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one has not already examined them. For imagination sometimes does the most work.a

Physiognomy is extremely deceptive if one only wants to consider it for the evil that malicious faces have. It is dangerous when judges want to derive guilt from the expressions of the delinquent; for expressions normally tellb nothing of the most abominable villain. A certain physician remarks, in his book Travels 25:1181 through England,19 that all criminals have strongly angular bones, so that a certain self-confidence may have led them to depart from straight paths, also they were normally brunette.c

If one wishes to practice physiognomy, then to be sure it is an advantageous undertaking; however, we have almost entirely closed our eyes on the matter. If one hears of an evil deed from someone, one believes right away one can see it in his face, so great is the deception here. When someone is led to the place of execution,d everyone notices roguish expressions on him. But if you were also only to feel such fear of death, the laughing in your expressions would no doubt become distorted, too.e

the character of nations f

The variety of natural gifts among the many diverse nations cannot be explained entirely by incidental causes,g but must lie in the nature of the human being himself, because this variety also often occurs under identical circumstances. The incidental causes are 1) physical; to these belong the climates (climatic zones) and domestic products, and 2) moral.

If a people in no way improves itself over centuries, then one may assume that there already exists in it a certain natural predisposition which it is not capable of exceeding. The Hindus, the Persians, the Chi- nese, the Turks, and in general all Oriental peoples belong to this group. However, we can follow here merely the speculative interest of our rea- son, and must give up the practical interest.

The sources from which one can characterize all peoples are the following: 25:1182 natural aptitude, spirit, instinct, and discipline. Natural aptitude and instinct belong to character proper, from which affects rise, but spirit or discipline or

a macht zuweilen das mehrste. Menschenkunde reads: In marriage physiognomy is really good, for from the parents one can draw a conclusion about the daughter, if she resembles them. However, one must not immediately judge people according to facial features, if one has not already examined them, for the imagination sometimes constitutes the most in it.

b following the Academy editors’ suggestion of sagen. Petersburg reads: sorgen (care). c Menschenkunde reads: A physician published a book under the title “Remarks on a Trip

through England.” He says in it that when he has visited prisons he has found that the criminals have large bones and had become brown.

d Gerichtsplatz e The italicized sentences are all taken from Petersburg. f This section title is taken from Petersburg. g gelegentliche Ursachen

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training do not, for these are merely negative and are properly that which set limits to the dynamic powers.a The character of the lowest rank is: a great deal of natural aptitude and a great deal of discipline. This is characteristic of the German nation, which, however, nevertheless also has spirit. Character of a higher kind would be: a great deal of instinct and spirit, only a great deal of instinct without discipline destroys everything, on the other hand for natural aptitude [and] docility,b it does not appear necessary to have a great deal of discipline. Spirit; that is, the originality of talent added to natural aptitude, makes a great mind. All Tartarian nations have a great deal of instinct, but little discipline, and as a result they always remain wild and uncultivated. It may also be that natural aptitude is not missing in them, but great instinct hinders them at it. The French do not have as much discipline as the Germans, but they have somewhat more spirit. The people of Indiac have very little instinct but a great deal of natural aptitude and discipline. However, they have given us the most important and most numerous discoveries; for example, the art of writing, the art of counting with ten numerals, and even gun powder, which was known earlier in Hindustan than in Europe. The Greeks have little discipline.d France is the land of taste in social intercourse; that is, of good manners (der Conduite).e Liveliness for them is what affect is for peoples. With them levityf is completely at home; that is, they do not like to persevere in a condition, they like to talk a great deal, as a result they often say something that is entirely irrelevant; the excesses which their own authors accuse them of are preeminently frivolité,g which is a certain willfulness to exaggerate or understate things.h The Point d’honneuri and gallantry are two inventions of the French. The latter is mainly the delicacy of feeling of the woman. Etourderiej is an art of boldness, and with the French the effect of liveliness. Good manners are nowhere as universal as in France; the French particularly praise gentle manners. Woman is not domestic at all, but she is also nowhere as cultured as in France. The French are not hospitable, but they are extremely willing to show small favors to a stranger. They have a great deal of natural aptitude and spirit, but little25:1183 instinct and even less trainingk (discipline). The Point d’honneur (the point of honor), which with them gives rise to innumerable duels, is not

