Athenaeum Fragments

Über keinen Gegenstand philosophieren sie seltner als über die Philosophie.About no subject is there less philosophizing than about philosophy.#1 B&S

— Athenaeum Fragments philosophy

Was gute Gesellschaft genannt wird, ist meistens nur ein Mosaik von geschliffnen Karikaturen.What is called good society is usually nothing but a mosaic of polished caricatures.#5 B&S

— Athenaeum Fragments society

Das sicherste Mittel unverständlich oder vielmehr mißverständlich zu sein, ist, wenn man die Worte in ihrem ursprünglichen Sinne braucht; besonders Worte aus den alten Sprachen.The surest method of being incomprehensible or, moreover, to be misunderstood is to use words in their original sense; especially words from the ancient languages.#19 B&S

— Athenaeum Fragments words

The surest method of being incomprehensible or, moreover, to be misunderstood is to use words in their original sense; especially words from the ancient languages.#19 B&S

— Athenaeum Fragments words

Ein vollkommnes Projekt müßte zugleich ganz subjektiv, und ganz objektiv, ein unteilbares und lebendiges Individuum sein.A perfect project should simultaneously be entirely subjective and entirely objective.#22 B&S

— Athenaeum Fragments perfect

A perfect project should simultaneously be entirely subjective and entirely objective.#22 B&S

— Athenaeum Fragments perfect

Witzige Einfälle sind die Sprüchwörter der gebildeten Menschen.Witty sayings are the proverbs of the educated.#29

— Athenaeum Fragments men

Prüderie ist Prätension auf Unschuld, ohne Unschuld. Die Frauen müssen wohl prüde bleiben, so lange Männer sentimental, dumm und schlecht genug sind, ewige Unschuld und Mangel an Bildung von ihnen zu fordern. Denn Unschuld ist das einzige, was Bildungslosigkeit adeln kann.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.#31 B&S

— Athenaeum Fragments education

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.#31 B&S

— Athenaeum Fragments education

Manche witzige Einfälle sind wie das überraschende Wiedersehen zwei befreundeter Gedanken nach einer langen Trennung.Many a witty inspiration is like the surprising reunion of befriended thoughts after a long separation.#37 B&S

— Athenaeum Fragments inspiration

Many a witty inspiration is like the surprising reunion of befriended thoughts after a long separation.#37 B&S

— Athenaeum Fragments inspiration

Die Philosophie geht noch zu sehr gerade aus, ist noch nicht zyklisch genug.Philosophy still moves much too straight ahead, and is not yet cyclical enough.#43 B&S

— Athenaeum Fragments philosophy

Es gibt eine eigne Gattung Menschen, bei denen die Begeisterung der Langenweile, die erste Regung der Philosophie ist.There is a kind of person for whom an enthusiasm for boredom represents the beginning of philosophy.#52 F

— Athenaeum Fragments philosophy

There is a kind of person for whom an enthusiasm for boredom represents the beginning of philosophy.#52 F

— Athenaeum Fragments philosophy

Man kann nur Philosoph werden, nicht es sein. Sobald man es zu sein glaubt, hört man auf es zu werden.One can only become a philosopher, but not be one. As one believes he is a philosopher, he stops being one.#54 B&S

— Athenaeum Fragments man

One can only become a philosopher, but not be one. As one believes he is a philosopher, he stops being one.#54 B&S

— Athenaeum Fragments believe

Da die Philosophie jetzt alles, was ihr vor vorkömmt kritisiert, so wäre eine Kritik der Philosophie nichts als eine gerechte Repressalie.Since philosophy now criticizes everything it comes across, a critique of philosophy would be nothing less than a just reprisal.#56 B&S

— Athenaeum Fragments philosophy

Since philosophy now criticizes everything it comes across, a critique of philosophy would be nothing less than a just reprisal.#56 B&S

— Athenaeum Fragments philosophy

Das Druckenlassen verhält sich zum Denken, wie eine Wochenstube zum erste Kuß.Publication is to thinking as childbirth is to the first kiss.#62 B&S

— Athenaeum Fragments thinking

Jeder ungebildete Mensch ist die Karikatur von sich selbst.Every uneducated person is a caricature of himself.#63 B&S

