-5 - Goethe said amongst other things: “The thought of death leaves me completely calm, because I have the firm belief and faith that our spirit is an entity of a completely indestructible nature, it continues to exist from eternity to eternity…”. In February 1824, Goethe wrote to Eckermann: “I would not like to miss the good fortune of believing in a future continuation, I would like to say with Lorenzo de Medici, that all those that hope that no other life exists, are dead to this life also.” To the same one again in March 1828: “…every extraordinary person has his calling, one that he is called upon to fulfil; once accomplished, he is no longer required in his form here on Earth and destiny will use him again for something else.” In 1781, he tried to explain his strong affection for Mrs. von Stein in a letter to Wieland thus: “I cannot explain the power this woman has over me in any other way than reincorporation. Yes, we were husband and wife once.” And he wrote to her in 1781 as if dealing with an obvious fact: “How fortunate for man to die in order to extinguish impressions to then return bathed.” To her again: “When I come back to Earth again, I will ask God that I will only love the once and if you were not a stranger in that world, I would like to ask you to be that loving companion.” In October 1786, Goethe wrote from Venice: “I do feel like I am not seeing things here for the first time, but as if I am seeing them again.” He once wrote the following words to Mrs. von Stein: “Say, what will our destiny prepare for us? Say, how did it bind us so precisely, Oh, you were in expired times My sister or my wife!”
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