a bewegende Kräfte b Gelehrigkeit c Reading (with the Academy editors) Inder. (Petersburg reads: Indianer – Native Ameri-

cans.) d The italicized sentences are taken from Petersburg. In Menschenkunde, the section on the

races follows here. e trans.: conduct, behavior. f Leichtsinn

g trans.: frivolity.

h The italicized remark is taken from Petersburg. i trans.: point of honor. j trans.: thoughtlessness.

k Zucht

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a true concept of honor, but rather something by means of which one wants to win reputation.

Titles, which serve as a distinction of things, give rise to a language which is very extensive and has a great richness of words for intellectual concepts, wherein consists precisely the greatest beauty of the German language. The spirit of order is characteristic of the Germans; as a result they also have many titles and names. With the Germans there is more natural aptitude than genius, and more discipline than instinct. The German always shows more power of judgment than spirit, or power of discovery; on the other hand with the French the opposite occurs more. The Germans have more of a tendency toward useful things;a the French toward fashion. Something first catches on as a useful thing when it has already stopped being fashion. The German is very hospitable.

One could call Spain the land of ancestors, in the same way that France is the land of fashion. It is difficult to sketch a character of the Spaniards. They do not gladly descend from the Moors but from the Goths, although they may not value the latter a great deal. They are full of ceremonies; as a result they are the greatest enemies of the French. They are still several centuries behind in the sciences,20 because they do not accept anything from other nations. They are true antipodes of the French, because they are great enemies of all changes, both with regard to religion and in the mode of life;b nevertheless they do have many passionsc and almost always a dance,21 which is called the fandango. They 25:1184 are certainly not lacking in spirit; however, from their pride, according to which they regard themselves as the most distinguished and most skillful nation, springs also at the same time the laziness, which generally speaking is linked to each person.d However, in respect to this a great deal depends on the different regions of Spain; for in those districts which border France, many characteristics and customs of the French have already been taken up, as in Madrid, where the courtyarde is; but in New Castile and in the Asturian mountains22 one still finds proper Spaniards who pass themselves off as descendants of the old Goths (because they all believe they are of a noble origin),f and this is exactly why they walk along quite solemnly in black clothes and with glasses.g Only a very few of the Spaniards learn foreign languages.

In England knowledge reaches out to the most common man, the causes of which are supposed to be newspapers, which are superb

a Gebräuchen b Lebensart

c Petersburg reads: liveliness.

d The italicized phrase is taken from Petersburg. e Hof f The italicized phrase is taken from Petersburg. g The italicized phrase is taken from Petersburg.

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products of wit. Even the servant reads the newspapers. The hatred of imitation, and the propensity to originality, are very characteristic of the English people, and make them headstrong and the enemy of ceremonies and politeness. The Englishman despises the Frenchman, because to him he is too fickle.a The English are hospitable, and proud of their freedom.b They travel a great deal, yet they nevertheless always despise foreign lands; they have no taste, but they are also the only ones who bring each work to perfection: they make nothing except that which is appro- priate.c England is the land of moods.d The Englishman is witty in his writing and this wit is especially valuable because of its great content,25:1185 because of its great content and not so much on account of its facility. It is the land of moods.e

The Italians appear to hold the middle road between the French and the Spanish; they have more affect than the French, and more true strength of spirit. They take delight in the fine arts, in which they particularly specialize. The objects of public admiration are painting, architecture, and sculpture. Italy is the land of sly heads.f The inven- tions of the Italians must always agree with the taste of the nobles and the civilized peoples.g The Italian nation has a great deal of spirit and talent.

