“The destructive character knows only one watchword: make room; only one activity: clearing away. His need for fresh air and open space is stronger than any hatred. The destructive character is young and cheerful. For destroying rejuvenates in clearing away the traces of our own age; it cheers because everything cleared away means to the destroyer a complete reduction, indeed eradication, of his own condition. But what contributes most of all to this Apollonian image of the destroyer is the realization of how immensely the world is simplified when tested for its worthiness of destruction. This is the great bond embracing and unifying all that exists. It is a sight that affords the destructive character a spectacle of deepest harmony. No vision inspires the destructive character. He has few needs, and the least of them is to know what will replace what has been destroyed. First of all, for a moment at least, empty space, the place where the thing stood or the victim lived. The destructive character does his work, the only work he avoids is being creative. Just as the creator seeks solitude, the destroyer must be constantly surrounded by people, witnesses of his efficacy. The destructive character has no interest in being understood. Attempts in this direction he regards as superficial. Being misunderstood cannot harm him. On the contrary she provokes it. The destructive character tolerates misunderstanding; he does not promote gossip. The destructive character sees nothing permanent. But for this very reason he sees ways everywhere. Where others encounter wall or mountains, there, too, he sees a way. But because she sees a way everywhere, she has to clear things for it everywhere. Not always by brute force; sometimes by the most refined. Because she sees ways everywhere, she always positions herself at crossroads. No moment can know what the next bring. What exists he reduces to rubble, not for the sake of rubble, but for that of the way leading through it. The destructive character lives from the feeling, not that life is worth living, but that suicide is not worth the trouble.” Walter Benjamin
