Dressed for the Occasion

I freely admit that knowing how to dress well is a an art worthy of man.

But the assumption that a well-dressed man has mastered the art of living is another matter.

A Natural Mistake

“The great error of the 19th century, in morality as well as in science and art, has been to mingle and confound man and nature without pausing to consider that in art as in science and morality he is a man only in so far as he distinguishes himself from nature, and makes himself an exception to it.”--Ferdinand Brunetière

Battle Cry

Every birth of a human being opens a new front in the war against the nature that is both without and within us.

History is the record of battles won and lost. If humanity is to be the victor, we must help each child draw up an effective battle plan based on our experience and the experiences of many others.

A child who is well-equipped will know how to begin to grapple with the enemy and will increase his or her odds of overcoming the foe.

The Enemy within the Gates

Narcissism is the enemy of creativity.

A true artist expresses through his art his admiration for the world.

A narcissist only wants to be admired and is therefore not admirable.

A Vain Attempt

It is our vanity that compels our tongues to make the mistake of telling other people what to do or how to live.

A Graceful Expression

There but for the grace of God, go I.

Although this statement appears to be an expression of humility, it is misleading. Taken literally, it seems to imply that God bestows His grace on some and withholds this gift from others.

What is missing is our responsibility for cooperating with grace. Without our cooperation, the gift remains dormant.

Perhaps I can restate the well-known phrase so as to clarify the sentiment underlying the words:

There but for my cooperation with the grace of God, go I.

A Miserable State of Affairs

I do not want power over men's emotions. I do not want power over men's thoughts. I do not want power over the actions of men. I want the power to alleviate human misery. 

But no power can alleviate the misery of those who want to be miserable.