What did Thomas Carlyle mean by “Close thy Byron; open thy Goethe” ?

Question

What did Thomas Carlyle mean by “Close thy Byron; open thy Goethe&#8221; ?

Xaibi Aslam · Accepted Answer

In a carefully veiled critique of the monarchy, Byron and Goethe stand in symbolically for Queen Victoria and Charles Darwin respectively.

Xaibi Aslam · Answer

Britain’s preeminence as a global power will depend on mastery of foreign languages.

Xaibi Aslam · Answer

Even a foreign author is better than a homegrown scoundrel.

Xaibi Aslam · Answer

Abandon the introspection of the Romantics and turn to the higher moral purpose found in Goethe.

Question #57209