«After listening one evening to a tale about a journey through the Alps, Mendelssohn tells us, he had a strange dream. He dreamt that he too was travelling through the Alps, and that he had the aid of two guides. One guide was a Swiss rustic, who was strong and robust, but who had no subtle intellect; the other was an angel, who was gaunt and delicate, introspective and morbid. The guides came to a crossroads and went off in opposite directions, leaving the poor Moses standing there completely confused. But he was soon rescued by the arrival of an elderly matron, who assured him that he would soon know his way. The matron revealed the identity of his two guides. The rustic went by the name of “common sense” (Gemeinsinn), and the angel by the name of “contemplation” (Beschauung). She told him that it often happens that these characters disagree with each other and go off in opposite directions. But, she consoled him, they eventually return to the crossroads to have their conflicts settled by her. “So who are you?” Mendelssohn asked the matron. She said that on earth she went by the name of “reason” (Vernunft), while in heaven she was called… At this point their conversation was interrupted by the arrival of a fanatical horde who had rallied around the angel of contemplation and who were threatening to overpower common sense and reason. They attacked with horrible screams. Mendelssohn then woke up in terror.»

(in Frederick C. Beiser, The Fate of Reason, 1987)