Novalis Philosophy Quotations

Philosophy is properly home-sickness; the wish to be everywhere at home.

Doing philosophy is only a threefold or double kind of waking--being awake--consciousness.

Morality must be the heart of our existence, if it is to be what it wants to be for us. ... The highest form of philosophy is ethics. Thus all philosophy begins with "I am." The highest statement of cognition must be an expression of that fact which is the means and ground for all cognition, namely, the goal of the I.

Philosophy is really nostalgia, the desire to be at home.

When one begins to reflect on philosophy—then philosophy seems to us to be everything, like God, and love. It is a mystical, highly potent, penetrating idea—which ceaselessly drives us inward in all directions. The decision to do philosophy—to seek philosophy is the act of self-liberation—the thrust toward ourselves.

Philosophy can bake no bread; but she can procure for us God , Freedom , Immortality. Which, then, is more practical, Philosophy or Economy ?

Prayer is to religion what thinking is to philosophy. To pray is to make religion.

Only the most perfect human being can design the most perfect philosophy.

Philosophy ... bears witness to the deepest love of reflection, to absolute delight in wisdom.

The poem of the understanding is philosophy.