Novalis Quotes

Many books are longer than they seem. They have indeed no end. The boredom that they cause is truly absolute and infinite.

The true reader must be an extension of the author. He is the higher court that receives the case already prepared by the lower court. The feeling by means of which the author has separated out the materials of his work, during reading separates out again the unformed and the formed aspects of the book — and if the reader were to work through the book according to his own idea, a second reader would refine it still more, with the result that, since the mass that had been worked through would constantly be poured into fresh vessels, the mass would finally become an essential component — a part of the active spirit.

Through impartial rereading of his book the author can refine his book himself. With strangers the particular character is usually lost, because the talent of fully entering into another person’s idea is so rare. Often even in the author himself. It is not a sign of superior education and greater powers to justifiably find fault with a book. When receiving new impressions, greater sharpness of mind is quite natural.

Is not our body in itself nothing but a common central effect of our senses — if we have mastery over our senses — if we are able to transform them into activity at will — to center them at a common point, then it only depends on us — to give ourselves the body we want.

Indeed, in our senses are nothing other than modifications of the mental organ — of the absolute element — then with mastery over this element we shall also be able to modify and direct our senses as we please.

Only fools fail to recognize you, knowing no sleep but the shadow which you, taking pity, cast over us in the twilight before true night. They do not taste you in the golden flood of grapes, in the magic oil of the almond tree and the brown juice of the poppy. They do not know that it is you who hovers over a tender maiden’s bosom, making a heaven of her lap − never suspect that it is you who comes to them out of old stories, opening the doors to heaven and carrying the key to the dwellings of the blessed, a silent messenger of infinite mysteries.

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?

The most intimate community of all knowledge — the republic of learning is the high purpose of scholars.

Our body is a moulded river

Life is the beginning of death. Life is for the sake of death. Death is at once the end and the beginning — at once separation and closer union of the self. Through death the reduction is complete.

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

What is nature? An encyclopedic systematic index or plan of our spirit. Why should we be content with the mere catalogue of our treasures — let us examine them for ourselves — and work with them and use them in diverse ways.

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.

True anarchy is the generative element of religion. Out of the annihilation of all existing institutions she raises her glorious head, as the new foundress of the world.

That which the external world perceives as quite motionless has the appearance of being quite at rest. However much it may change, in relation to the external world it always stays at rest. This principle governs all self-modifications. That is why the beautiful appears so much at rest. Everything beautiful is a self-illuminated, perfect individual.

الفلسفةُ حنينٌ إلى الوطن ، ونزعةٌ إلى أن نكون في كلّ مكانٍ ، كما لو في البيت.

اننا نكون قد قاربنا ان نستفيق حين نحلم اننا نحلم