Thursday, November 25, 2010
Maxims for Philologists
Friedrich Ritschl (1806-1876), quoted by Basil L. Gildersleeve, "Friedrich Ritschl," American Journal of Philology 5 (1884) 339-355 (at 349-351, arranged as a list by me, with German to be added as I find it):
Newer› ‹Older
- The opinions of the predecessors must be known.
- No prejudices.
- Fix clearly in your eye what you are after.
- Don't be satisfied with half notions, squinting thoughts. Penetrate into the heart of the matter with your interpretation.
- Don't glide over what you don't understand.
- Don't admit to yourself that there is more than one right.
- Distinguish sharply between the possible and the impossible.
- Cultivate the feeling of truth.
- Never grow weary in trying to find ways.
- Don't try to explain everything.
- Don't go into criticism until you exhaust hermeneutics.
- Hold the mean between audacity and timidity.
- Enthusiasm dwells only in specialization. (Enthusiasmus liegt nur in der Einseitigkeit.)
- Read, read much, read very much, read as much as possible. (Lesen, viel lesen, sehr viel lesen, möglichst viel lesen.)
- A problem must leave you no rest or peace, by day or by night, until it is solved. (Nicht Ruhe noch Rast muss ein Problem lassen bei Tag und bei Nacht.)
