm Friedrich Schlegel dog water book Think of something finite molded into the infinite, and you think of man. Karl Wilhelm Friedrich Schlegel infinite men thinking If the essence of cynicism consists in preferring nature to art, virtue to beauty and science; in not bothering about the letter of things -- to which the Stoic strictly adheres -- but in looking up to the spirit of things; in absolute contempt of all economic values and political splendor, and in courageous defence of the rights of independent freedom; then Christianity would be nothing but universal cynicism. Karl Wilhelm Friedrich Schlegel independent rights art The naive is what is or appears to be natural, individual, or classical to the point of irony or to the point of continuous alternation of self-creation and self-destruction. If it is only instinct, then it is childlike, childish, or silly; if it is only intention, it becomes affectation. Karl Wilhelm Friedrich Schlegel irony self silly The obsession with moderation is the spirit of castrated narrow-mindedness. Karl Wilhelm Friedrich Schlegel excess obsession spirit It is individuality which is the original and eternal within man; personality doesn't matter so much. To pursue the education and development of this individuality as one's highest vocation would be a divine egoism. Karl Wilhelm Friedrich Schlegel individuality personality men There are ancient and modern poems which breathe, in their entirety and in every detail, the divine breath of irony. In such poemsthere lives a real transcendental buffoonery. Their interior is permeated by the mood which surveys everything and rises infinitely above everything limited, even above the poet's own art, virtue, and genius; and their exterior form by the histrionic style of an ordinary good Italian buffo. Karl Wilhelm Friedrich Schlegel italian real art Every relationship of man to the infinite is religion, namely of a man in the full abundance of his humanity. Whenever a mathematician calculates infinity, that, to be sure, is not religion. Infinity conceived in this abundance is the Godhead. Karl Wilhelm Friedrich Schlegel humanity men religion Philosophy is the true home of irony, which might be defined as logical beauty: for wherever men are philosophizing in spoken or written dialogues, and provided they are not entirely systematic, irony ought to be produced and postulated; even the Stoics regarded urbanity as a virtue. Karl Wilhelm Friedrich Schlegel home men philosophy Honor is the mysticism of legality Karl Wilhelm Friedrich Schlegel mysticism legality honor The few existing writings against Kantian philosophy are the most important documents in the case history of sound common sense. Karl Wilhelm Friedrich Schlegel common-sense writing philosophy Because Christianity is a religion of death, it could be treated with the utmost realism, and it could have its orgies, just likethe old religion of nature and life. Karl Wilhelm Friedrich Schlegel realism christian-life christianity Most thoughts are only profiles of thoughts. They must be inverted and synthesized with their antipodes. Thus many philosophical writings become very interesting which would not have been so otherwise. Karl Wilhelm Friedrich Schlegel thoughtful philosophical writing Just as the Romans were the only nation that was truly a nation, so our age is the first genuine age. Karl Wilhelm Friedrich Schlegel eras age time The naive which is simultaneously beautiful, poetic, and idealistic, must be both intention and instinct. The essence of intention, in this sense, is freedom. Consciousness is far from intention. There is a certain enamoured contemplation of one's own naturalness or silliness which itself is unspeakably silly. Intention does not necessarily require a profound calculation or plan. Karl Wilhelm Friedrich Schlegel essence silly beautiful Every form of life is in its origin not natural, but divine and human; for it must spring from love, just as there can be no reason without spirit. Karl Wilhelm Friedrich Schlegel divinity spirit spring The need to raise itself above humanity is humanity's main characteristic. Karl Wilhelm Friedrich Schlegel characteristics humanity needs Religion and morals are symmetrically opposed, just like poetry and philosophy. Karl Wilhelm Friedrich Schlegel moral philosophy religion I can no longer say my love and your love; they are both alike in their perfect mutuality. Karl Wilhelm Friedrich Schlegel i-can perfect All the great truths are basically trivial and so we have to find new ways, preferably paradoxical ways, of expressing them, in order to keep them from falling into oblivion. Karl Wilhelm Friedrich Schlegel order way fall
