Addresses to the German Nation

be trodden under feet, and all the world may look
on; for them, there is neither shame nor
evil in this. But if a conversation were to be
raised about it—about this treading under feet—then
this would be an unbearable offense Aergerniß, and only
then would the evil truly begin; even though
moreover no rational or well-meaning person
would raise such a conversation out of
malicious joy Schadenfreude original: "Schadenfreude." This term refers to the act of taking pleasure in the misfortune of others; Fichte argues that the critic speaks not to mock, but to prevent further harm., but rather solely to
discover the means to ensure that such a case does
not occur again. It is the same with future
evils; they do not wish to be disturbed in their
sweet dream, and therefore they close
their eyes tightly against the future.
But because they cannot prevent
others—those who keep their eyes open—
from seeing what approaches, and because these
others might be tempted to speak of, and
to name by name, what they see, the surest
remedy against this danger seems to them to
be this: that they stifle verkümmern The verb verkümmern implies causing something to wither or fall into decay through neglect or suppression. this
speaking and naming by those who see;
as if now, in an inverse—