149 Quotes by novalis

One should, when overwhelmed by the shadow of a giant, move aside and see if the colossal shadow isn’t merely that of a pygmy blocking out the sun.

How do we see physically? No differently that we do in our consciousness – by means of the productive power of imagination. Consciousness is the eye and ear, the sense for inner and outer meaning.

It is certain my belief gains quite infinitely the very moment I can convince another mind thereof.

The greatest of sorcerers would be the one who would cast a spell on himself to the degree of taking his own phantasmagoria for autonomous apparitions. Might that not be our case?

Our life is no dream, but it should and will perhaps become one.

There are ideal series of events which run parallel with the real ones. They rarely coincide.

Man has his being in truth – if he sacrifices truth he sacrifices himself. Whoever betrays truth betrays himself. It is not a question of lying – but of acting against one’s conviction.

Inspiration without intellect is useless and dangerous; and the poet will be able to perform few wonders, when he is astonished by wonders.

Centripetal force is the synthetic striving of the spirit – centrifugal force the analytical striving of the spirit. Striving toward unity – striving towards diversity. Through the mutual determination of each by the other – that higher synthesis of unity and diversity itself will be produced – whereby one is in all and all in one.