Synopsis
Excerpt from On Life Letters, Vol. 1: A Translation
We know ourselves very imperfectly, but I think your definition is a good one. I seem to myself to be a philosophical monk. I belong at heart to the Abbey of Thelema, where the rule is pleasant and obedience is easy. Perhaps they have not a great deal of faith there, but assuredly they have plenty of piety.
Indulgence, tolerance, respect for oneself and for others, these are the saints who are always held in reverence in that Abbey. If, within it, there is a tendency to doubt, it must be remembered that along with Pyrrhonism there always goes a profound attachment to custom and usage. Now, morality is but the custom of the greatest number. There is no one like a sceptic for always being moral and a good citizen. A sceptic never revolts against the laws, for he has no hope that better ones can be made. He knows that the State must be forgiven for a great deal. Would you like a word Of advice? Never entrust the political article in the Temps to one of our Thelemites. He would fill it with a gentle melancholy which would discourage your worthy readers. Ministries are not kept in power by philosophers. As for myself, I am becomingly modest, and I restrict myself to criticism.
As I understand it, and as you allow me to practise it, criticism is, like philosophy and history, a sort of romance designed for those who have sagacious and curious minds, and every romance is, rightly taken, an autobiography. The good critic is he who relates the adventures of his own soul among masterpieces.
About the Publisher
Forgotten Books publishes hundreds of thousands of rare and classic books. Find more at www.forgottenbooks.com
This book is a reproduction of an important historical work. Forgotten Books uses state-of-the-art technology to digitally reconstruct the work, preserving the original format whilst repairing imperfections present in the aged copy. In rare cases, an imperfection in the original, such as a blemish or missing page, may be replicated in our edition. We do, however, repair the vast majority of imperfections successfully; any imperfections that remain are intentionally left to preserve the state of such historical works.
"synopsis" may belong to another edition of this title.
Product Description
Excerpt from On Life Letters, Vol. 1: A Translation Dear Sir, - Permit me to offer you this little book; I certainly owe it to you since, assuredly, but for you it would not be in existence. I had hardly any thought of writing critical articles for a newspaper at the time when you invited me to the "Temps." Your choice astonished me and I am still surprised at it. How was it possible for a mind so keen, so practical, and so versatile as yours, in constant communion with everybody and everything, a mind in such full possession of life and always steeped in affairs, to have conceived a liking for thoughts so grave, sober, and detached as mine? But nothing is alien from you, not even meditation. Those who know you best declare that there is in you something of the dreamer. They are not mistaken. Only you dream rapidly. You possess in everything the genius of promptness in its highest degree. The facility with which you think is prodigious. You understand everything in a flash. Your conversation, as rapid and brilliant as the light, always dazzles me. Yet it is always judicious. About the Publisher Forgotten Books publishes hundreds of thousands of rare and classic books. Find more at www.forgottenbooks.com This book is a reproduction of an important historical work. Forgotten Books uses state-of-the-art technology to digitally reconstruct the work, preserving the original format whilst repairing imperfections present in the aged copy. In rare cases, an imperfection in the original, such as a blemish or missing page, may be replicated in our edition. We do, however, repair the vast majority of imperfections successfully; any imperfections that remain are intentionally left to preserve the state of such historical works.
"About this title" may belong to another edition of this title.
Other Popular Editions of the Same Title
Search results for On Life Letters, Vol. 1: A Translation (Classic Reprint)
Seller Image
On Life Letters, Vol. 1: A Translation (Classic Reprint)
Print on DemandSeller: Forgotten Books, London, United Kingdom
Seller rating 4 out of 5 stars
Paperback. Condition: New. Print on Demand. This book is a collection of essays by the author over a three-day period which were initially written as articles for a newspaper. The author muses on a range of topics, including literature, philosophy, and current events. The essays are characterized by their wit, erudition, and insightful observations on the human condition. The author draws on a wide range of sources, from Shakespeare to contemporary thinkers, to explore themes such as the nature of happiness, the role of art in society, and the challenges of modern life. Through these essays, the author invites readers to engage with some of the most enduring questions about life and art, offering a fresh and thought-provoking perspective on the human experience. This book is a reproduction of an important historical work, digitally reconstructed using state-of-the-art technology to preserve the original format. In rare cases, an imperfection in the original, such as a blemish or missing page, may be replicated in the book. print-on-demand item. Seller Inventory # 9781330203002_0
Buy New
£ 17.71
Free Shipping
Ships from United Kingdom to U.S.A.
Ships from United Kingdom to U.S.A.
Quantity: Over 20 available
Stock Image
On Life Letters, Vol 1 A Translation Classic Reprint
Seller: PBShop.store US, Wood Dale, IL, U.S.A.
Seller rating 5 out of 5 stars
PAP. Condition: New. New Book. Shipped from UK. Established seller since 2000. Seller Inventory # LW-9781330203002
Stock Image
On Life Letters, Vol 1 A Translation Classic Reprint
Seller: PBShop.store UK, Fairford, GLOS, United Kingdom
Seller rating 5 out of 5 stars
PAP. Condition: New. New Book. Shipped from UK. Established seller since 2000. Seller Inventory # LW-9781330203002
Buy New
£ 24.31
£ 5.02 shipping
Ships from United Kingdom to U.S.A.
Ships from United Kingdom to U.S.A.
Quantity: 15 available