— Athenaeum Fragments men

Moderantismus ist Geist der kastrierten Illiberalität.Moderation is the spirit of castrated narrow-mindedness.#64 B&S

— Athenaeum Fragments mind

Auch in den Wissenschaften besetzt man erst ein Terrain, und beweist dann hinterdrein sein Recht daran.Even in the sciences possession is nine-tenths of the law.#82 F

— Athenaeum Fragments science

Subjektiv betrachtet, fängt die Philosophie doch immer in der Mitte an, wie das epische Gedicht.Philosophy always begins in the middle, like an epic poem.#84 B&S

— Athenaeum Fragments philosophy

Es gibt Menschen, deren ganze Tätigkeit darin besieht, immer Nein zu sagen. Es wäre nichts kleines, immer recht Nein sagen zu können, aber wer weiter nichts kann, kann es gewiß nicht recht. Der Geschmack dieser Neganten ist eine tüchtige Schere, um die Extremitäten des Genies zu säubern; ihre Aufklärung eine große Lichtputze für die Flamme des Enthusiasmus; und ihre Vernunft ein gelindes Laxativ gegen unmäßige Lust und Liebe.There are people whose whole life consists in always saying no. It would be no small accomplishment to be able to say no properly, but whoever can do no more, surely cannot do so properly. The taste of these nay-sayers is like an efficient pair of scissors for pruning the extremities of genius; their enlightenment is like a great candle-snuffer for the flame of enthusiasm and their reason a mild laxative against immoderate pleasure and love.# 88 F

— Athenaeum Fragments love

There are people whose whole life consists in always saying no. It would be no small accomplishment to be able to say no properly, but whoever can do no more, surely cannot do so properly. The taste of these nay-sayers is like an efficient pair of scissors for pruning the extremities of genius; their enlightenment is like a great candle-snuffer for the flame of enthusiasm and their reason a mild laxative against immoderate pleasure and love.# 88 F

— Athenaeum Fragments love

Die Kritik ist das einzige Surrogat der von so manchen Philosophen vergeblich gesuchten und gleich unmöglichen moralischen Mathematik und Wissenschaft des Schicklichen.Criticism is the sole surrogate of the moral mathematics and science of propriety which so many philosophers have sought for in vain because it is impossible to find.# 89 F

— Athenaeum Fragments science

Criticism is the sole surrogate of the moral mathematics and science of propriety which so many philosophers have sought for in vain because it is impossible to find.# 89 F

— Athenaeum Fragments science

Wer nicht um der Philosophie willen philosophiert, sondern die Philosophie als Mittel braucht, ist ein Sophist.Whoever does not philosophize for the sake of philosophy, but rather uses philosophy as a means, is a sophist.#96 B&S

— Athenaeum Fragments philosophy

Whoever does not philosophize for the sake of philosophy, but rather uses philosophy as a means, is a sophist.#96 B&S

— Athenaeum Fragments philosophy

Als vorübergehender Zustand ist der Skeptizismus logische Insurrektion; als System ist er Anarchie.As a temporary condition skepticism is logical insurrection; as a system it is anarchy.#97 F

— Athenaeum Fragments logic

According to the school definition, a Kantian is someone who believes that Kant is the truth, and who, if the mail coach from Königsberg where ever to have an accident, might very well have to go without the truth for some weeks. According to the outmoded Socratic concept of disciples being those who have independently made the spirit of the great master their own spirit, have adapted themselves to it, and, as his spiritual sons, have been named after him, there are probably only a very few Kantians.#104 F

— Athenaeum Fragments truth

Sie allein ist unendlich, wie sie allein frey ist, und das als ihr erstes Gesetz anerkennt, dass die Willkühr des Dichters kein Gesetz über sich leide.Romantic poetryrecognizes as its first commandment that the will of the poet can tolerate no law above itself.#116 F

— Athenaeum Fragments poetry

Romantic poetryrecognizes as its first commandment that the will of the poet can tolerate no law above itself.#116 F

— Athenaeum Fragments poetry

To freely relinquish first one and then another part of one’s being, and then confine oneself entirely to a third; to seek and find now in this, now in that individual the be-all and end-all of existence, and intentionally forget everything else: of this only a mind is capable that contains within itself a whole system of persons, and in whose inner being the universe which, as they say, should germinate in every monad, has grown to fullness and maturity.#121 F

