Anyone who knows even a little bit about bird-life knows that there is a kind of understanding between wild geese and tame geese, regardless of how different they are. When the flight of the wild geese is heard in the air and there are tame geese down on the ground, the tame geese are instantly aware of it and to a certain degree they understand what it means; this is why they also start up, beat their wings, cry out and fly along the ground a piece in awkward, confused disorder – then it is over.
There was once a wild goose. In the autumn, about the time for migration, it became aware of some tame geese. It became enamored of them, thought it a shame to fly away from them, and hoped to win them over so that they would decide to go along with him on the flight. To that end it became involved with them in every possible way, tried to entice them to rise a little higher and then again a little higher in their flight, that they might, if possible, accompany it in the flight, saved from the wretched, mediocre life of waddling around on the earth as respectable, tame geese.
In the beginning the tame geese thought it very entertaining and liked the wild goose. But soon they became tired of it, drove it away with sharp words, censured it as a visionary fool devoid of experience and wisdom. Alas, unfortunately the wild goose had become so involved with the tame geese that they had gradually gained power over it, their opinion meant something to it – and, summa summarum, the wild goose finally became a tame goose.
In a certain sense there was something splendid about what the wild goose wanted,
but it was, nevertheless, a mistake, for – this is the law – a tame goose never becomes
a wild goose, but a wild goose can certainly become a tame goose.
If what the wild goose did is to be commended in any way, it must above all
unconditionally watch out for one thing – that it hold on to itself ; as soon as it notices
that the tame geese have any kind of power over it – then away, away in migratory !
The law for genius is this : A tame goose never becomes a wild goose
but on the other hand a wild goose can certainly become a tame goose
– therefore watch out !
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