heart, and such a person can
not cook a clean soup."

(To Mme. Streicher, in 1817, or 1818, after having dismissed an
otherwise good housekeeper because she had told a falsehood to spare his
feelings.)

274. "Vice walks through paths full of present lusts and persuades
many to follow it. Virtue pursues a steep path and is less seductive to
mankind, especially if at another place there are persons who call them
to a gently declining road."

(Diary, 1815.)

275. "Sensual enjoyment without a union of soul is bestial and will
always remain bestial."

(Diary, 1812-18.)

276. "Men are not only together when they are with each other; even the
distant and the dead live with us."

(To Therese Malfatti, later Baroness von Drossdick, to whom in the
country he sent Goethe's "Wilhelm Meister" and Schlegel's translation of
Shakespeare.)

277. "There is no goodness except the possession of a good soul, which
may be seen in all things, from which one need not seek to hide."

(August 15, 1812, to Bettina von Arnim.)

278. "The foundation of friendship demands the greatest likeness of
human souls and hearts."

(Baden, July 24, 1804, to Ries, describing his quarrel with Breuning.)

279. "True friendship can rest only on the union of like natures."

(Diary, 1812-18.)

280. "The people say nothing; they are merely people. As a rule they
only see themselves in others, and what they see is nothing; away with
them! The good and the beautiful needs no people,--it exists without
outward help, and this seems to be the reason of our enduring
friendship."

(September 16, 1812, to Amalie Sebald, in Teplitz, who had playfully
called him a tyrant.)

281. "Look, my dear Ries; these are the great connoisseurs who affect
to be able to judge of any piece of music so correctly and keenly. Give
them but the name of their favorite,--they need no more!"

(To his pupil Ries, who had, as a joke, played a mediocre march at a
gathering at Count Browne's and announced it to be a composition by
Beethoven. When the march was praised beyond measure Beethoven broke out
into a grim laugh.)

282. "Do not let all men see the contempt which they deserve; we do not
know when we may need them."

(Note in the Diary of 1814, after having had an unpleasant experience
with his "friend" Bertolini. "Henceforth never step inside his house;
shame on you to ask anything