Axioms Quote by Karl Wilhelm Friedrich Schlegel
“The two basic maxims of the so-called historical criticism are the postulate of the common and the axiom of the ordinary. Postulate of the common: everything really great, good, and beautiful, is improbable, since it is extraordinary and therefore at least suspect. Axiom of the ordinary: our conditions and environment must have existed everywhere, for they are really so natural.”
About This Quote
Source Treat: Aesthetics, 1798
The two maxims of historical criticism are that extraordinary works are suspect and that ordinary conditions are universal.
In simple terms: Extraordinary art is doubted; ordinary life is assumed normal.
Question assumptions about rarity and normality.
Themes
Mood
Type
When to use this quote
- academic analysis
- art evaluation
- historical research
Key Concepts
Questions to Reflect On
- What counts as “extraordinary” in your field?
- How do you identify truly common conditions?
Over‑reliance on these maxims can ignore nuance.