By the way, I read another eulogy today, by Formey (which didn't get read at the academy because Fritz wrote his own), and he expands on that characterization, so I'll just include the quote here:
"One can easily assume that a man who had been an officer for one half of his life and a hermit for the other, was not infected by the conditions which are inextricably linked with a wide social life and especially with the profession of courtier. But after his situation changed he showed that he owed the virtues he possessed not only to the lack of opportunity to become dissolute (three-quarters of which are human virtues) but to principles of a sound and just foundation. His whole behaviour was always simple and humble; an enemy of all pomp, he sought fine entertainment wherever he found it, and loved activity, a secluded life, and above all the truth. This last feature can be regarded as particularly peculiar and characteristic of him. Mr. von Knobelsdorff was truthful ["etoit vrai," with emphasis], a term that is unusual but apt. He was so to the extent that it made him seem odd. Perhaps a little too impressed by the old principle that the truth should appear completely naked, he would have believed he was degrading himself, not only if he had added deceptive paint, but also if he had used mitigations, whom decent people believe can quite well be combined with honesty. Such a tilt of mind and heart gives such a strong tone in the color scheme of the courtyards that many people regard it as a completely wrong shade, but almost all of them only because they do not possess the moral heroism that is its basis. It's a lot to be a Seneka, more a Burrhus. With this way of thinking, Mr. de Knobelsdorff spent the last years of his life in rather a great deal of solitude. He had a pleasant retreat at the gates of the capital and he enjoyed it all the more since this retreat was part of a park, or charming grove [i.e. the Tiergarten] - one of the most beautiful ornaments of Berlin, which offered its inhabitants for several months of the year a place to walk. Perhaps no other city has anything to compare if one brings together the advantages of proximity, breadth and variety. M. de Knobelsdorff, who was in charge of it, made multiple improvements there, which have been continued and greatly added to by our worthy Curator, M. de Keith, now in charge of this office."
Re: Book review I: Der Meister von Sanssouci - Fredersdorf and historical footnotes
By the way, I read another eulogy today, by Formey (which didn't get read at the academy because Fritz wrote his own), and he expands on that characterization, so I'll just include the quote here:
"One can easily assume that a man who had been an officer for one half of his life and a hermit for the other, was not infected by the conditions which are inextricably linked with a wide social life and especially with the profession of courtier. But after his situation changed he showed that he owed the virtues he possessed not only to the lack of opportunity to become dissolute (three-quarters of which are human virtues) but to principles of a sound and just foundation. His whole behaviour was always simple and humble; an enemy of all pomp, he sought fine entertainment wherever he found it, and loved activity, a secluded life, and above all the truth. This last feature can be regarded as particularly peculiar and characteristic of him. Mr. von Knobelsdorff was truthful ["etoit vrai," with emphasis], a term that is unusual but apt. He was so to the extent that it made him seem odd. Perhaps a little too impressed by the old principle that the truth should appear completely naked, he would have believed he was degrading himself, not only if he had added deceptive paint, but also if he had used mitigations, whom decent people believe can quite well be combined with honesty. Such a tilt of mind and heart gives such a strong tone in the color scheme of the courtyards that many people regard it as a completely wrong shade, but almost all of them only because they do not possess the moral heroism that is its basis. It's a lot to be a Seneka, more a Burrhus.
With this way of thinking, Mr. de Knobelsdorff spent the last years of his life in rather a great deal of solitude. He had a pleasant retreat at the gates of the capital and he enjoyed it all the more since this retreat was part of a park, or charming grove [i.e. the Tiergarten] - one of the most beautiful ornaments of Berlin, which offered its inhabitants for several months of the year a place to walk. Perhaps no other city has anything to compare if one brings together the advantages of proximity, breadth and variety. M. de Knobelsdorff, who was in charge of it, made multiple improvements there, which have been continued and greatly added to by our worthy Curator, M. de Keith, now in charge of this office."