cultural resources in henrik ibsen's early environment - Ibsen.net

strength. The Scandinavian Idea must on the whole enlarge our vision with respect to our
situation; it must make us at once more courageous and more cautious; more courageous,
because in union with our neighbors we could expect to accomplish something, more
cautious, because for this reason we ourselves are led to attach importance to our military
establishment and not to regard it as a useless embellishment. Accordingly, those
considerations which otherwise could mislead us into directing our attention all-too
exclusively to a one-sided defese, must yield to bolder and more comprehensive
perceptions. We would certainly not in any way think of making conquests; but it must
be recognized that the division between defensive and offensive war, even though it is
emphasized even in our constitution, scarcely permits in reality strictly to be
accomplished, precisely because a surprise attack at the right time can often be the most
effective, even the only possible means of defense. Especially when a David shall fight
with a Goliath it is of the greatest importance to reach the giant with a deft shot from a
sling, before he actually gets his crushing club lifted.
And as far as science and literature are concerned, it should still be recognized,
that these are not luxuries or toys, but altogether necessary links in a state organization.
We could indeed not avoid becoming intellectually dependent oOn those who write our
books and on the whole stand above us in education and knowledge; and political
independence does not reconcile at all with intellectual dependence. Therefore, not only
the immediate practical subjects, but on the whole everything which in general
determines spiritual culture, history, philosophy, yes all the way to poetry and the fine
arts, must be considered indispensable in every truly independent state. Where a nation
lacks this important means to come to full and deep consciousness of itself it is and
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