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The gift of reflection is the least necessary; for my part, I see danger in it.

Dear Brandes: I always feel great satisfaction in finding you with your soul at hand, and will have a great, very great joy, when I hear your words not written. Give me this satisfaction soon.

Letter VI

Dresde, September 14, 1871

It seems to me that you are going through the same crisis as I was when I was getting ready to write Brand...

I am sure that you will also find the remedy that heals the bad. To produce with energy constitutes an excellent treatment. Above all, I wish you an arrogant egotism that makes you consider what truly belongs to you, as the only things of true value and importance, everything else not existing. Dont let that make you think my nature is brutal. You wouldn't better serve society molding metal, than how you have done so. I have never understood solidarity. I have accepted it as an article of faith. If one had the courage to get rid of it completely, one would also be relieved of the most bothersome weight that oppresses personality. There are moments in which the history of humanity seems to me a great shipwreck, in which one is trying to save oneself. I don't expect anything from the partial reforms; since the turth is that we are crossing through a false path. Do you think any hope can be founded over the current situation? Over the inaccessible ideal and other stupidities? The immense line of generations gives me the impression of a yougn man that has left his workign tools to become an actor. We have failed in the job of love and in the heroic parts. We don't have a bit of talent, if it's not for