Quotes from Friedrich Schlegel

A classical work of literature can never be completely understood. But those who are educated and educating themselves must always desire to learn more from it.

Mysteries are feminine; they like to veil themselves but still want to be seen and divined.

Poetry should forever be becoming and never perfected.

industry and utility are the angels of death who, with fiery swords, prevent man's return to Paradise.

Die Blüten aller Dinge jeglicher Art flicht Poesie in einen leichten Kranz und so nennt und reimt auch Wilhelmine Gegenden, Zeiten, Begebenheiten, Personen, Spielwerke und Speisen, alles durcheinander in romantischer Verwirrung, so viel Worte so viel Bilder; und das ohne alle Nebenbestimmungen und künstlichen Übergänge, die am Ende doch nur dem Verstande frommen und jeden kühneren Schwung der Fantasie hemmen.

philosophy of art usually lacks one of two things: either the philosophy or the art

Really, we shouldn't neglect the study of idleness so criminally, but make it into an art and a science, even into a religion!

Qui augmente sa connaissance augmente son ignorance.

Io, esule, non ho casa: sono stato gettato via verso l'infinito.

Der romantische Imperativ fordert die Mischung aller Dichtarten. All Natur und Wissenschaft soll Kunstwerden—Kunst soll Natur werden und Wissenschaft. Imperativ: die Poesie soll sittlich und die Sittlichkeit sollpoetisch sein.

For every concept, as for every proof, one can ask for a concept in turn and a proof of it. For this reason, philosophy, like an epic poem, must begin in the middle, and it is impossible to present it and give an account of it piece by piece in such a way that the first [principle] is completely justified and explained. It is a whole and the path to knowing it is not a straight line but a circle.

There burned in him a love without object that shattered his inner being. At the slightest inducement, the flames of passion would break out; but soon, from pride or willfulness, this passion seemed to scorn its object and would turn back, doubly enraged, on itself and him, in order to feed on the core of his heart.

Je mehr man schon weiß, je mehr hat man noch zu lernen. Mit dem Wissen nimmt das Nichtwissen in gleichem Grade zu, oder vielmehr das Wissen des Nichtwissens.