The stupidest become authenticthe most fantastic abstractions of the Alexandrine dreamers substantial realities!

Stupid, in all its meanings, is not the right word; considered individually, these people are sometimes very clever, generally educatedthe regulation German university culture; but of politics, beyond the interests of their own church tower, they know as little as we knew as students, and even less; as far as external politics go, they are also, taken separately, like children.

"They have the most wonderful brains in some ways, but in little things they are as stupid as owls.

"When I met one of these 'ere artful ones I used fust of all to pretend to be more stupid than wot I really am.