Some place the character of the Germans in their phlegma. The Ger- man is not attached so much to his fatherland, and this indicates already an enlightened people. He shows his composureh particularly through patient efforts; he accommodates himself well to reforms, and easily allows himself to be ruled despotically. Germany is the land of compliments.i

Poland, the land of braggarts, and Russia, the land of spite, are both of Slavic origin. They do not appear to be properly capable of civiliza- tion. The inhabitants of Poland want freedom and law, but no executive power,j a demand that is completely absurd. They have something of the Spanish and the French; with them something begins with pomp and ends very ordinarily.k The Russians are still too unknown, and it is not advisable to judge the nation from some little things. The Poles and

a flüchtig. Petersburg reads: light, and imitates too much. b Petersburg reads: proud of their independence, and the French are proud of the power

of their king. c zweckmäßig. The italicized phrase is taken from Petersburg. d das Land der Launen e The italicized phrases are taken from Petersburg. f das Land der Schlauköpfe g die Versittigten

h Gelaßenheit

i The italicized phrases are taken from Petersburg. Menschenkunde reads: an enlightened people, they particularly distinguish themselves through patient, industrious composure, they do not accommodate themselves to reforms, and they can be ruled despotically.

j keine vollziehende Gewalt k sehr gemein

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Russians have more of an oriental character mixture than all of the other nations of Europe.

To be enlightened and of broadened concepts are great expressions of praise for a people, but are also very much to be distinguished from each other, for a human being who has learned much can also be very narrow- minded in his concepts; many people to be sure acquire knowledge, but few acquire concepts. History and geography help us to obtain broader concepts, and a human being who is very limited in geographical knowl- edge is also usually very limited in concepts. People of limited concepts 25:1186 are proud and full of self-love.a The English have the most broadened concepts of all peoples. A human being of such broadened (extended) concepts always attends to the universal best for the world,b and is not simply content with the welfare of his family and the narrow district of his fatherland; he will care for the salvation of the entire human society,c

and for just this reason not be a stern patriot, whose glory in fact is not very significant. “In the Gospel,d if it is correctly understood, lies the most broadened concept, to make all human beings happy, and for this reason it earns respect from all.”

An enlightened people is one in which individual persons think for themselves, and do not allow others to think for them.23 One finds in fact that those nations in whose language Latin has a strong influence have a great deal of education.e This comes primarily from the Romans. These peoples are particularly the French, Italians, English and Spanish. When the public begins to pay attention to what its real interest consists in,f

then this is the true sign of an enlightened people, of which the superb example is the French. On the other hand, the Russian nation is perhaps well disciplined, also in some degree cultivated, though more as concerns capacity rather than faculty; on the other hand, it is not yet civilized at all, and even less moralized than any other people in the world.g Precisely because its concepts are not broadened at all, the Russian nation hates all nations, with the exception of the English.h

a Eigenliebe b das allgemeine Weltbeste. Petersburg reads: decide for the entire world, and seek to promote

its best. c Petersburg reads: of the human race. d The italicized phrase is taken from Petersburg. Menschenkunde reads: In the nature of the

Gospel, . . . e viel Bildung f was für dasselbe Interesse hat g The italicized phrase is taken from Petersburg. h Petersburg reads: It is still peculiar that certain nations distinguish themselves above

others, in a manner that is hardly advantageous, and mainly due to the fact that their servants have a deceptive nodding (Nicken). They indicate a malevolent and base way of thinking, and consist primarily in the aversion to a command, but they are not nearly as bad as the spite which is nothing else than a resentment against someone who has power over us.

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aShould one assume different human races (human kinds) that have different phyla?b If this were the case, then God must have created dif- ferent first human beings, a specific pair for each race; we have no reason to assume this. If we plant a speciesc of flowers or fruits in a different soil in a different manner, then we get different kindsd of flowers and25:1187 fruits. So a [single] human phylum can also have populated the entire earth, and incidental causes could have altered human beings. All kindse

of human beings are fertile with one of another race when they have copulated with one another. This also makes it crediblef to us that they descend from a single phylum.

