Renate Falke
On February 21, 1986, only seven days after his bypass operation at the hospital of Aachen, Germany, Renate Falke noted down the answers of her husband Hermann to this questionnaire. The questions were taken from a questionnaire by Marcel Proust, which had been published in a supplement to the Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung (Newspaper of Frankfurt, Germany).
1. In your opinion, what is the greatest misfortune in this world?
The existence of mass society.
2. Where would you like to live?
In the Gardens of the Hesperides.
3. In your opinion, what constitutes complete happiness on earth?
In my opinion there is no complete happiness on earth.
4. Which mistake would you be most willing to forgive?
You should not see the splinter that is in your brother’s eye.
5. Who are your favorite heroes from novels?
I am not interested in novels and even less interested in heroes.
6. Your favorite personality in history?
Jesus Christ.
7. Who are your favorite heroines in history?
The same answer as for question No. 5 applies.
8. Who are your favorite heroines in literature?
Again the same answer applies as I despise all forms of heroism.
9. Who are your favorite painters?
The Masters of the Upper Rhine Region, the painting “Paradiesgärtlein" (small paradisial garden) at the Städlemuseum, Alessandro Botticelli, Hieronymus Bosch, Francis Bacon and many others.
10. Who are your favorite composers?
Those of the 17th century.
11. Which qualities do you value most in a man?
Creativity, Dependability, Gentleness.
12. Which qualities do you value most in a woman?
Devotion and the knowledge of the art of seduction.
13. Your favorite virtue?
Enchantment.
14. Your favorite past time?
To sort through my thoughts while drinking a glass of wine.
15. Who or what would you have liked to be?
Pan.
16. What is your main character trait?
Mentally fragmented.
17. What do you value most about your friends?
To be able to exchange each other’s thoughts and thus get new insights and ideas.
18. What is your biggest weakness?
Impatience.
19. What is your ideal image of happiness?
No never fully see to the bottom of things.
20. What would be the biggest misfortune for you?
To be able to see the real truth as a human being.
21. What would you like to be?
Pan.
22. What is your favorite color?
All colors are equal to me - the spectrum of colors.
23. What is your favorite flower?
I like all flowers.
24. What is your favorite kind of bird?
I like all the small birds.
25. Who is your favorite writer?
Novalis.
26. Who is your favorite poet?
Paul Gerhard.
27. Who are your heroes in real life?
I do not like heroes.
28. Who are your favorite heroines in history?
See above.
29. What are your favorite names?
None.
30. What do you despise the most?
The mindset of the masses.
31. Which historical figures do you despise the most?
All the “club-hoppers” and political followers.
32. Which military achievement do you admire the most?
That of the Captain of Köpenick.
33. Which reform do you admire the most?
The reform that will make the human being an individualist again.
34. Which natural gift would you like to possess?
To be able to drink more wine.
35. How would you like to die?
I would like to fall like a leave from the sky and be welcomed in God’s hands. “Before your throne, I now appear”.
36. Your current state of mind?
Devoted to God.
37. Your life motto?
Cancelled.