This is from the Rolfe Humphries translation of Lucretius' De Rerum Natura (highly recommend):
"All men, a little at a time, begin
To mitigate their sense of awe. Look up,
Look up at the pure bright color of the sky,
The wheeling stars, the moon, the shining sun
If all these, all of a sudden, should arise
For the first time before our mortal sight,
What could be called more wonderful, more beyond
The heights to which aspiring mind might dare?
Nothing, I think. And yet, a sight like this,
Marvelous as it is, now draws no man
To lift his gaze to heaven's bright areas.
We are a jaded lot."
Anyone who tells you not to read a book because of the skin color or "problematic views" of its author is a philistine barbarian who should be treated as such.
This is from the Rolfe Humphries translation of Lucretius' De Rerum Natura (highly recommend):
"All men, a little at a time, begin
To mitigate their sense of awe. Look up,
Look up at the pure bright color of the sky,
The wheeling stars, the moon, the shining sun
If all these, all of a sudden, should arise
For the first time before our mortal sight,
What could be called more wonderful, more beyond
The heights to which aspiring mind might dare?
Nothing, I think. And yet, a sight like this,
Marvelous as it is, now draws no man
To lift his gaze to heaven's bright areas.
We are a jaded lot."
Anyone who tells you not to read a book because of the skin color or "problematic views" of its author is a philistine barbarian who should be treated as such.
I am glad I read so many of these books. It would be very sad if they are left behind. The Great books inspired many people.
books allow us to converse w (and pick the brains of) some of the wisest most talented and interesting people who ever lived...what could be more fun?
That's three phrases I've read this week I plan to, the last two from you.
- We are a jaded lot
= Philistine barbarian.
Aren't University of Chicago scholars always high and serious?
A worthy idea, I've a copy of the Syntopicon, it's quite a work!
"Dance not included," but still very cool.
It would be tops for me.
The butler Smith is making me laugh
You have a good eye. It's a tiny bit, but really clever.