Maxims for Philologists

• • The opinions of the predecessors must be known.
• • No prejudices.
• • Fix clearly in your eye what you are after.
  • • Don’t be satisfied with half notions, squinting thoughts.
  • • Penetrate into the heart of the matter with your interpretation.
• • Don’t glide over what you don’t understand.
• • Don’t admit to yourself that there is more than one right.
• • Distinguish sharply between the possible and the impossible.
• • Cultivate the feeling of truth.
• • Never grow weary in trying to find ways.
• • Don’t try to explain everything.
• • Don’t go into criticism until you exhaust hermeneutics.
• • Hold the mean between audacity and timidity.
• • Enthusiasm dwells only in specialization.
  • • (Enthusiasmus liegt nur in der Einseitigkeit.)
• • Read, read much, read very much, read as much as possible.
  • • (Lesen, viel lesen, sehr viel lesen, möglichst viel lesen.)
• • A problem must leave you no rest or peace, by day or by night, until it is solved.
  • • (Nicht Ruhe noch Rast muss ein Problem lassen bei Tag und bei Nacht.)

Friedrich Ritschl (1806-1876), quoted by Basil L. Gildersleeve, “Friedrich Ritschl,” American Journal of Philology 5 (1884) 339-355 (at 349-351, arranged as a list by Laudator Temporis Acti)