814. Since the Germans of any duchy are specifically subject to authoritarian rule, they do not therefore have the freedom to speak and write enjoyed by the Dutch and British. When the freedom to speak and write is restricted, so is freedom of thought, that is to say, freedom to take the widest view of things is kept under restriction. It is like a dam built around the basin of a spring, which raises the level of the water to the outlet of the spring, so that water no longer flows out. Thought is like the current of water, and the speech it gives rise to is like the basin. In short, the inflow is proportional to the outflow; likewise understanding from a higher level is proportional to the freedom to speak and express one's thoughts. As a result that noble nation is little given to matters of judgment, but more to matters of memory. This is why they are especially devoted to literary history, and in their books they rely on their men of reputation and learning, quoting their judgments at length and supporting one of them. This state of theirs is represented in the spiritual world by a man carrying books under his arms; and when anyone argues about a matter of judgment, he says, 'I will give you an answer;' and immediately selects one of the books under his arm and reads from it.
