Such presumptive geniuses must be rather kept back; then they feel their power, and strive to bring themselves forward.

Yes! I believe that man has a future.

He looks like the youthful god Apollo, who may have condescended to descend to earth! He shall not entrap me with his beautiful head.

If he is the man who makes good and bad weather in Weimar, he shall learn that rain and sunshine at Sans-Souci do not depend upon him; that the sun and clouds here do not care whether Herr Goethe is in the world or not.

For sunshine and storm we depend upon the Great Weather-Maker, to whom we must all bow; evil and good days in Prussia shall emanate from me, so long as I live.