第一小说网

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with　the　conditions　of　mere　nature　—　internal　and　external　—　it　will　indeed　meet　in　these　not　only

opposition　and　hindrance；　but　will　often　see　its　endeavours　thereby　fail；　often　sink　under　the

plications　in　which　it　is　entangled　either　by　Nature　or　by　itself。　But　in　such　case　it　perishes　in

fulfilling　its　own　destiny　and　proper　function；　and　even　thus　exhibits　the　spectacle　of

self…demonstration　as　spiritual　activity。

§　85

The　very　essence　of　Spirit　is　activity；　it　realises　its　potentiality　—　makes　itself　its　own　deeds　its　own

work　—　and　thus　it　bees　an　object　to　itself；　contemplates　itself　as　an　objective　existence。　Thus

is　it　with　the　Spirit　of　a　people：　it　is　a　Spirit　having　strictly　defined　characteristics。；　which　erects

itself　into　an　objective　world；　that　exists　and　persists　in　a　particular　religious　form　of　worship；

customs；　constitution　and　political　laws；　—　in　the　whole　plex　of　its　institutions；　—　in　the　events

and　transactions　that　make　up　its　history。　That　is　its　work　—　that　is　what　this　particular　Nation　is。

Nations　are　what　their　deeds　are。　Every　Englishman　will　say：　We　are　the　men　who　navigate　the

ocean；　and　have　the　merce　of　the　world；　to　whom　the　East　Indies　belong　and　their　riches；　who

have　a　parliament；　juries；　&c。…　The　relation　of　the　individual　to　that　Spirit　is　that　he　appropriates　to

himself　this　substantial　existence；　that　it　bees　his　character　and　capability；　enabling　him　to　have

a　definite　place　in　the　world　—　to　be　something。　For　he　finds　the　being　of　the　people　to　which　he

belongs　an　already　established；　firm　world　—　objectively　present　to　him　—　with　which　he　has　to

incorporate　himself。　In　this　its　work；　therefore　—　its　world　—　the　Spirit　of　the　people　enjoys　its

existence　and　finds　its　satisfaction。　—　A　Nation　is　moral　—　virtuous　—　vigorous　—　while　it　is

engaged　in　realising　its　grand　objects；　and　defends　its　work　against　external　violence　during　the

process　of　giving　to　its　purposes　an　objective　existence。　The　contradiction　between　its　potential；

subjective　being　—　its　inner　aim　and　life　—　and　its　actual　being　is　removed；　it　has　attained　full

reality；　has　itself　objectively　present　to　it。　But　this　having　been　attained；　the　activity　played　by　the

Spirit　of　the　people　in　question　is　no　longer　needed；　it　has　its　desire。　The　Nation　can　still

acplish　much　in　war　and　peace　at　home　and　abroad；　but　the　living　substantial　soul　itself　may

be　said　to　have　ceased　its　activity。　The　essential；　supreme　interest　has　consequently　vanished　from

its　life；　for　interest　is　present　only　where　there　is　opposition。　The　nation　lives　the　same　kind　of　life

as　the　individual　when　passing　from　maturity　to　old　age；　—　in　the　enjoyment　of　itself；　—　in　the

satisfaction　of　being　exactly　what　it　desired　and　was　able　to　attain。　Although　its　imagination　might

have　transcended　that　limit；　it　nevertheless　abandoned　any　such　aspirations　as　objects　of　actual

endeavour；　if　the　real　world　was　less　than　favourable　to　their　attainment　—　and　restricted　its　aim