Impulses and influences exercise a very different effect on the separate national individualities.

We must endeavour to grasp history in the spirit of the psychologist rather than of the naturalist.

Each nation must be judged from its own standpoint if we wish to learn the general trend of its development.

We must study the history of the German people in its connection with that of the other European States, and ask first what paths its development has hitherto followed, and what guidance the past gives for Our future policy.

From the time of their first appearance in history the Germans showed themselves a first-class civilized people.
When the Roman Empire broke up before the onslaught of the barbarians there were two main elements which shaped the future of the West, Christianity and the Germans.