#miscellaneous observations

[philosophybits]

In the beginning poet and priest were one — and only later ages have separated them. But the true poet has always remained a priest, just as the true priest has always remained a poet — and ought not the future bring the old state of affairs back again? That representative of the genius of humanity could easily be the poet kat exochen [par excellence].

Novalis, Miscellaneous Observations

[philosophybits]

We seek the absolute everywhere and only ever find things.

Novalis, Miscellaneous Observations

[philosophybits]

The highest task of education is — to take command of one’s transcendental self — to be at once the I of its I. It is all the less to be wondered at that we lack complete insight and understanding for others. Without perfect self-understanding one will never learn to truly understand others.

Novalis, Miscellaneous Observations

[philosophybits]

All the chance events of our lives are materials from which we can make what we like. Whoever is rich in spirit makes much of his life. Every acquaintance, every incident would be for the thoroughly spiritual person the first element in an endless series — the beginning of an endless novel.

Novalis, Miscellaneous Observations

[philosophybits]

Genius is the ability to treat imaginary objects like real ones, and to deal with them as if they were real as well.

Novalis, Miscellaneous Observations

[philosophybits]

The conceptions of times past draw us toward dying — toward disintegration. The conceptions of the future — drive us toward living forms — to incorporation, the action of assimilation. Hence all memory is melancholy — all premonition joyful. The former — excessive liveliness — the latter is uplifting for life that is too weak.

Novalis, Miscellaneous Observations

[philosophybits]

Before abstraction everything is one — but it is one as chaos is — after abstraction everything is again unified — but this unification is a free alliance of independent, self-determined beings. A crowd has become a society — chaos is transformed into a manifold world.

Novalis, Miscellaneous Observations

[philosophybits]

We shall never entirely comprehend ourselves, but we will and can do much more than comprehend ourselves.

Novalis, Miscellaneous Observations