xy

@xy, member from Sept. 25, 2023

Favourite quotes (21448)

“Self-alienation is the source of all degradation as well as, on the contrary, the basis of all true elevation. The first step will be a look inward, an isolating contemplation of our self. Whoever remains standing here proceeds only halfway. The second step must be an active look outward, an autonomous, determined observation of the outer world.”

Novalis book Blüthenstaub

Fragment No. 24 Variant translation: The first step is to look within, the discriminating contemplation of the self. He who remains at this point only half develops. The second step must be a telling look without, independent, sustained contemplation of the external world.
Blüthenstaub (1798)

“The highest life is mathematics.”

Novalis book Blüthenstaub

Das höchste Leben ist Mathematik.
Blüthenstaub (1798), Unsequenced

“Someone arrived there — who lifted the veil of the goddess, at Sais. — But what did he see? He saw — wonder of wonders — himself.”

Novalis (1772–1801) German poet and writer

Novalis here alludes to Plutarch's account of the shrine of the goddess Minerva, identified with Isis, at Sais, which he reports had the inscription "I am all that hath been, and is, and shall be; and my veil no mortal has hitherto raised."
Pupils at Sais (1799)

“Pure mathematics is religion.”

Novalis book Blüthenstaub

Reine Mathematik ist Religion.
Blüthenstaub (1798), Unsequenced

“Wilhelm Meister's Apprenticeship may be called throughout prosaic and modern. The Romantic sinks to ruin, the Poesy of Nature, the Wonderful. The Book treats merely of common worldly things: Nature and Mysticism are altogether forgotten. It is a poetised civic and household History; the Marvellous is expressly treated therein as imagination and enthusiasm. Artistic Atheism is the spirit of the Book. … It is properly a Candide, directed against Poetry: the Book is highly unpoetical in respect of spirit, poetical as the dress and body of it are.”

Novalis (1772–1801) German poet and writer

Ralph Waldo Emerson in "Goethe; or, the Writer" writes of this passage, and quotes a slightly different translation: The ardent and holy Novalis characterized the book as "thoroughly modern and prosaic; the romantic is completely levelled in it; so is the poetry of nature; the wonderful. The book treats only of the ordinary affairs of men: it is a poeticized civic and domestic story. The wonderful in it is expressly treated as fiction and enthusiastic dreaming:" — and yet, what is also characteristic, Novalis soon returned to this book, and it remained his favorite reading to the end of his life.
Novalis (1829)

“The true Poet is all-knowing; he is an actual world in miniature.”

Novalis (1772–1801) German poet and writer

Novalis (1829)

“The division of Philosopher and Poet is only apparent, and to the disadvantage of both. It is a sign of disease, and of a sickly constitution.”

Novalis (1772–1801) German poet and writer

Novalis (1829)

“Everywhere we seek the Absolute, and always we find only things.”

Novalis book Blüthenstaub

Fragment No. 1; Variant: We seek the absolute everywhere and only ever find things.
Blüthenstaub (1798)

“Morality must be the heart of our existence, if it is to be what it wants to be for us. … The highest form of philosophy is ethics. Thus all philosophy begins with “I am.” The highest statement of cognition must be an expression of that fact which is the means and ground for all cognition, namely, the goal of the I.”

Novalis (1772–1801) German poet and writer

Fichte Studies § 556

“What is Nature? An encyclopedical, systematic Index or Plan of our Spirit. Why will we content us with the mere catalogue of our Treasures? Let us contemplate them ourselves, and in all ways elaborate and use them.”

Novalis (1772–1801) German poet and writer

Novalis (1829)

“Friends, the soil is poor, we must sow seeds in plenty for us to garner even modest harvests.”

Novalis book Blüthenstaub

Motto
Blüthenstaub (1798)

“To get to know a truth properly, one must polemicize it.”

Novalis (1772–1801) German poet and writer

Quoted in The Viking Book of Aphorisms by Wystan Hugh Auden (1962) p. 323

“Blood will stream over Europe until the nations become aware of the frightful madness which drives them in circles. And then, struck by celestial music and made gentle, they approach their former altars all together, hear about the works of peace, and hold a great celebration of peace with fervent tears before the smoking altars.”

Novalis (1772–1801) German poet and writer

As quoted in the Fourth Leaflet of the White Rose (1942)

“Building worlds is not enough for the deeper urging mind; but a loving heart sates the striving spirit.”

Novalis book Blüthenstaub

Fragment No. 91
Blüthenstaub (1798)

“Many counterrevolutionary books have been written in favor of the Revolution. But Burke has written a revolutionary book against the Revolution.”

Novalis book Blüthenstaub

Fragment No. 104; on Edmund Burke's Reflections on the Revolution in France (1790).
Blüthenstaub (1798)

“Nothing is more indispensable to true religiosity than a mediator that links us with divinity.”

Novalis book Blüthenstaub

Fragment No. 74
Blüthenstaub (1798)

“To philosophize means to make vivid.”

Novalis (1772–1801) German poet and writer

“Humanity is a comic role.”

Novalis (1772–1801) German poet and writer

Source: Novalis: Philosophical Writings

“One can not understand language because language cannot understand itself; does not want to understand”

Novalis (1772–1801) German poet and writer

“Philosophy is properly Home-sickness; the wish to be everywhere at home.”

Novalis (1772–1801) German poet and writer

Philosophie ist eigentlich Heimweh - Trieb überall zu Hause zu sein.
Novalis (1829)
Variant: Philosophy is really nostalgia, the desire to be at home.