Friedrich Nietzsche: On Theognis of Megara. Preface.

"Nietzsche's topic for his valedictorian dissertation at the school of Pforta was the poet Theognis, focusing on his life in Megara, his lyrical production, and his views on the gods, morality, and politics. Nietzsche saw Theognis as the intellectual champion of the defeated Megarian aristocracy, who sought to preserve the Dorian spirit and its noble virtues. By all accounts, it was a considerable achievement, entailing an expert knowledge of textual criticism and classical-philologial literature; had Nietzsche never written another word, it would have assured his place-albeit quite a small one-in the history of German philology".
Text: archive.org/de...