Things in life don't happen so decisively. One slips into new epochs of one's life and the so-called “decision” is usually merely the number of a sum whose terms have long since been drawn up by life. …

My autobiographical philosophy of history (retrospective, like all philosophy of history) runs as follows: upon suddenly becoming converted to philosophy in 1913 …, the plan for my “lifework” came to me. I must have notes for it somewhere, probably in cards with notes on them which I sent (from corporal Rosenzweig) to Mr. Franz Rosenzweig in Kassel; I would provide details for the plan only once I was seventy, as before then I certainly wouldn't have amassed the necessary knowledge. The plan was for a book de omnibus rebus et quibusdam aliis, as the Star later became – but in the form of a Bible commentary; hence the prolonged studies. I believe it was to have three volumes: the first would concern the weekly sections from the Torah; the second, the prophetic writings that accompany them; and third, the holiday readings and special scrolls. Ten years ago, I very hastily wrote the commentary without the text (luckily, as it turned out). And now (strangely enough, as is fairly evident from the above), I've come to the text itself, leaving out the commentary. From which we say that in every case, what is omitted is, of course, always latent within .…