ancient times。 India has not only ancient books relating to religion; and splendid poetical
productions; but also ancient codes; the existence of which latter kind of literature has been
mentioned as a condition necessary to the origination of History — and yet History itself is not
found。 But in that country the impulse of organisation; in beginning to develop social distinctions;
was immediately petrified in the merely natural classification according to castes; so that although
the laws concern themselves with civil rights; they make even these dependent on natural
distinctions; and are especially occupied with determining the relations (Wrongs rather than Rights)
of those classes towards each other; i。e。; the privileges of the higher over the lower。 Consequently;
the element of morality is banished from the pomp of Indian life and from its political institutions。
Where that iron bondage of distinctions derived from nature prevails; the connection of society is
nothing but wild arbitrariness; — transient activity; — or rather the play of violent emotion without
any goal of advancement or development。 Therefore no intelligent reminiscence; no object for
Mnemosyne presents itself; and imagination — confused though profound — expatiates in a region;
which; to be capable of History; must have had an aim within the domain of Reality; and; at the
same time ; of substantial Freedom。
§ 70
Since such are the conditions indispensable to a history; it has happened that the growth of
Families to Clans; of Clans to Peoples; and their local diffusion consequent upon this numerical
increased series of facts which itself suggests so many instances of social plication; war;
revolution; and ruin; — a process which is so rich in interest; and so prehensive in extent; —
has occurred without giving rise to History: moreover; that the extension and organic growth of the
empire of articulate sounds has itself remained voiceless and dumb; — a stealthy; unnoticed
advance。 It is a fact revealed by philological monuments; that languages; during a rude condition of
the nations that have spoken them; have been very highly developed; that the human understanding
occupied this theoretical region with great ingenuity and pleteness。 For Grammar; in its
extended and consistent form; is the work of thought; which makes its categories distinctly visible
therein。 It is; moreover; a fact; that with advancing social and political civilisation; this systematic
pleteness of intelligence suffers attrition; and language thereupon bees poorer and ruder: a
singular phenomenon — that the progress towards a more highly intellectual condition; while
expanding and cultivating rationality; should disregard that intelligent amplitude and expressiveness
— should find it an obstruction and contrive to do without it。 Speech is the act of theoretic