There are Four Races on Earth; these areg

1) Theh American people acquires no culture.i It has no incentives; because affect and passion are absent in it. They are not in love, thus they are also not fertile. They hardly speak at all, do not caress one another, also do not care for anything, and are lazy, they paint their faces in an ugly manner.j

2) The Negro race, one could say, is exactly the opposite of the Amer- ican; they are full of affect and passion, very lively, talkative and vain. They acquire culture, but only a culture of slaves; that is, they allow themselves to be trained. They have many incentives, are also sensitive, afraid of beatings, and also do many things out of honor.

3) It is true that the Hindus have incentives, but they have a strong degree of composure, and they all look like philosophers. Despite this, they are nevertheless very much inclined toward anger and love. As a result they acquire culture in the highest degree, but only in the arts and not in the sciences.k They never raise it up to abstract concepts; a great Hindustani man is the one who has gone very far in deceit and who has a lot of money. The Hindus always remain as they are, they never bring culture further, although they began to cultivatel themselves much earlier.

a At this point the Academy editors write: “Beginning of the moved (verschobene) passage. Cf. 15:793, 18–19.” The following material on races is taken from pp. 352–353 of the original published text of Menschenkunde, and occurs six pages earlier than the preceding paragraph.

b verschiedene Stämme c eine Art d verschiedene Arten

e Alle Arten f glaublich

g The italicized section heading is taken from Petersburg. h In Menschenkunde, the word ‘Anmerk.’ [= Remark] precedes ‘1).’ i nimmit keine Bildung an j ins häßliche. The italicized phrase is taken from Petersburg. k Petersburg reads: not in the arts, only in the sciences. l bilden

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4) The white race contains all incentives and talents in itself; as a result it must be considered in a bit more detail. Information concerning it is given above.a

All of Europe, the Turks, and the Kalmucks belong to the white race. 25:1188 Whenever any revolutions have occurred, they have always been brought about by the whites, and the Hindus, Americans, and Negroes have never participated in them. Under the whites one could make the division of the Oriental and Occidental kinds.b Thirdly one can also count the Finnish nation here.c

of the character of the sexes.d

It is a principle of lazy reason to assume that everything is one and the same, and many people even do so with the two so very different human sexes.e The more we study nature the more we find diversity, but at the same time we also find the most perfect unity of connection. Upon closer consideration this is also obvious to us with respect to the two sexes.

In order to study the whole human being, we are allowed to set our eyes only on the female sex; for there, where the power is weaker, the instrument itself is all the more artistic.f We must say: everything that lies in nature is good, for nature is the measure of the good.g Nature has laid a natural predisposition toward art in the female sex. Man is created in order to rule over nature; and woman, in order to govern man.

To the former belongs a great deal of power; to the second, a great deal of skill. One can say, man was made to have authority over nature, and woman, authority over man, and through man authority over nature. The seeds that lay in nature develop only according to the occasions given by circumstances; that is why we can see nature properly unfold only in the condition where all merely imaginable charmsh lay hidden. Therefore, in order to get to know female nature precisely, and in order to determine her incentives, we will also need to consider her in none other but her

a The italicized phrase is taken from Petersburg. Menschenkunde reads: we will have to consider it a bit more exactly. The Academy editors add: “Apparently the remark [from Petersburg] refers to the treatment of the different European nations [a few pages earlier] in the Menschenkunde.”

b Schlages c Here the Academy editors note: “End of moved passage; cf. 15:793, 18–19.” d This section title is taken from Petersburg. In Menschenkunde the section title reads: Of

the Character of Humanity and the Sexes. e The italicized sentence is taken from Petersburg. f um so viel künstlicher (also “ingenious,” “clever,” “artificial”). g der Maasstab des Guten h nur denkliche Reitze. The italicized phrase is taken from Petersburg. Menschenkunde reads:

orderly impulses.

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