HEINRICH HEINE - Repositories
HEINRICH HEINE - Repositories HEINRICH HEINE - Repositories
8 ^eim. PHILOSOPHY AND REVOLUTION. Only our latest descendants will be in a position to decide whether we are to be praised or blamed for having first worked out our philosophy, and afterwards our revolution. It seems to me that a methodical people, such as we are, must begin with the Reformation, must then occupy itself with systems of philosophy, and only after their completion could it pass to the political revolution, I find this sequence quite rational. The heads that have first served for philosophical speculation can afterwards be struck off by the revolution for whatever objects it may have in view; but philosophy would not have been able to utilize the heads struck off by a revolution that preceded it. But give yourselves no anxiety, ye dear fellow-countrymen; the German revolution will not prove any milder or gentler because it was preceded by the criticism of Kant, the transcendental idealism of Fichte, or even by the Philosophy of Nature. These doctrines have served to develop revolutionary forces that only await their time to break forth and fill the world with terror and with admiration. When ye hear the trampling of feet and the clashing of arms, ye neighbor children, ye French, be on your guard, and see that ye mingle not in the fray going on among us at home there in
i^eine* Germany: it might fare ill with you. See that ye take no hand in kindling the fire; see that ye attempt not to extinguish it. Ye might readily burn your fingers in the flame. Smile not at my counsel, at the counsel of a dreamer, who seeks to warn you against all such philosophies, whether Kantian, or Fichtean, or Philosophies of Nature. Smile not at the fancy of one who foresees in the region of reality the same outburst of revolution that has taken place in the region of intellect. The thought precedes the deed as the lightning the thunder. German thunder is of true German character; it is not very nimble, but rumbles along somewhat slowly. But come it will, and when ye hear a crashing such as never before has been heard in the world's history, then know that at last the German thunderbolt has fallen. At this commotion the eagles will drop dead from the skies, and the lions in the furthest wastes of Africa will bite their tails and creep into their royal lairs. There will then be played in Germany a tragedy compared to which the French Revolution will seem but an innocent idyl . . . Take heed, then! I mean it well with you; therefore it is I tell you the bitter truth. Ye have more to fear from a free Germany than from the entire Holy Alliance, with all its Croats and Cossacks. For, in the first place, they do not love you in Germany,
- Page 308 and 309: XX SFntrobuctioit, task of dissolut
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- Page 319 and 320: S^ntroliuction* xxix and courtiers
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- Page 349: WIT, WISDOM, POETRY.
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- Page 366 and 367: 16 f^tint. THE COMING FRAY. The mus
- Page 368 and 369: 18 i^eine* VICTOR HUGO. Victor Hugo
- Page 370 and 371: 20 i^cine. Who twines in one wreath
- Page 372 and 373: 22 i$tmt. Plucks from His head the
- Page 374 and 375: 24 J^eine, SHAKESPEARE. Generous Na
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- Page 378 and 379: 28 l^etne* THE DELIGHT OF LIVING. L
- Page 380 and 381: 30 f^tint. After her health we aske
- Page 382 and 383: 32 ^tint. in these sat the damned,
- Page 384 and 385: 34 "l^tmt. ENGLAND S UPPER TEN. Yes
- Page 386 and 387: 36 i^eine. That outpost is abandone
- Page 389 and 390: i^eine* zi JEWISH RELIGION AND RACE
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- Page 395 and 396: i^eme* 43 He sees na the black rock
- Page 397 and 398: ^tint. 45 When I see the amorous fl
- Page 399 and 400: I^etne* 47 Grete and Hans were wed
- Page 401 and 402: i^eine, 49 THE EASTERN QUESTION. Th
- Page 403 and 404: ^tmt. 51 MARTIN LUTHER. How shall I
- Page 405 and 406: ipeine. 53 wine is always exquisite
- Page 407 and 408: J^eme^ 55 FRENCH POLITENESS. Sweet
i^eine*<br />
Germany: it might fare ill with you.<br />
See that ye take no hand in kindling<br />
the fire; see that ye attempt not to extinguish<br />
it. Ye might readily burn your<br />
fingers in the flame. Smile not at my<br />
counsel, at the counsel of a dreamer,<br />
who seeks to warn you against all such<br />
philosophies, whether Kantian, or<br />
Fichtean, or Philosophies of Nature.<br />
Smile not at the fancy of one who foresees<br />
in the region of reality the same outburst<br />
of revolution that has taken place<br />
in the region of intellect. The thought<br />
precedes the deed as the lightning the<br />
thunder. German thunder is of true<br />
German character; it is not very<br />
nimble, but rumbles along somewhat<br />
slowly. But come it will, and when ye<br />
hear a crashing such as never before<br />
has been heard in the world's history,<br />
then know that at last the German<br />
thunderbolt has fallen. At<br />
this commotion the eagles will drop<br />
dead from the skies, and the lions in the<br />
furthest wastes of Africa will bite their<br />
tails and creep into their royal lairs.<br />
There will then be played in Germany a<br />
tragedy compared to which the French<br />
Revolution will seem but an innocent<br />
idyl . . . Take heed, then! I<br />
mean it well with you; therefore it is<br />
I tell you the bitter truth. Ye have<br />
more to fear from a free Germany than<br />
from the entire Holy Alliance, with all<br />
its Croats and Cossacks. For, in the first<br />
place, they do not love you in Germany,
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