"I believe that day expires with Frederick the Great, and that a long night of darkness will succeed." "Why do you think so ?" "Because it is the course of nature that darkness succeeds light.

Look at the prince, gentlemen--the divine light of genius is not stamped upon his brow, as formerly, and care will be taken that it is soon extinguished altogether." "Who will take care ?" "Those who are the enemies of light, civilization, and freedom." "Who are they ?" asked Herr Wolff.
The other smiled, and answered: "Sir, so far as I, in all humility, call myself a scholar, I also owe to the god Apollo obedience, and must answer him, though it may endanger me.

I answer, then, the enemies of light and civilization are the disguised Jesuits." "Oh, it is easy to perceive that you do not belong to them, or you would not thus characterize them, and--" A mighty flourish of drums, and shrill blasts of horns and trumpets, drowned the youth's words, and made all further conversation impossible.
The king, followed by a brilliant suite, had just arrived at the parade.
The regiments greeted their sovereign with loud blasts of trumpets, and the people shouted their farewell.

Frederick lifted lightly his hat, and rode along the ranks of the well-ordered troops.

He listened to the shouts with calm, composed manner; the Jupiter-flashes from his great eyes seemed to be spent forever.