The Religious (n.) is equally commensurable for the greatest man that ever lived and the most abject, for the wealth of nations and for a farthing: qualitatively dialectic, it disdains quantity, in which the aesthetic finds its task.
The Religious (n.) consists precisely in being religiously concerned about oneself infinitely — not about visions, not about a positive aim (which is finite), and so not thinking oneself finished, which is perdition.
The Religious (n.) can be missed by standing near it: the observer is farther from it than the dabblers, yet closer, since he sees where it is and seizes nothing false — he misses it only by not seizing it.
The Religious (n.) is a paternal love: it contains the ethical but softens it by continuity — yet offers its comfort only after sin has been seen in all its frightfulness.
The Religious (n.) is a dangerous power to meddle with: jealous of itself, it will not be mocked, and the second approach demands more than the first.
The Religious (n.) is the sphere where the reflective understanding comes to an end, and where love finds again the infinity it vainly sought in reflection.
The Religious (n.) is present from the first and patiently lets the poet talk himself out, watching with Argus eyes lest the poet fool it.