814.由于德国人受各个公国的独裁统治，所以他们不象荷兰人和英国人那样拥有言论和新闻自由。当这种自由受限时，思想的自由，也就是说，以最广阔的视野看待事物的自由也会受限。这种限制就象建在喷泉盆地周围的堤坝，它提升水位，甚至到了喷泉的出口处，致使水流不出来。思想就象这水流，由此而来的言语则如盆地。总之，流入与流出成正比，同样，更高层的认知和自由说出与表达思想成正比。因此，严肃的民族很少专注于判断，而更多专注于记忆。这就是为什么他们特别重视历史着作的原因。他们信靠有声望的学者，在自己的书中大量引用他们的观点，并采纳其中的一个。在灵界，他们的这种状态表现为：一个人胳膊下夹着几本书，若有人就某个判断问题和他辩论，他就说：“我会给你一个答案”，然后马上从胳膊下面抽出一本书，从中读取答案。
814. 由于德国人受各个公国的独裁统治, 所以他们不象荷兰人和英国人那样拥有言论和新闻自由。 当这种自由受限时, 思想的自由, 也就是说, 以最广阔的视野看待事物的自由也会受限。 这种限制就象建在喷泉盆地周围的堤坝, 它提升水位, 甚至到了喷泉的出口处, 致使水流不出来。 思想就象这水流, 由此而来的言语则如盆地。 总之, 流入与流出成正比, 同样, 更高层的认知和自由说出与表达思想成正比。 因此, 严肃的民族很少专注于判断, 而更多专注于记忆。 这就是为什么他们特别重视历史著作的原因。 他们信靠有声望的学者, 在自己的书中大量引用他们的观点, 并采纳其中的一个。 在灵界, 他们的这种状态表现为: 一个人胳膊下夹着几本书, 若有人就某个判断问题和他辩论, 他就说: “我会给你一个答案”, 然后马上从胳膊下面抽出一本书, 从中读取答案。
814. Since in each of its states Germans are under a strong individual leader, they do not have the free speech and freedom of the press that the Dutch and the British enjoy; and when free speech and freedom of the press are curtailed, freedom of thought, that is, of examining matters in a full and complete way, suffers as well.
An analogy to this might be a fountain with a basin of such high sides that the water level in the basin is actually above the point at which the stream of water comes out, so that what should be a jet of water leaping up in the air does not even break the surface of the water standing in the basin. In this analogy, the stream of water symbolizes what people think, and the basin of standing water symbolizes what they say.
Briefly put, what flows in adapts itself to fit what flows out. Our higher understanding, then, adapts itself to fit the amount of freedom there is to say and do what we are considering.
For this reason, the members of this noble nation devote themselves more to memorization than to forming their own opinions. This explains why they are especially fixated on literary history and tend to give so much credit in their books to the people among them who are especially well known and highly educated. They cite the various opinions of these people copiously, and then pick one of them to endorse.
This attitude of theirs is represented in the spiritual world by a man who is carrying a number of books under his arm. When anyone confronts him and asks his opinion on something, he says, "I'll give you an answer," and immediately pulls a book from under his arm and reads a quote from it.
814. Since the Germans of any duchy are specifically subject to authoritarian rule, they do not therefore have the freedom to speak and write enjoyed by the Dutch and British. When the freedom to speak and write is restricted, so is freedom of thought, that is to say, freedom to take the widest view of things is kept under restriction. It is like a dam built around the basin of a spring, which raises the level of the water to the outlet of the spring, so that water no longer flows out. Thought is like the current of water, and the speech it gives rise to is like the basin. In short, the inflow is proportional to the outflow; likewise understanding from a higher level is proportional to the freedom to speak and express one's thoughts. As a result that noble nation is little given to matters of judgment, but more to matters of memory. This is why they are especially devoted to literary history, and in their books they rely on their men of reputation and learning, quoting their judgments at length and supporting one of them. This state of theirs is represented in the spiritual world by a man carrying books under his arms; and when anyone argues about a matter of judgment, he says, 'I will give you an answer;' and immediately selects one of the books under his arm and reads from it.
814. As the Germans are under a despotic government in each particular dukedom, they have no such freedom of speech and of the press as the Hollanders and the British have, and when that freedom is restrained, freedom of thought, that is, the freedom to investigate matters to the furthest extent, is also kept in restraint. For this restraint is like a high wall about the basin of a fountain, which causes the water within to rise even to the orifice of the inflowing stream, so that the stream can no longer leap forth. Thought is like the inflowing stream, and speech therefrom is like the basin. In a word, influx adapts itself to efflux, and in like manner the understanding from above adapts itself to its measure of freedom to speak and publish its thoughts. For this reason that noble nation is little devoted to matters of judgment, but rather to matters of memory. This is why they are especially given to historical writings, and in their books trust to men of reputation and learning among them, quoting opinions of such abundantly, and subscribing to some one of them. In the spiritual world this state of theirs is represented by a man carrying books under his arm, and when anyone disputes about any matter of judgment, he says, "I will give you an answer," and immediately draws a book from under his arm and reads from it.
814. As the Germans live under a despotic government in each particular state, they do not enjoy freedom of speech and writing like the Dutch and the British; and where this freedom is restrained, freedom of thought, that is, of taking the widest view of things, is restrained at the same time. It is as if a cistern were walled round to catch the water of a spring which rises till it reaches an outlet, and higher the water cannot rise. Thought is like the inflowing water, while speech from thought is like the cistern. In a word, influx adapts itself to efflux; and understanding from above adapts itself to the degree of freedom that is enjoyed of uttering and carrying into effect what has been thought. This is the reason why this noble nation devotes itself to matters of memory rather than to matters of judgment. Thus they particularly cultivate literary history, and in their books they show their trust in men of reputation and their books they show their trust in men of reputation and learning among them; for their opinions they quote extensively and subscribe to their views. Their state is represented in the spiritual world by a man carrying books under his arms; and if any one raises a dispute on a matter of opinion, he says: "I will give you an answer," and forthwith takes one of these books and reads from it.
814. Quoniam Germani sub Regimine despotico 1 in particulari in quovis Ducatu sunt, ideo non sunt in Libertate loquendi et scribendi sicut Batavi et Britanni, et cum Libertas loquendi et scribendi coercita est, etiam simul Libertas cogitandi, hoc est, perspiciendi res in sua amplitudine coercita tenetur; est enim sicut Cisterna fontis circum vallata, ex quo inibi aqua elevatur usque ad orificium Venae, unde ipsa Vena non salit amplius; Cogitatio est sicut vena, et Loquela inde est sicut cisterna; verbo influxus se adaptat effluxui, similiter Intellectus a superiori ad rationem libertatis eloquendi et egerendi cogitata: quapropter nobilis illa Gens parum litat rebus judicii, sed rebus memoriae; quae causa est quod Historiae Literariae imprimis dediti sint, et in Libris suis fidant Viris famae et eruditionis inter illos, et horum judicia allegent in copia, et subscribant alicui: status hic illorum repraesentatur in Mundo spirituali per Virum, qui sub ulnis portat libros, et cum aliquis contendit de aliqua re judicii, inquit, dabo tibi responsum, et illico depromit aliquem librum sub ulna, et praelegit.
Footnotes:
1. Prima editio: desposito.