simply be encountered. Accordingly, it must be sought originally and entirely for itself; i.e., it must be disclosed through questioning.15 Humans must undertake this questioning. And the most proximate form in which this questioning starts at all is the question: “What are beings?” This question already includes the other one: “How do matters stand with Being?” Being is thereby placed into question in advance, what is sought is as such configured and specifically as what is at issue when the issue is supposed to be beings as such. Through this original questioning and only through it, Being becomes what is at issue primarily and for all beings. As Being comes to be understood in this way, beings as such are empowered to themselves. Henceforth they can come to light as the beings they are. Yet now they can first also thrust themselves forward as what they are not and can thereby be disguised and covered over.16
Heed well: it is enough that questioning merely be directed to Being in order for Being to be found. This disclosure through questioning brings about, as such, the essential finding; and Being remains a finding only inasmuch as and as long as questioning is directed to it. (Being becomes devised [er-funden]—poetized—configured.) Only for so long is there Being! [Nur solange gibt “es” (das Sein) Sein! Lit., “only for so long does ‘it’ (Being) give Being!”] Whereby precisely this question can also “stand” as unasked (no longer explicitly posed).
To disclose Being through questioning means first of all to ask: “What are beings as such?” By this questioning, humans hold to themselves for the first time, and in this holding to themselves they explicitly hold themselves over and against that which is encountered in such a questioning stance, and thereby they comport themselves to what (namely, beings) is encountered through this questioning. Humans now become that which, as ex-sistent, stands out of itself toward beings as such. The questioning directed to Being is the basic act of existence; this questioning inaugurates the history of humans as existing humans.
In this questioning, humans take from Being (and essence) their ground and their courage and power and also the measure of things.17 This questioning, as questioning, is the original esteeming of Being.
Questioning is thus the mode of esteeming that pertains essentially and originally to Being. Assuming that humans exist, then Being possesses sovereignty and worthiness not only in general; also,
15. More to be clarified—essence of seeking—original seeking | seeking again—in this seeking it arises—is configured.
16. Whence the “not”? The “not” and questioning! Seeking—
17. Origin of alone-ness [Allein-heit] and all-oneness [All-einheit].