Dr Faustus of Modern Physics - Department of Speech, Music and ...

Chapter 4
Faust by Goethe
What a man does not understand, he does not possess...An intelligent
man finds almost everything ridiculous. (Goethe)
In Goethe’s tragic play Faust we hear Faust saying:
• Now I have studied philosophy, medicine and the law,and unfortunately,
theology, wearily sweating, yet I stand now, poor fool, no wiser than I
was before; I am called Master, even Doctor, and for these last ten years
have led my students by the nose–up, down, crosswise and crooked. Now
I see that we know nothing finally.
• What a man knows not, he to use requires, And what he knows, he
cannot use for good.
• Therefore myself to magic I give, In hope, through spirit-voice and
might, Secrets now veiled to bring to light, That I no more, with aching
brow, Need speak of what I nothing know; That I the force may recognize
That binds creation’s inmost energies
• A wondrous show! but ah! a show alone! Where shall I grasp thee,
infinite nature, where?
And Mephistopheles saying:
• In the end, you are exactly–what you are. Put on a wig with a million
curls, put the highest heeled boots on your feet, yet you remain in the
end just what you are.
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