In opposition to the general maxim, the Dilettante will thus be subject to more severe criticism than the Artist, who, resting upon a secure basis of art, incurs less danger in departing from rules, and may even by that means enlarge the province of art itself. The true artist rests firmly and securely upon himself. His endeavor, his mark, is the highest aim of art. In his own estimation he will always be far from that aim, and necessarily, therefore, will be always modest in regard to art or the idea of art, and will maintain that he has as yet accomplished little, no matter how excellent his work may be, or how high his consciousness of superiority, in reference to the world, may reach. Dilettanti, or real botchers, seem, on the other hand, not to strive towards an aim, not to see what is beyond, but only what is beside them. On this account they are always comparing, are for the most part extravagant in their praise, unskilful where they blame, have an infinite deference for their like, thus giving themselves an air of friendliness and fairness, which is in fact only to exalt themselves. _Dilettantism in Lyrical Poetry_ The fact that the German language was in the beginning applied to poetry, not by any one great poetic genius, but through merely middling heads, must inspire Dilettantism with confidence to essay itself in it. The cultivation of French literature and language has made even Dilettanti more artistic. The French were always more rigorous, tended to severer correctness, and demanded even of Dilettanti taste and spirit within, and externally a faultless diction.--In England, Dilettantism held more by Latin and Greek.--Sonnets of the Italians. Impudence of the latest Dilettantism, originated and maintained through reminiscences of a richly cultivated poetic dialect, and the facility of a good mechanical exterior. Polite literature of universities, induced by a modern method of study.--Lady poems.--Schöngeisterei (bel esprit).--Annual _Keepsakes_.--Musenalmanache.--Journals.--Beginning and spread of translations. Immediate transition from the classes and the university to authorship.--Epoch of ballads, and songs of the people.--Gessner, poetic prose.--Imitation of the bards.--Bürger’s influence on sing-song.--Rhymeless verses.--Klopstockean odes.--Claudius.--Wieland’s laxity.--In earlier times: Latin verses; pedantism; more handicraft; skill, without poetic spirit. _Dilettantism in Pragmatic Poetry_ Reasons why the Dilettante hates the powerful, the passionate, the characteristic, and only represents the middling, the moral. The Dilettante never paints the object, but only the feeling it gives rise to in him. He avoids the character of the object. All Dilettante creations in this style of poetry will have a pathological character, and express only the attractions and repulsions felt by their author. The Dilettante thinks to reach poetry by means of his wits.