The Fateful Year of 1923
GA 259 — 19 January 1923, Dornach
Words Following the Evening Lecture
Today I have heard1 that anthroposophists are carrying around all kinds of superfluous anecdotes, which, I might say, are being stirred up perhaps by this or that feeling about our great misfortune, the catastrophe of the Goetheanum. But as much as I dislike doing so, I would like to take this opportunity to point out that membership of the Anthroposophical Society imposes certain obligations, above all the obligation not to provide a target by spreading such rumors.2
I must emphasize, because it is for the sake of the matter, not for the sake of the personal, that all the things that are done in this way by the members fall back on me and thus on the matter of the anthroposophical movement.
We must exercise the utmost restraint in making accusations and, as Anthroposophists, we should really be able to develop such seriousness that we do not even do so in anecdotal form. For you can see from what you can find in the “Basler Nachrichten” today what terrible things we are involved in and what attacks we are exposed to.
Of course, these things are the most unjustified attacks imaginable; but on the other hand, may I ask that, little by little, each individual member of the Anthroposophical Society practice the seriousness that is required there, and not tell all sorts of anecdotes that are then exploited by opponents. And the blame is usually laid at my door.
I am always reluctant to preach morals in this way, but it is necessary from time to time. As I said, I have heard again today that such anecdotes have been spoken by anthroposophists. I would ask you, for the sake of the matter, for the sake of the holy matter, not to apologize for this seriousness and to carry around all kinds of anecdotes. Leave that to other people! In a certain way, being a member of the Anthroposophical Society obliges.