# Correspondence with Edith Maryon 1912–1924

## GA 263 — 13 September 1923, Stuttgart

### Letter to Edith Maryon

Rudolf Steiner to Edith Maryon

[Stuttgart  
, presumably September 13, 1923] My dear Edith Maryon!

The journey went well. We arrived around 1 a.m. In the morning I went to the school, then at 10 o'clock to the meeting. The meetings with the discussions last from 10 to 6 with a lunch break. In addition, there are the evening lectures. So for the few days it is taken care that one does not walk around too much idle.

The Stuttgart group has high hopes for this conference. But despite their good intentions, little of value will come of it. This “good will” is not the spiritual power of the will, but the illusion that one has the will. These personalities have great abilities - this can be seen, for example, in Waldorf teachers; they are even ingenious in many ways - but only the “idea of will”. And so they say to themselves: we have the “good will”, but we do not understand what we are supposed to do. But the truth is that they should say to themselves: we understand as well as possible what we are supposed to do; but we do not want to.

Yes, the truth is only just behind the illusion.

I hope it is all right there; I am looking forward to being there again soon. For today, my warmest greetings and thoughts

Rudolf Steiner