The tragedy of German academia:

"He was too great to be subdued to the will of the Dark Power, he saw nonetheless only those things which that Power permitted him to see. The knowledge which he obtained was, doubtless, often of service to him; yet the vision of the measureless might of Mordor that was shown to him fed the despair of his heart until it overthrew his mind" (bk. V, ch. 7).

Hic est doctor Faustus.