Archive for May, 2007

Martyrs

Tuesday, May 8th, 2007

Another great quote from a great book. In the next post I think I will be talking about the past two quotes.

Martyrs, cher ami, must choose between being forgotten, mocked, or made use of. As for being understood — never!

The Fall – Albert Camus (Justin O’Brien – tr)

At 1,500 Feet

Saturday, May 5th, 2007

I don’t know why I have been gone so long. Not much to write about. I read this quote last week, though, and thought to post it. It’s from The Fall by Albert Camus. For some reason I found it very interesting.

A natural balcony fifteen hundred feet above a sea still visible bathed in sunlight, on the other hand, was the place where I could breathe most freely, especially if I were alone, well above the human ants. I could readily understand why sermons, decisive preachings, and fire miracles took place on accessible heights. In my opinion no one meditated in cellars or prison cells (unless they were situated in a tower with a broad view); one just became moldy. And I could understand the man who, having entered holy orders, gave up the frock because his cell instead of overlooking a vast landscape as he expected, looked out on a wall. Rest assured that as far as I was concerned I did not grow moldy. At every hour of the day, within myself and among others, I would scale the heights and light conspicuous fires, and a joyful greeting would rise toward me. Thus at least I took pleasure in life and in my own excellence.

The Fall – Albert Camus (Justin O’Brien – tr)

There is a lot more in the book to talk about, but that will come later.