nd moral. All _greatness_ is creative the moment we
realise it." This should be applied to Wagner's art.

15.

We shall always have to credit Wagner with the fact that in the second
half of the nineteenth century he impressed art upon our memory as an
important and magnificent thing. True, he did this in his own fashion, and
this was not the fashion of upright and far-seeing men.

16.

Wagner _versus_ the cautious, the cold and the contented of the world--in
this lies his greatness--he is a stranger to his age--he combats the
frivolous and the super-smart--But he also fights the just, the moderate,
those who delight in the world (like Goethe), and the mild, the people of
charm, the scientific among men--this is the reverse of the medal.

17.

Our youth was up in arms against the _soberness_ of the age. It plunged
into the cult of excess, of passion, of ecstasy, and of the blackest and
most austere conception of the world.

18.

Wagner pursues one form of madness, the age another form. Both carry on
their chase at the same speed, each is as blind and as unjust as the
other.

19.

It is very difficult to trace the course of Wagner's inner development--no
trust must be placed in his own description of his soul's experiences. He
writes party-pamphlets for his followers.

20.

It is extremely doubtful whether Wagner is able to bear witness about
himself.

21.

There are men who try in vain to make a principle out of _themselves_.
This was the case with Wagner.

22.

Wagner's obscurity concerning final aims; his non-antique fogginess.

23.

All Wagner's ideas straightway become manias; he is _tyrannised_ over by
them. How can _such a man allow himself to be tyrannised over in this __
way_! For instance by his hatred of Jews. He _kills_ his themes like his
"ideas," by means of his violent love of repeating them. The problem of
excessive length and breadth; he bores us with his raptures.

24.

"_C'est la rage de voulour penser et sentir au dela de sa force_"
(Doudan). The Wagnerites.

25.

Wagner whose ambition far exceeds his natural gifts, has tried an
incalculable number of times to achieve what lay beyond his powers--but it
almost makes one shudder to see some one assail with such persistence that
which defies conquest--the fate of his constitution.

26.

He is always thinking of the most _extreme_ expression,--in ever