— Athenaeum Fragments art

Es giebt eine materiale, enthusiastische Rhetorik die unendlich weit erhaben ist über den sophistischen Misbrauch der Philosophie, die deklamatorische Stylübung, die angewandte Poesie, die improvisirte Politik, welche man mit demselben Nahmen zu bezeichnen pflegt. Ihre Bestimmung ist, die Philosophie praktisch zu realisiren, und die praktische Unphilosophie und Antiphilosophie nicht bloss dialektisch zu besiegen, sondern real zu vernichten.There is a material, enthusiastic rhetoric that is infinitely superior to the sophistic abuse of philosophy, the declamatory stylistic exercise, the applied poetry, the improvised politics, that commonly go by the name. The aim of this rhetoric is to realize philosophy practically and to defeat practical unphilosophy and antiphilosophy not just dialectically, but really annihilate it.#137 F

— Athenaeum Fragments philosophy

There is a material, enthusiastic rhetoric that is infinitely superior to the sophistic abuse of philosophy, the declamatory stylistic exercise, the applied poetry, the improvised politics, that commonly go by the name. The aim of this rhetoric is to realize philosophy practically and to defeat practical unphilosophy and antiphilosophy not just dialectically, but really annihilate it.#137 F

— Athenaeum Fragments philosophy

Klassisch zu leben, und das Alterthum praktisch in sich zu realisiren, ist der Gipfel und das Ziel der Philologie.To live classically and to realize antiquity practically within oneself is the summit and goal of philology.#147 F

— Athenaeum Fragments self

To live classically and to realize antiquity practically within oneself is the summit and goal of philology.#147 F

— Athenaeum Fragments self

Ein Fragment muß gleich einem kleinen Kunstwerke von der umgebenden Welt ganz abgesondert und in sich selbst vollendet sein wie ein Igel.An aphorism ought to be entirely isolated from the surrounding world like a little work of art and complete in itself like a hedgehog.#206 B&S

— Athenaeum Fragments art

An aphorism ought to be entirely isolated from the surrounding world like a little work of art and complete in itself like a hedgehog.#206 B&S

— Athenaeum Fragments art

Die Menge nicht zu achten, ist sittlich; sie zu ehren, ist rechtlich.To disrespect the masses is moral; to honor them, lawful.#211 F

— Athenaeum Fragments men

Barbarisch ist nämlich, was zugleich antiklassisch, und antiprogressiv ist.Barbarism is defined as what is at once anti-classical and anti-progressive.#229 F

— Athenaeum Fragments progress

Die Religion ist meistens nur ein Supplement oder gar ein Surrogat der Bildung, und nichts ist religiös in strengem Sinne, was nicht ein Produkt der Freiheit ist. Man kann also sagen: Je freier, je religiöser; und je mehr Bildung, je weniger Religion.Religion is usually nothing but a supplement to or even a substitute for education, and nothing is religious in the strict sense which is not a product of freedom. Thus one can say: The freer, the more religious; and the more education, the less religion.#233

— Athenaeum Fragments religion

Religion is usually nothing but a supplement to or even a substitute for education, and nothing is religious in the strict sense which is not a product of freedom. Thus one can say: The freer, the more religious; and the more education, the less religion.#233

— Athenaeum Fragments religion

Fragmente, sagen Sie, wären die eigentliche Form der Universalphilosophie.Aphorisms are the true form of the universal philosophy.#259 B&S

— Athenaeum Fragments philosophy

Gott werden, Mensch sein, sich bilden, sind Ausdrücke, die einerlei bedeuten.To become God, to be human, to cultivate oneself are all expressions that mean the same thing.#262 F

— Athenaeum Fragments god

To become God, to be human, to cultivate oneself are all expressions that mean the same thing.#262 F

— Athenaeum Fragments god

An genialischem Unbewußtsein können die Philosophen, dünkt mich den Dichtern den Rang recht wohl streitig machen.With respect to ingenious subconsciousness, I think, philosophers might well rival poets.#299 B&S

— Athenaeum Fragments respect

With respect to ingenious subconsciousness, I think, philosophers might well rival poets.#299 B&S

