Does our bourgeoisie not often rise in moral indig¬ nation when it learns from the mouth of some wretched tramp that he does not care whether he is a German or not, that it is all the same to him so long as he has enough to keep him alive ? They at once protest loudly at such want of “national pride” ; and their horror at such sentiments finds strong expression.
But how many really ask themselves why they themselves have a better sentiment ? How many understand the many reminders of the greatness of the Fatherland, their nation, in all domains of cultural and artistic life, which combine to give them legitimate pride in being members of a nation so highly favoured ? How many of them are aware how greatly pride in the Fatherland depends on knowledge of its greatness in all these domains ?
I then learned to understand quickly and com¬ pletely something which I had never been aware of before :
The question of “nationalizing” a people is first and foremost one of creating healthy social conditions as a foundation for the possibility of educating the individual. For only when a man has learned through education and schooling to know the cultural, economic, and above all the political greatness of his own Fatherland can he, and will he, gain that inner pride in being permitted to be a member of such a nation. I can fight only for what I love, love only what I respect, and respect only what I, at any rate, know about.
Now that my interest in social questions was awakened, I began to study them thoroughly. A new and unknown world revealed itself to me.
In the years 1909-10 I had so far improved my condition as not to have to earn my daily bread as an assistant worker. I was working independently as a draughtsman and painter in water-colours.