Having been a city child I thus became attached to the University of Halle.

There is something unusual about such a university. Just as many advantages flow to universities in great residence-cities - better resources, more famous names, greater power of attracting exceptional teachers in all subjects — one is reserved for university cities: the unmediated effect on the minds and education of those belonging to the university, and those living nearby. What really can a great political figure be worth to the university? The university is an exceptional organization like so many others: like the ministries, like the general [military] staff with its troops of officers, always at an advantage in their fine white uniforms, like the court and its noble following. And what are students, then? Young people, for whom one hopes that they will learn something, and become something. All of these circles, and many more - the judiciary, industry, the clergy - they are generally separate, at least with any necessary internal connection, within the body of residents numbering in the hundreds of thousands. The situation is otherwise in the true university city. For the university city, the university is not simply a distinguished source of income, but also, above all, the source of spiritual life. Thus the entire city, down to the lowest strata of residents, takes on a greater share of the education that is disseminated from the university than would be conceivable in the residence-city. Even in the class of artisans, in my time, every resident knew the outstanding professors. If the frugal, humble, and slightly hunched-over figure of our professor of dogmatics, Knapp, crept by, or if the majestic figure of Chancellor Niemeier, the pedagogue, his round head held high, with his hat held ever in greeting in his hand, walked down the street, then the burgers of all sorts would be there to respectfully greet them. The professors, in turn, were not far removed from the circles of burghers; and if, on the one side the burghers did everything to honor the professors, if, among other things, the wealthy master smith Uhlich moved his workshop so as not to disturb the scholar (Knapp) living next door, likewise the scholars were happy to carry on stimulating and instructive conversations with the burghers.