Of mediocrity keep thy road clear;
Let the whole man bear the whole load clear
And pure honor must be of all seam sewed clear.
(Ernst Ziel.)
“The whole man bear the whole load clear,” repeated Franka. “The whole woman, too,—this equalization in dignity Brother Chlodwig taught me.”
All men’s advantage every man’s rule.
Banish him far away—our age’s demon far hence,
The sleepy, lame monster, whose name is Indifference.
I believe it is the secret of eminent men that they preserve into advancing life their childish feelings,—that is to say, warm, deep feelings. This terrible world cools down all ardor into nauseous lukewarmness. But eminent men have so much internal warmth that an ocean of stupidity and unintelligence could never cool what is burning in their hearts. They have an absolute lack of affinity for everything common and ordinary; they enter into no combination with it.
“There didst thou describe thy dear self, my own father.... I never saw in my life such a childlike person as thou wert ... except Helmer, when he laughs ... he also can laugh like a child....”