The spirits of the nations have their truth in the world spirit. They stand around its throne. They make it real, and they bear witness to its splendor and adorn it.

What does the world spirit do?

It wants to know itself fully. It wants to free itself from mere nature and come to itself. On this path of liberation there are four stages. These are the four realms of world history.

Summary: The nations are stages and tools of the world spirit. On its path to self-knowledge and freedom there are four realms of world history.