on, and
in so far as they themselves would have grasped it if they had been
perfectly clear within themselves, it never deceived them.

Unto this day what was really eternal in their eternal Rome lives on
and they with it in our midst, and it will continue to live, in its
results, until the end of time.

In this sense--as the vehicle and the pledge of earthly eternity,
and the interpretation of the eternal here--nation and fatherland
far transcend the State in the ordinary sense of the term social
organization, as this is conceived in its simple, clear connotation,
and as it is founded and maintained in accordance with this
conception--a conception which demands sure justice and internal
peace, and requires that every one through his efforts obtain his
support and the prolongation of his sentient existence so long as God
will grant it to him. All this is only a means, a condition, and a
scaffolding of what patriotism really means--the development of the
eternal and the divine in the world, which is ever to become purer,
more perfect in infinite progression. For that very reason this
patriotism must, first of all, rule the State itself as absolutely the
highest, ultimate, and independent authority, by limiting it in the
choice of means for its immediate purpose--inner peace. To reach this
goal, the natural freedom of the individual must be limited in many
ways, it is true; and if this were absolutely the only consideration
and intention regarding them, it would be well to restrict this
liberty as closely as possible, in order to bring all their movements
under one uniform rule, and to keep them under constant supervision.
Granted that such severity be necessary, it could at least do no harm
for this single end; only the higher concept of the human race and of
the nations widens this limited view. Even in the manifestations
of external life freedom is the soil in which the higher culture
germinates; a legislation which keeps this later aim in view will give
the broadest possible scope to freedom, even at the risk that a less
degree of uniform quiet and calm may result, and that government may
become a little more difficult and laborious.

To elucidate this by an example--it has been known to happen that
nations have been told to their faces that they did not require as
much freedom as many other nations do. This statement might, indeed,
be dictated by forbearance and a desire to palliate, the true meaning
being that t