[...] You will, my dear friend, shortly be hearing of things which will make it clear to you why I have now completely abandoned every attempt to combat the prevailing mood of stupidity, dullness of mind and utter wretchedness, - why I intend to let what is rotten continue to rot and not waste my remaining powers of production and enjoyment on a painful and utterly futile effort to galvanize the corpse of European civilization. I intend only to live, to enjoy life, i.e. as an artist - to create and see my works performed: but not for the critical shit-heads of today’s populations. - Since I cannot communicate my ideas to you here as fully as would be necessary, I must conceal from you for today the key to my intentions - and, I hope, of the common intentions of many others - , lest I cause any misunderstanding. Recent political events, however, have played a decisive part here, but only in a positive way. Only this much for today: yesterday (17 December 1851), in the presence of Karl and with his support, Herwegh and I between us reached a decision which - I believe - may become the starting-point of a new phase in world history. We promised each other that we should do everything in our power, and use all the means of persuasion and conviction at our command to ensure that our decision spreads in ever wider circles, in order finally - and I hope in the not too distant future - to come to fruition. From henceforth - except when I am writing my poems and composing music - I shall devote my entire literary activity to this end, an activity whose goal for once is an entirely positive and practical end of incalculable consequence, and at the same time a goal which no reactionary power on earth will be able to impede. - So fare you well for today! Karl will have lots to tell you.
Yours,
R.W.
Source: Selected Letters of Richard Wagner, trans. and ed. Stewart Spencer and Barry Millington (W. W. Norton & Company, 1988), No. 131