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by J. Marc Rakotolahy (Author)
Enlightenment in the German nations, can only be described as extraordinary during the second half of the XVIIIth Century: amidst persistent wars between the European countries, people were presented with groundbreaking scientific and technical discoveries, and no less stunning advances in social and government sciences that would change their life forever. And yet, in all aspects of the daily life, one finds only, here and there, submission and misery: apart from the very few people from nobility and clergy, apart from the opulent merchants and an handful of educated citizens; the vast majority of the people were living a miserable, dependent life, where the secular rights of the landlords were still prevailing: death sentence, censure, forced military enrollment, ban of all sorts, were applied regularly to city dwellers as well as peasants. In the middle of this dreadful situation, a small number of literate people, from all social standings would raise their voice to demand a better consideration of the human being, and a different use of government and state: the ideals of Enlightenment were put forward, and Frederick Schiller would fully embrace this movement. In his works, he would have persistently demanded more freedom and emancipation for the citizens, advocate the concept of unity in countries deadly divided between social standings, religion, gender, and ever menaced by the prospect of war at their doors. Freedom, national unity, responsible citizenry were at the crux of his thoughts and works, but also love, hope, human dignity, and mind-body cohesion, which, among others, were also discussed thoroughly in his poems, treatises and plays. In these 200 quotes, some essentials of his spirit and that of Enlightenment are presented to us as judge, as children of seemingly better times, were the better condition of the human being is, however, regularly put into question. Schiller would still, concretely, teach us, through the example of his personal life and works, that a way forward is always possible, despite hinders and enmity in life. Behind the myth of the writer whose life cannot be dissociated from History, statesmanship or political commitment; lies still a positive and determined man who embraced his century, its improvements and erring, without any restraint, without any fear, and yet with hope for the better future of the human beings.
Author Biography
F. Schiller is an iconic figure of Enlightenment, who influenced writers, philosophers and statesmen alike with his insightful renditions of such concepts as the State, History, Freedon, the Sublime but also Love and Nature.
