“And yet the government does not hesitate to rule the people’s destiny according to their intelligence.”

“It reminds me of the poet’s expression, ’Du glaubst zu schieben und du wirst geschoben.’”

“What is the movement that you mean?”

“An unknown inner organic force which defines all the expressions of life, of single individuals and united societies alike.  It develops as a tree grows.  No single individual can add anything to it or take away from it, no single individual can hasten or retard the development or give it any direction.”

“In one word—­the philosophy of the Unknown.”

“That is so.”

“Very good, and if a government oppresses a people, robs them of their freedom, perpetually finds fault with them and ill-treats them, they must bear it quietly, and comfort themselves by the thought that the government is controlled by the infallible, all-powerful Unknown.”

“Rob them of their freedom?  No government can rob me of my spiritual freedom.  Freedom rules continually in my mind, and no tyrant has the power of subduing my thoughts.”

“You make a great mistake there,” said Dr. Schrotter gravely.  “From you, Dr. Wilhelm Eyuhardt, no gendarme certainly can take away your freedom, because you are mature, and your opinions of things are settled.  But a tyrannical government can hinder your children from succeeding to your freedom of mind.  It can teach lies and superstitions in the schools, and compel you to send your children there.  It can set an example of public morality which can demoralize a whole people.  It can draw up manifest examples of miserable intentions and conduct of life, through whose imitation a people voluntarily mutilates itself or commits suicide.  No, no; it does not do to limit oneself to oneself, and to struggle upward for one’s individual spiritual freedom.  One must go out of oneself.  What does it matter if one makes mistakes?  It is true, as you say, that no single individual knows the whole of truth; but every individual possesss a fragment of it, and altogether we have the whole.  Look at India, there you have existing what we should become if we all followed your philosophy, they live in their own spiritual world, and are indifferent to any other, they endure first the despotism of their own government, then a foreign conqueror, and finally lose not only freedom and independence, but civilization, and become not exactly slaves, but ignorant, superstitious barbarians.”

“The German people will not get to that,” said Wilhelm, smiling.

“Thank the men for that,” cried Schrotter, “the men who think it their duty to take part in the welfare of their country, and to exert themselves for the spiritual freedom of others.  An energetic sympathy with public affairs is a form of love for one’s neighbor.  Say that constantly to yourself, without letting yourself be deceived by the hypocrite who handles politics as others do the Stock Exchange, merely to make profit out of them.”