"Anyone who immerses himself in the history of the German nation easily has the impression of a restless life in extremes ... Once German figures reach the highest spiritual heights on which people have ever lived, while at the same time murky mediocrity dominates the public tone. From apolitical tranquillity Germany turns to the most agitated political activity, from colorful variety to radical uniformity; out of powerlessness it rises to aggressive power, sinks back into ruin, works itself up to new, hectic prosperity in unbelievable speed. It is open-minded, cosmopolitan, admiring the foreigner; then it despises and chases the foreigner away and seeks salvation by taking excessive care of its own characteristics. The Germans are regarded as the philosophical, speculative people, then again as the most practical, materialistic, a.