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Political Aphorisms

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  05 June 2012

Frederick C. Beiser
Affiliation:
Indiana University
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Summary

44 The basis of all perversity in opinions and attitudes is confusing the ends with the means.

45 Certainly, most revolutionaries have not known exactly what they wanted: order or disorder.

46 Revolutions are more a proof against the true energy of a nation. There is an energy from sickness and weakness that is more violent than true energy; unfortunately, it ceases with even greater weakness.

47 When one judges a whole nation one usually judges the especially conspicuous, striking part of it.

48 No argument is stronger against the old system of government than what one can make against the disproportionate strength of the various parts of the state, which especially comes to the fore in a revolution. Its administration must have been gravely faulty that many parts could become deficient and such deep-seated weakness took root everywhere.

49 The weaker the part the more it inclines to disorder and infection.

50 What are slaves? Completely weakened, compromised human beings. What are sultans? Slaves aroused through strong stimuli. How do sultans and slaves end? Violently. The former easily as slaves, the latter easily as sultans, that is, frenetic and insane. How can we cure slaves? Through very cautious emancipation and enlightenment. We must treat them like those suffering from frostbite. And sultans? In the manner that Dionysus and Croesus were cured. One began with shock, fasting, and monastic discipline and gradually increased restoratives [and tonics]. Sultans and slaves were extremes.

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Publisher: Cambridge University Press
Print publication year: 1996

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  • Political Aphorisms
  • Edited by Frederick C. Beiser, Indiana University
  • Book: The Early Political Writings of the German Romantics
  • Online publication: 05 June 2012
  • Chapter DOI: https://doi.org/10.1017/CBO9781139170604.009
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  • Political Aphorisms
  • Edited by Frederick C. Beiser, Indiana University
  • Book: The Early Political Writings of the German Romantics
  • Online publication: 05 June 2012
  • Chapter DOI: https://doi.org/10.1017/CBO9781139170604.009
Available formats
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To save content items to your account, please confirm that you agree to abide by our usage policies. If this is the first time you use this feature, you will be asked to authorise Cambridge Core to connect with your account. Find out more about saving content to Google Drive.

  • Political Aphorisms
  • Edited by Frederick C. Beiser, Indiana University
  • Book: The Early Political Writings of the German Romantics
  • Online publication: 05 June 2012
  • Chapter DOI: https://doi.org/10.1017/CBO9781139170604.009
Available formats
×