2015/11/18 by Ingo Schwarz, Schwarz, Ingo
Arts and Humanities · Immunology and Microbiology · #1797 #1849 #Alexander von Humboldt Studies #Christian Gottfried Körner #Friedrich Schiller #German Literature and Culture Studies #Historical Architecture and Urbanism #Johann Gottfried Herder
openalex publication_date 2015/11/18 · openalex created_date 2025/10/10 · openalex updated_date 2026/07/07
Abstract In a letter dated August 6, 1797 to his friend Christian Gottfried Körner, Friedrich Schiller characterized Alexander von Humboldt as a person of limited imagination, who, in spite of his numerous activities, would never be able to achieve greatness in his scientific pursuits. Yet, only in 1849 did Humboldt learn of Schiller’s opinion from the published correspondence between Schiller and Körner. Nonetheless, Humboldt declared that this basically unjust characterization of himself by Schiller would never prevent him from admiring the great German playwright and poet; moreover, Humboldt looked for comfort in a similarly harsh opinion of Johann Gottfried Herder also expressed by Schiller. In the end, Humboldt could barely conceal his feelings of disappointment regarding Schiller’s opinion, especially because Humboldt had considered Schiller to be his friend.