Extracts at the Antipodes
A Textual Horoscope
The following “textual horoscope” is composed entirely of block quotes. Only the arrangement and headings are mine.
Eine Woche mit Goethe; or, My Endless Screw
Oct. 19
Oh, this void! this fearful void which I feel here in my breast! — I often think to myself: if you could press her just once to this heart, just once, then this entire void would be filled.1
Oct. 20
If on the other hand we just keep working straight ahead, with all our weakness and strain, we very often find that we get farther with our tacking and tardiness than others with their sailing and rowing — and — surely one has a true feeling of one’s worth when one keeps pace with others or even outruns them.2
How much I could write if I were to tell you of all the ideas which ran through my head today.3
Oct. 21
Hitherto I have lain stupefied, absorbed in myself, and have been doubting in my soul again [ . . . ].4
Oct. 22.
Last night the sky was cloudy, but today it is again fair and clear.5
Oct. 23
Men will become more clever and more acute; but not better, happier, and stronger in action — or, at least, only at epochs. I foresee the time when God will have no more joy in them, but will break up everything for a renewed creation. I am certain that everything is planned to this end, and that the time and hour in the distant future for the occurrence of this renovating epoch are already fixed. But a long time will elapse first, and we may still for thousands and thousands of years amuse ourselves on this dear old surface.6
The weather has become much chillier during the last few days [ . . . ]. When I went to bed last night, I felt how good it was to be here. It seemed to me that I was lying on safe ground. [ . . . ]
During our metaphysical discussions, I often noticed with silent amusement that “they” did not take me seriously. Being an artist, I don’t care. It might suit me much better if the principle upon which I work remains a secret. By all means, let them stick to their lever; I have been using my endless screw for a long time now and shall go on using it with ever greater ease and delight.7
Oct. 24
Pleasant and creditable as is the meeting of old friends, and the renewal of old ties, still the influence of the present and the law of today apparently reassert themselves at once, so that these too are exposed to the nothingness of passing hours.8
Oct. 25
Having often seen me lost in silent thought, he once said [ . . . ]: “Why do you think so much! A man should never think. Thinking only makes him grow old.” Then, after we had talked a bit [ . . . ]: “A man should never think about one thing only, because then he will go crazy: one should have a thousand things whirling about in one’s head.”9
October 22: Three Eves
1.
A bad time leaving Bex; somewhat better in Geneva — had lunch in the hotel post. Brenner met us there. Night journey through Mount Cenis; the next day arrival in Genoa with splitting headache — to bed at once, vomiting, and this state lasting for forty-four hours. Today, Sunday, better; Just back from a trip around the harbor and out to sea. Most beautiful evening tranquility and color. Tomorrow (Monday) evening departure by steamer to Naples; we three friends have decided on the sea journey. [ . . . ]10
2.
[ . . . ] If I could, after three or four years, add a hundred thousand francs to what I already have, I would happily leave this unfortunate place. [ . . . ]
Happy new year [?], good health, prosperity.11
3.
Fighting close by here is constantly going on. There was strong cannon fire yesterday. I worked a great deal. Was able to stand it all day — .12
Coda
brownish yellow velvet jacket in the distance toward the fruit market
helpless days, yesterday night
so much strength and abundance, useless, everyone sees it, nothing can conceal it13
Johann Wolfgang von Goethe, The Sufferings of Young Werther. Frederick Ungar Publishing Co. 108.
Ibid. 81.
Goethe, Italian Journey. Penguin. 115.
Goethe, October, 21, 1774. https://archive.org/stream/cu31924026192801/cu31924026192801_djvu.txt
Ibid. 116.
Johann Peter Eckermann, Conversations of Goethe. Da Capo Press. 275. Also quoted in Tropic of Cancer by Henry Miller.
Goethe, Italian Journey. Penguin. 403, 404.
Goethe, October 24, 1827. https://archive.org/stream/goetheslettersto00goet/goetheslettersto00goet_djvu.txt
Ibid. 118.
Friedrich Nietzsche, Selected Letters of Friedrich Nietzsche. Hackett Publishing Company, Inc. 149.
Arthur Rimbaud, I Promise to Be Good: The Letters of Arthur Rimbaud. Edited and translated by Wyatt Mason. Modern Library Classics. 220, 221.
Ludwig Wittgenstein, Private Notebooks, 1914-1916. Edited and translated by Marjorie Perloff. Live right publishing Corporation. 69.
Franz Kafka, The Diaries of Franz Kafka. Translated by Ross Benjamin. Schocken Books. 2022. 489-490.