The Theoretical Brothers, or the Second Grade of the Rosicrucians

Danischmende. I considered it necessary, Sire, to provide some historical accounts beforehand, in order to—

"To instruct us?" said the Sultan, smiling—"but do continue, dear Doctor—"

Danischmende. It is a misfortune of humanity that even the holiest things, in the hands of men, can never remain long in their original purity; thus, even here, the virtuous intentions of the first founders were corrupted, and from the legislation of virtue arose despotism and superstition, and from skeptical natural philosophers and their conjectures arose the most wretched fanaticisms original: "Schwärmereyen." This term was a key Enlightenment-era critique, referring to a state of irrational, delusional, or ecstatic religious enthusiasm that bypasses reason.. Men gifted with a heated imagination, fanatics and frauds banded together and soon gained a following, because nothing is easier than selling nonsense as truth to credulous people—especially when one knows how to shroud this nonsense in an enigmatic language—

"I wish my Imam A worship leader or religious authority in Islam; the Sultan’s remark is likely a satirical jab at the religious leaders of his own court. were here," said Shah Gebal—