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

“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.”

“An aphorism ought to be entirely isolated from the surrounding world like a little work of art and complete in itself like a hedgehog.”

“Io, esule, non ho casa: sono stato gettato via verso l’infinito.”

“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.”

“Poetry should forever be becoming and never perfected.”

“The historian is a prophet looking backwards.”