The Heiligenstadt Testament had been written when he was younger, healthier, in the middle of his fame as a virtuoso, his work running strong and in demand, his wounds fresh, and there were fewer old scars. Then his response to suffering had been defiance, not resignation, not submission. By the time of the Tagebuch submission was the only path left for him.
By the time of his diary, submission was the only path left to him
