Volume Ii Part 14 (1/2)
159.
MUSIC AND DISEASE.-The danger of the new music lies in the fact that it puts the cup of rapture and exaltation to the lips so invitingly, and with such a show of moral ecstasy, that even the n.o.ble and temperate man always drinks a drop too much. This minimum of intemperance, constantly repeated, can in the end bring about a deeper convulsion and destruction of mental health than any coa.r.s.e excess could do. Hence nothing remains but some day to fly from the grotto of the nymph, and through perils and billowy seas to forge one's way to the smoke of Ithaca and the embraces of a simpler and more human spouse.
160.
ADVANTAGE FOR OPPONENTS.-A book full of intellect communicates something thereof even to its opponents.
161.
YOUTH AND CRITICISM.-To criticise a book means, for the young, not to let oneself be touched by a single productive thought therefrom, and to protect one's skin with hands and feet. The youngster lives in opposition to all novelty that he cannot love in the lump, in a position of self-defence, and in this connection he commits, as often as he can, a superfluous sin.
162.
EFFECT OF QUANt.i.tY.-The greatest paradox in the history of poetic art lies in this: that in all that const.i.tutes the greatness of the old poets a man may be a barbarian, faulty and deformed from top to toe, and still remain the greatest of poets. This is the case with Shakespeare, who, as compared with Sophocles, is like a mine of immeasurable wealth in gold, lead, and rubble, whereas Sophocles is not merely gold, but gold in its n.o.blest form, one that almost makes us forget the money-value of the metal. But quant.i.ty in its highest intensity has the same effect as quality. That is a good thing for Shakespeare.
163.
ALL BEGINNING IS DANGEROUS.-The Poet can choose whether to raise emotion from one grade to another, and so finally to exalt it to a great height-or to try a surprise attack, and from the start to pull the bell-rope with might and main. Both processes have their danger-in the first case his hearer may run away from him through boredom, in the second through terror.
164.
IN FAVOUR OF CRITICS.-Insects sting, not from malice, but because they too want to live. It is the same with our critics-they desire our blood, not our pain.
165.
SUCCESS OF APHORISMS.-The inexperienced, when an aphorism at once illuminates their minds with its naked truth, always think that it is old and well known. They look askance at the author, as if he had wanted to steal the common property of all, whereas they enjoy highly spiced half-truths, and give the author to understand as much. He knows how to appreciate the hint, and easily guesses thereby where he has succeeded and failed.