Full Idea
An absolute drive toward perfection and completeness is an illness, as soon as it shows itself to be destructive and averse toward the imperfect, the incomplete.
Gist of Idea
Desire for perfection is an illness, if it turns against what is imperfect
Source
Novalis (General Draft [1799], 33)
Book Reference
Novalis: 'Philosophical Writings', ed/tr. Stoljar,M.M. [SUNY 1997], p.131
A Reaction
Deep and true! Novalis seems to be a particularist - hanging on to the fine detail of life, rather than being immersed in the theory. These are the philosophers who also turn to literature.
Related Idea
Idea 19594 General statements about nature are not valid [Novalis]