In this blog post, we’ll explore the truths contained in Karl Hilty’s ‘For Sleepless Nights’ and the significance of the reflections it offers to modern readers.
Commentary
‘For Sleepless Nights’ contains countless biblical quotations, yet every passage conveys universal truths. These truths were gained through the author’s introspection into his own life and are expressed through biblical passages. In other words, he has elevated the insights gained from his subjective reflections into objective truths through the Bible.
Of course, it is clear that the Bible is a book of profound truth, but the world of that truth is so deep that it is difficult to comprehend. Hilty has not only mastered the difficult content of the Bible but also works to introduce and make the world of the Bible accessible and understandable to all readers.
Human misery and sin generally stem from ignorance. Alternatively, they arise from a lack of effort to escape ignorance or from errors in judgment. This book can be viewed as one that provides an opportunity to fundamentally correct such ignorance or errors.
Hilty states that truth is always fresh. Therefore, the truths of the Bible feel fresh even after many years have passed. This is explained by the perspective that God is an absolute being, unconstrained by time or space. This book sheds new light on the message of the Bible—which has contained nothing but truth for thousands of years—in today’s complex society, revealing direct and fundamental truths to those living in the modern world.
Since the beginning of this century, human life, culture, and ways of thinking have changed rapidly. Long-standing value systems are being shaken, and humanity appears to be degenerating into slavery to machines, technology, and money. This signifies a loss of the creativity that was once inherent in the human spirit. The warning of this text is that such “progress” is misguided and must be viewed as foreshadowing the loss and destruction of human nature.
In this context, this book presents the path to what is necessary for humanity to properly reflect on and assess itself in order to enjoy true happiness in life.
The book is also unique in its format. Part 1 was originally published by Hilty during his lifetime in 1901, while Part 2 was published posthumously in 1919 as part of his collected works. Both parts begin on January 1 and end on December 31 (this text includes only Part 1). It is structured so that one can read one essay per day over the course of two years. The intention is to read one essay a day—neither too much nor too little. Here, we can glimpse Hilty’s method of regular cultural education.
Thus, the book encourages readers to read one essay at a time during the leisurely and quiet hours when the mind is most active, using it as nourishment for the soul.
On Karl Hilty
As a meditation for nights filled with suffering, Karl Hilty, invoking the name of God, guides humanity—tormented by anguish and unable to sleep—into a world of tranquil contemplation and peaceful, nightmare-free sleep. His sermons blend humble prayers to God, erudite wisdom, and the gentle guidance of a revered elder.
His writing is free of gimmicks or wordplay; it is honest and straightforward, purifying the reader’s soul. At times, he awakens faith by borrowing God’s words; at other times, he illuminates the path of life through his own true and virtuous experiences; and at still other times, he corrects superficial knowledge with insights drawn from classic works spanning East and West, past and present.
Hiltl was neither a professional writer nor a philosopher driven by a particular agenda. He was a man of the world who, while leading a comfortable life, would at times stand at the lectern, at times enter the political arena, and at times sit on the bench. It was precisely because of these life experiences that his writings never fell into empty theory or dogmatism.
Though not a theologian, he strove to grasp the essence of God and was a man who relied on God; as a writer, he also left behind many masterpieces that have been talked about for a long time. All of this flowed naturally from his way of life.
“In all matters, one must not say, ‘I have lost it.’ Rather, it is correct to say, ‘I have sent it back.’ If your son has died, that is something sent back; if your property has been taken from you, that too is something sent back. The one who took it is undoubtedly a wicked person. But if the one who gave it to you merely used someone else as an intermediary to take it back, what business is it of yours? If he entrusted it to you as your possession, treat it as if it belonged to someone else—just as a traveler seeking a place to sleep for the night thinks of his lodging.”
One of Hiltl’s major works is ‘Das Glück’ (On Happiness). This book, which categorizes various stories encountered in life, can be considered the crystallization of his knowledge and noble character. He began writing it in 1891 and completed the three-volume set five years later; it has been translated into many languages and is widely read.
He was born in 1833 in the small Swiss town of Werdenberg as the son of a well-educated and respected physician and was raised by a devout mother. At the age of 18, he majored in law at the University of Göttingen, where he became deeply immersed in philosophy, particularly the philosophy of Kant; the following year, he moved to Heidelberg and earned his degree.
After studying in various cities across the United States and Europe, he opened a law practice at the age of 22. The following year, he enlisted in the military, serving as a legal officer in the infantry; he gradually rose through the ranks to become the Army’s Chief Justice, serving in the military for 67 years. He married, and at the age of 35, he published ‘The Theorist and Idealist of Democratic Politics’, which drew attention from the academic community.
In 1873, he was appointed as a full professor at the University of Bern and took up a teaching position; at the age of 60, he was elected to the National Council from his hometown’s constituency and served as a liberal democratic politician. It is said that his character was so affable that he was respected even by his political opponents.
He began writing in earnest the year after he entered politics. In 1901, he published ‘For Sleepless Nights’, and in 1903, he released ‘Collected Letters’. He also continued to publish several masterpieces drawn from his own experiences, such as ‘On Neurasthenia’, ‘The Sick Soul’, and ‘Eternal Life’. Underlying all of his writings was a deep reverence for and faith in God.
In 1909, at the age of 76, he was appointed as the first representative to the Permanent Court of International Arbitration in The Hague as a leading authority on international law, becoming a world-renowned figure; he spent his final years surrounded by the respect of the public.
Hilty’s career and faith were profound and rich. Readers encountering his writings for the first time might feel overwhelmed by his intense focus on faith, yet they are unconsciously drawn to the character and sincerity that underlie his work.
He was a man of unparalleled humility. Even while holding positions of great honor, he never neglected his reading and writing, nor was he stingy in sharing his wisdom with those who suffered. In a world where materialism—which Hilty warned against—is rampant, his advice and warnings are all the more valuable.
Even in a society growing materially affluent, the number of people suffering from spiritual ailments continues to rise. Hilty provided his own answers to various issues for such people and for those who seriously contemplate the future of humanity. Although times have changed, his answers can still be considered valid. This is because they are grounded in universal issues that transcend time.
Sleepless nights are painful, but Hilty’s wisdom reminds us that they are part of a more meaningful life journey.
Through such nights, humans mature, their capacity for tolerance broadens, and they can draw one step closer to God. Hilty was a preacher, a visionary, and a spiritual guide, and his sermons were not hollow because his own nature was upright and good.
Even if it is a sleepless night, it is best to accept it as a gift from God. It should be put to good use, and one must not give up before even trying to fight it. I urge you to ask yourself whether insomnia serves some purpose, to listen closely to the quiet voice that is more audible during those hours, and to cast aside all distracting thoughts. Then, the question, “Why has this sleepless night come upon me?” can become a great blessing.
The source text used for this translation is the 1923 edition published by Huber. Originally, Hilty wrote this text daily, without missing a single day, over the course of 365 days starting from January 1; however, in this translation, the translator has, at his discretion, omitted sections that veer too heavily into theology or topics irrelevant to Eastern readers. This decision can be understood by reading Hilty’s own preface.
“The division of the year into individual days was a matter of chance, not of any inherent connection. It was done simply to establish a natural boundary and to avoid accumulating too much material at once.”
