Where Concepts Are Missing

In the study scene of Goethe’s Faust I, a new student asks Mephistopheles for advice. Mephistopheles tells him: Im ganzen – haltet Euch an Worte! On the whole, keep to words! The student objects: Doch ein Begriff muß bei dem Worte sein. But there must be a concept behind the word. Mephistopheles answers: Denn eben wo Begriffe fehlen, / Da stellt ein Wort zur rechten Zeit sich ein. For just where concepts are missing, a word turns up at the right moment. Mit Worten läßt sich trefflich streiten, / Mit Worten ein System bereiten. With words one can argue splendidly, and with words one can build a system. The advice comes from the devil.

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