Austria, not dishonestly, but much sunk in superstitions and
involuntary mendacities, and liable to sink much farther, answers
always, in gloomy proud tone, 'Yes, I am the Nation of
Teutschland!'--but is mistaken, as turns out. For it is not
mendacities, conscious or other, but veracities, that the Divine
Powers will patronize, or even in the end will put up with at all.
Which you ought to understand better than you do, my friend.
For, on the great scale and on the small, and in all seasons,
circumstances, scenes and situations where a Son of Adam finds
himself, that is true, and even a sovereign truth. And whoever does
not know it,--human charity to him (were such always possible)
would be, that HE were furnished with handcuffs as a part of his
outfit in this world, and put under guidance of those who do.
Yes; to him, I should say, a private pair of handcuffs were much
usefuler than a ballot-box,--were the times once settled again,
which they are far from being!" ...

"So that, if there be only Austria for Nation, Teutschland is in
ominous case. Truly so. But there is in Teutschland withal, very
irrecognizable to Teutschland, yet authentically present, a Man of
the properly unconquerable type; there is also a select Population
drilled for him: these two together will prove to you that there is
a Nation. Conquest of Silesia, Three Silesian Wars; labors and
valors as of Alcides, in vindication of oneself and one's Silesia:
--secretly, how unconsciously, that other and higher Question of
Teutschland, and of its having in it a Nation, was Friedrich's sore
task and his Prussia's at that time. As Teutschland may be perhaps
now, in our day, beginning to recognize; with hope, with
astonishment, poor Teutschland!" ...