53. The more confused a person is–confused people are called blockheads–the more he can make of himself by diligent study of the self. On the other hand, orderly minds must strive to become true scholars–thorough encyclopedists. At first the confused ones must struggle with massive obstacles–they gain insight slowly. They learn to work laboriously–but then they are lords and masters forever. The orderly person swiftly gains insight–but also loses it swiftly. He soon reaches the second stage–but usually stops there. The last steps are laborious for him, and he can rarely succeed in placing himself in the position of a beginner again once he has attained a certain degree of mastery.
Confusion points to excess of strength and capacity–but deficient equilibrium; precision points to good equilibrium, but meager capacity and strength.
That is why the confused person is so progressive–so perfectible–and why on the other hand the orderly one comes to a halt so early as a Philistine.
To be orderly and precise alone is not to be clear. Through working on himself the confused person arrives at that heavenly transparency–at that self-illumination–which the orderly person so seldom attains.
True genius combined these extremes. It shares swiftness with the last and fullness with the first.
Novalis, 1997. Philosophical writings, Albany, N.Y: State University of New York Press. pp. 31-2