consciousness of one's own being。 Two things must be distinguished in consciousness； first； the
fact that I know； secondly； what I know。 In self consciousness these are merged in one； for
Spirit knows itself。 It involves an appreciation of its own nature； as also an energy enabling it to
realise itself； to make itself actually that which it is potentially。 According to this abstract definition
it may be said of Universal History； that it is the exhibition of Spirit in the process of working out
the knowledge of that which it is potentially。 And as the germ bears in itself the whole nature of the
tree； and the taste and form of its fruits； so do the first traces of Spirit virtually contain the whole of
that History。 The Orientals have not attained the knowledge that Spirit — Man as such — is free；
and because they do not know this they are not free。 They only know that one is free。 But on this
very account； the freedom of that one is only caprice； ferocity — brutal recklessness or passion； or
a mildness and tameness of the desires； which is itself only an accident of Nature — mere caprice
like the former。 — That one is therefore only a Despot； not a free man。 The consciousness of
Freedom first arose among the Greeks； and therefore they were free； but they； and the Romans
likewise； knew only that some are free； — not man as such。 Even Plato and Aristotle did not know
this。 The Greeks； therefore； had slaves； and their whole life and the maintenance of their splendid
liberty； was implicated with the institution of slavery： a fact moreover； which made that liberty on
the one hand only an accidental； transient and limited growth； on the other hand； constituted i