Novalis

1772–1801 · German poet and writer

Topics: learning, mathematics, science, philosophy

• The best thing about the sciences is their philosophical ingredient, like life for an organic body. If one dephilosophizes the sciences, what remains left? Earth, air, and water.

  — Novalis

• Reine Mathematik ist Religion.

  — Novalis

• Before abstraction everything is one, but one like chaos; after abstraction everything is united again, but this union is a free binding of autonomous, self-determined beings. Out of a mob a society has developed, chaos has been transformed into a manifold world.

  — Novalis

• Every stage of education begins with childhood. That is why the most educated person on earth so much resembles a child.

  — Novalis