“The world of books is indeed only a caricature of the real world. Both spring from the same source — but the former appears in a freer, more flexible medium. Hence all colors are sharper there — fewer shades in between — the movements more lively — the outlines hence more striking — the expression extravagant. The former appears only in fragmentary form — the latter is whole. Therefore, the former is more poetic — more inspired — more interesting — more picturesque — but also more untrue — more unphilosophical — more immoral. Most people, including most scholars, have also only a book view — a fragmentary view of the real world — and then it suffers from the same faults but also enjoys the same advantages as the book world.”

– Novalis, Logological Fragments II

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