— Athenaeum Fragments respect

Alle Gattungen sind gut, sagt Voltaire, ausgenommen die langweilige Gattung.All genres are good, says Voltaire, except the one that’s boring.#324 F

— Athenaeum Fragments men

Das Geliebte zu vergöttern ist die Natur des Liebenden. Aber ein andres ist es, mit gespannter Imaginazion ein fremdes Bild unterschieben und eine reine Vollkommenheit anstaunen, die uns nur darum als solche erscheint, weil wir noch nicht gebildet genug sind, um die unendliche Fülle der menschlichen Natur zu begreifen, und die Harmonie ihrer Widersprüche zu verstehn.To idolize the object of love is the nature of the lover. But it’s something else to use one’s strained imagination to substitute a new image and then admire it as absolute perfection.#363 F

— Athenaeum Fragments love

To idolize the object of love is the nature of the lover. But it’s something else to use one’s strained imagination to substitute a new image and then admire it as absolute perfection.#363 F

— Athenaeum Fragments love

Du sollst dir kein Ideal machen, weder eines Engels im Himmel, noch eines Helden aus einem Gedicht oder Roman, noch eines selbstgeträumten oder fantasirten; sondern du sollst einen Mann lieben, wie er ist.Thou shalt not make unto thee any ideal, neither of an angel in heaven, nor of a hero in a poem or novel, nor one that is dreamed up or imagined: rather shalt thou love a man as he is.#364 F

— Athenaeum Fragments love

Thou shalt not make unto thee any ideal, neither of an angel in heaven, nor of a hero in a poem or novel, nor one that is dreamed up or imagined: rather shalt thou love a man as he is.#364 F

— Athenaeum Fragments love

Ich glaube, daß ich nicht lebe, um zu gehorchen oder um mich zu zerstreuen, sondern um zu sein und zu werden; und ich glaube an die Macht des Willens und der Bildung, mich dem Unendlichen wieder zu nähern, mich aus den Fesseln der Mißbildung zu erlösen, und mich von den Schranken des Geschlechts unabhängig zu machen.I believe that I do not live to obey commands or to seek diversions, but rather to be and to become; and I believe in the power of the will and of education to make me draw near once more to the infinite, to deliver me from the chains of miseducation, and to make me independent of the restraints of sex.“Idea for a catechism of reason for noble ladies,”, #364 F

— Athenaeum Fragments education

I believe that I do not live to obey commands or to seek diversions, but rather to be and to become; and I believe in the power of the will and of education to make me draw near once more to the infinite, to deliver me from the chains of miseducation, and to make me independent of the restraints of sex.“Idea for a catechism of reason for noble ladies,”, #364 F

— Athenaeum Fragments education

Verstand ist mechanischer, Witz ist chemischer, Genie ist organischer Geist.Reason is mechanical, wit chemical, and genius organic spirit.#366

— Athenaeum Fragments reason

Die Sittlichkeit aber war noch überall im Gedränge, die Nützlichkeit und die Rechtlichkeit missgönnen ihr sogar die Existenz.Morality has always had a difficult time of it; utility and legality even begrudge the fact of its existence.#373 F

— Athenaeum Fragments war

Morality has always had a difficult time of it; utility and legality even begrudge the fact of its existence.#373 F

— Athenaeum Fragments time

Der platte Mensch beurtheilt alle andre Menschen wie Menschen, behandelt sie aber wie Sachen, und begreift es durchaus nicht, dass sie andre Menschen sind als er.The dull person judges all other people like people but treats them like things, and is absolutely incapable of understanding that they are human beings distinct from himself.#386 F

— Athenaeum Fragments people

The dull person judges all other people like people but treats them like things, and is absolutely incapable of understanding that they are human beings distinct from himself.#386 F

— Athenaeum Fragments people

Da die Natur und die Menschheit sich so oft und so schneidend widersprechen, darf die Philosophie es vielleicht nicht vermeiden, dasselbe zu tun.Since nature and man contradict each other so often and so sharply, philosophy perhaps can’t avoid doing the same.#397 F

— Athenaeum Fragments philosophy

Since nature and man contradict each other so often and so sharply, philosophy perhaps can’t avoid doing the same.#397 F

