People’s applause

Does my heart become more sacred,
more spiritual, if I display my love?
Would you respect me more
if I spoke proudly and zealously,
with more eloquent, empty words?

Yes, the crowd will like what sells in the market,
and the slave will respect their violent master,
but it is only those who are at one with themselves
who will truly understand the divine.

Freidrich Hölderlin (1770-1843)

Translated by Prontobard – 2022