A biography for E. T. A. Hoffmannhasn’t been written yet.
“Not a single man on earth knows from his own experience the how and where of his birth, only from tradition, which is often very uncertain.”
“It is useless to contend with the irresistible power of Time, which goes on continually creating by a process of constant destruction.”
“How prone poor Humanity is to dam up the minutest remnants of its freedom, and build an artificial roof to prevent it looking up to the clear blue sky.”
“Think of the wonderful circles in which our whole being moves and from which we cannot escape no matter how we try. The circler circles in these circles.”
“It is nearly always the most improbable things that really come to pass.”
“Once you are dancing with the devil, the prettiest capers won't help you.”
“Is it not in the most absolute simplicity that real genius plies its pinions the most wonderfully?”
“Boys should not play with weapons more dangerous than they understand.”