— Athenaeum Fragments philosophy

Respekt vor der Mathematik, und Appellieren an den gesunden Menschenverstand sind die diagnostischen Zeichen des halben unechten Skeptizismus.A respect for mathematics and a falling back to common sense are the diagnostic symptoms of quasi-genuine skepticism.#400 F

— Athenaeum Fragments men

A respect for mathematics and a falling back to common sense are the diagnostic symptoms of quasi-genuine skepticism.#400 F

— Athenaeum Fragments respect

To devote oneself exclusively to developing some original instinct is as good and wise as the best and noblest task a man can choose to make the business of his life.#404 F

— Athenaeum Fragments life

Giebts so viele Götter als Ideale. Auch ist des Verhältnis des wahren Künstlers und des wahren Menschen zu seinen Idealen durchaus Religion. Wem dieser innre Gottesdienst Ziel und Geschäft des ganzen Lebens ist, der ist Priester, und so kann und soll es jeder werden.There are as many gods as there are ideals. And further, the relation of the true artist and the true human being to his ideals is absolutely religious. The man for whom this inner divine service is the end and occupation of all his life is a priest, and this is how everyone can and should become a priest.# 406 F

— Athenaeum Fragments life

There are as many gods as there are ideals. And further, the relation of the true artist and the true human being to his ideals is absolutely religious. The man for whom this inner divine service is the end and occupation of all his life is a priest, and this is how everyone can and should become a priest.# 406 F

— Athenaeum Fragments life

Alltäglichkeit, Ökonomie ist das notwendige Supplement aller nicht schlechthin universellen Naturen. Oft verliert sich das Talent und die Bildung ganz in diesem umgebenden Element.Triviality—economy—is the necessary supplement of all people who aren’t absolutely universal. Often talent and education are lost entirely in this surrounding element.#410 F

— Athenaeum Fragments education

Triviality—economy—is the necessary supplement of all people who aren’t absolutely universal. Often talent and education are lost entirely in this surrounding element.#410 F

— Athenaeum Fragments education

Menschen, die so ekzentrisch sind, im vollen Ernst tugendhaft zu sein und zu werden, verstehn sich überall, finden sich leicht, und bilden eine stille Opposition gegen die herrschende Unsittlichkeit, die eben für Sittlichkeit gilt.People who are eccentric enough to be quite seriously virtuous understand each other everywhere, discover each other easily, and form a silent opposition to the ruling immorality that happens to pass for morality.#414 F

— Athenaeum Fragments people

People who are eccentric enough to be quite seriously virtuous understand each other everywhere, discover each other easily, and form a silent opposition to the ruling immorality that happens to pass for morality.#414 F

— Athenaeum Fragments people

There are people with whom everything they consider a means turns mysteriously into an end.#428 F

— Athenaeum Fragments people

Es giebt unvermeidliche Lagen und Verhältnisse, die man nur dadurch liberal behandeln kann, dass man sie durch einen kühnen Akt der Willkühr verwandelt und durchaus als Poesie betrachtet. Also sollen alle gebildete Menschen im Nothfalle Poeten seyn können, und daraus lässt sich eben so gut folgern, dass der Mensch von Natur ein Poet sey, dass es eine Naturpoesie gebe, als umgekehrt.There are unavoidable situations and relationships that one can tolerate only by transforming them by some courageous act of the will and seeing them as pure poetry. It follows that all cultivated people should be capable of being poets if they have to be; and from this we can deduce equally well that man is by nature a poet.#430 F

— Athenaeum Fragments poetry

There are unavoidable situations and relationships that one can tolerate only by transforming them by some courageous act of the will and seeing them as pure poetry. It follows that all cultivated people should be capable of being poets if they have to be; and from this we can deduce equally well that man is by nature a poet.#430 F

— Athenaeum Fragments poetry

Der Autor, der die Philosophie und das gesellschaftliche Leben en rapport setzen will, lernen muss, wie man das Dekorum der Konvenzion zum Anstand der Natur adelt.A writershould learn from society how to raise the decorum of convention to the level of natural propriety.# 436

— Athenaeum Fragments society

A writershould learn from society how to raise the decorum of convention to the level of natural propriety.# 436

— Athenaeum Fragments society

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