The German Constitution

[p. 463]

|463| see only arbitrary will and chance, through which they persuade themselves that they would have conducted everything that has happened more cleverly and more fortunately; such a cognition is of importance for most only because they [can plume themselves] on it and on the judging of individual things with understanding that follows from it, not in order to learn from experience how to act better in a future case. For of those who in these great events act in such a way that they could direct them, there are very few; the others, however, have to serve the events with understanding and insight into their necessity. From the experience of the mistakes, however, which are the outbreak of inner weakness and imprudence, those who committed them do not so much learn – rather these only strengthen their habit of committing them – as the others, who get to know them and through this insight put themselves in a position to draw benefit from them, – who, if they are capable at all of doing this [and] are in the external situation for it, possess through both an insight which the thought of a private man can dispense with.

The thoughts which this essay contains can, in their public utterance, have no other purpose or effect than to promote the understanding of what is, and with it the calmer view as well as a bearing of it moderated in actual contact and in words. For it is not what is that makes us impetuous and suffering, but that it is not as it ought to be; but if we recognise that it is as it must be, i.e. not according to arbitrary will and chance, then we also recognise that it ought to be so. But it is difficult for men in general to raise themselves to the habit of seeking to recognise and think necessity. For between the events and the free apprehension of them they interpose a multitude of concepts and purposes and demand that what happens should conform to these. And when [it] is without doubt mostly otherwise, they exalt themselves above their concepts,

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