Page:Novalis Schriften - Volume 2.djvu/179

★ 169 ★ still has the advantage over this despotism, that from it one at leasts saves time and shoes—when one had to deal with the government—and the former still plays with open cards—the latter doesn't know throughout the day who in the government—and which paths are most advantageous to take.

If the representative through the heights by which he has been raised—should become more mature and more refined—how much more an individual ruler? If people were what they should and can become—so would all forms of government be the same—humanity would be ruled the same everywhere, everywhere according to the original laws of humanity. But then one would first chose the most, and natural form—the form of the family—monarchy,—several lords—several families—one lord—one family!

55. Now it appears that the perfect democracy and the monarchy are understood to be in a single indissoluble antinomy—the benefit of one to be balanced by the benefit of the other. The young people stay on their side of the first, the more settled housefather on the side of the second. Absolute differences in excitability appears to cause this separation. One loves changes—the other not. Perhaps during certain years we all love revolution, free competition, tournaments, and other such democratic events. But for most, these years pass—and we feel ourselves attracted to a more peaceful world, where a central sun leads the round dance and one will love the planet, than a destructive war fighting for the first dance. At the very least one should also be politically, as well as religiously, tolerant—one