There is no self-knowledge except historical self-knowledge. No one knows what he is if he doesn't know what his contemporaries are. Karl Wilhelm Friedrich Schlegel More Quotes by Karl Wilhelm Friedrich Schlegel More Quotes From Karl Wilhelm Friedrich Schlegel Imagination must first be filled to the point of saturation with life of every kind before the moment arrives when the friction of free sociability electrifies it to such an extent that the most gentle stimulus of friendly or hostile contact elicits from it lightning sparks, luminous flashes, or shattering blows. Karl Wilhelm Friedrich Schlegel imagination spiritual blow Both in their origins and effects, boredom and stuffy air resemble each other. They are usually generated whenever a large number of people gather together in a closed room. Karl Wilhelm Friedrich Schlegel air numbers people 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 discipline love art Good drama must be drastic. Karl Wilhelm Friedrich Schlegel theater theatre drama Virtue is reason which has become energy. Karl Wilhelm Friedrich Schlegel virtue energy literature When ideas become gods, consciousness of harmony becomes devotion, humility, and hope. Karl Wilhelm Friedrich Schlegel humility ideas religion