第19部分(第1/7 页)

with　the　conditions　of　mere　nature　—　internal　and　external　—　it　will　indeed　meet　in　these　not　only

opposition　and　hindrance；　but　will　often　see　its　endeavours　thereby　fail；　often　sink　under　the

plications　in　which　it　is　entangled　either　by　Nature　or　by　itself。　But　in　such　case　it　perishes　in

fulfilling　its　own　destiny　and　proper　function；　and　even　thus　exhibits　the　spectacle　of

self…demonstration　as　spiritual　activity。

§　85

The　very　essence　of　Spirit　is　activity；　it　realises　its　potentiality　—　makes　itself　its　own　deeds　its　own

work　—　and　thus　it　bees　an　object　to　itself；　contemplates　itself　as　an　objective　existence。　Thus

is　it　with　the　Spirit　of　a　people：　it　is　a　Spirit　having　strictly　defined　characteristics。；　which　erects

itself　into　an　objective　world；　that　exists　and　persists　in　a　particular　religious　form　of　worship；

customs；　constitution　and　political　laws；　—　in　the　whole　plex　of　its　institutions；　—　in　the　events

and　transactions　that　make　up　its　history。　That　is　its　work　—　that　is　what　this　particular　Nation　is。

Nations　are　what　their　deeds　are。　Every　Englishman　will　say：　We　are　the　men　who　navigate　the

ocean；　and　have　the　merce　of　the　world；　to　whom　the　East　Indies　belong　and　their　riches；　who

have　a　parliament；　juries；　&c。…　The　relation　of　the　individual　to　that　Spirit　is　that　he　appropriates　to

himself　this　substantial　existence；　that　it　bees　his　character　and　capability；　enabling　him　to　have

a　definite　place　in　the　world　—　to　be　something。　For　he　finds　the　being　of　the　people　to　which　he

belongs　an　already　established；　firm　world　—　objectively　present　to　him　—　with　which　he　has　to

incorporate　himself。　In　this　its　work；　therefore