The twitter thread:

I had no idea that Goethe tried to learn Arabic calligraphy, as if I needed more reasons to think highly of the man. Pity he didn’t quite get around to learning proper spelling.

Mind, Goethe ever learned much Arabic, though it’s pretty clear that he would have loved to if given the opportunity. But he sensed the aesthetic value and importance of Arabic calligraphy. As with so many other things where that was the case, he decided to try it out for himself.

He was very impressed by the Persian and Arabic literature that he had been able to read in German and French translation. I don’t think it’s too much of an exaggeration to say that he was a somewhat changed man after reading Hafiz’ divan in a then-recent German translation.

He was a man fascinated by pretty much everything aesthetic and strongly believed in the value of art and literature transcending national and cultural difference. In particular, he found hostility on account of religious difference to be both silly and dangerous. Living in 18th century Germany, he had as much reason to be sick of religious sectarianism as a modern Lebanese person would.