"To comprehend what is, this is the task of philosophy, because what is, is reason. Whatever happens, every individual is a child of his time; so philosophy too is its own time apprehended in thoughts. It is just as absurd to fancy that a philosophy can transcend its contemporary world as it is to fancy that an individual can overleap his own age, jump over Rhodes. If his theory really goes beyond the world as it is and builds an ideal one as it ought to be, that world exists indeed, but only in his opinions, an unsubstantial element where anything you please may, in fancy, be built... To recognize reason as the rose in the cross of the present and thereby to enjoy the present, this is the rational insight which reconciles us to the actual, the reconciliation which philosophy affords to those in whom there has once arisen an inner voice bidding them to comprehend, not only to dwell in what is substantive while still retaining subjective freedom, but also to possess subjective freedom while standing not in anything particular and accidental but in what exists absolutely."

Hegel was the subject of my undergraduate thesis, master's essay, doctoral dissertation, and a book and several articles I have published. The passages above express a central theme of his political philosophy: rejection of utopian political theories and recognition of the importance of the 'materials at hand'. These and other passages have led many readers to take Hegel as a conservative philosopher unwilling to offer any social criticism. The thrust of much of my work on Hegel has been critical of this understanding. I try to show how Hegel, while generally opposing radical social criticism, refuses blindly to accept things as they are. This is the central argument of Hegel's Political Philosophy  and of my article "Hegel on Justified Disobedience."

Recommended reading: Hegel's work is very difficult to follow, in part because he adopted his own extensive terminology, and wasn't always consistent in using it. Still, I believe the best place to begin to learn about his political philosophy is with his own work. Reason in History is the name given to the introduction to Hegel's Philosophy of History and is more or less accessible. The Preface to Philosophy of Right is also fairly accessible. While I cite the Knox translation above, there is a newer edition available, edited by Allan Wood. Some of Hegel's works are available in hypertext. You might also visit the website of  the Hegel Society of America.