and their freedom from political folly at times when the wind shifts its quarters, we may yet expect great things from them: such as they are (or have been), they are the embryo state of something higher. The advantage and disadvantage of the Germans and even of their men of letters, have been thus far their being more prone to superstition and more eager to believe than other nations ; their vices are, as they have been and always will be, their drunkenness and suicidal tendency (which are a proof for the clumsiness of their intellect, which is easily tempted to throw down the reins): their danger lies in everything which ties down the reasoning faculties and unfetters the passions (as, for instance, the excessive use of music and of spirits), for the German passion is opposed to its own advantage, and is as self-destructive is that of the drunkard. Enthusiasm itself is valued in Germany less highly than anywhere else, for it is barren. Whenever a German accomplished anything great, he did so in times of extremity, in a state of valour, of dogged ness, of most exalted prudence and often of generosity. The intercourse with them would indeed be advisable,— for almost every German has something to give, if one only understands how to make him find, or rather recover this something (for he is personally untidy). Well, if a people so constituted be bent on morals, of what kind will be the morals that may satisfy them? They certainly will first of all wish to see their genuine craving for obedience idealised in them. “Man must have some-
