Whoever could properly characterize Goethe’s Meister would have actually expressed what is the timely trend in literature. He would be able, as far as literary criticism is concerned, to rest.

There is no self-knowledge but an historical one. No one knows what he himself is who does not know his fellow men, especially the most prominent one of the community, the master’s master, the genius of the age.

Nothing truly convincing – which would possess thoroughness, vigor, and skill – has been written against the ancients as yet; especially not against their poetry.

An artist is he for whom the goal and center of life is to form his mind.

In order to be able to write well upon a subject, one must have ceased to be interested in it; the thought which is to be soberlyexpressed must already be entirely past and no longer be one’s actual concern.

Plato’s philosophy is a dignified preface to future religion.

A classical work doesn’t ever have to be understood entirely. But those who are educated and who are still educating themselves must desire to learn more and more from it.

The need to raise itself above humanity is humanity’s main characteristic.

It is individuality which is the original and eternal within man; personality doesn’t matter so much. To pursue the education anddevelopment of this individuality as one’s highest vocation would be a divine egoism.

There is no self-knowledge except historical self-knowledge. No one knows what he is if he doesn’t know what his contemporaries are.