Category: Notes

The life of great men differs from that of ordinary men in the greater clarity in the convergence of factors towards a central thread. In short, one can paint it as a succession of events that culminated in recognized greatness, thus attributing importance and meaning to them. As for ordinary men, it is not that it cannot be done, but the events seem somewhat disconnected. The reason is very simple: because they have not distinguished themselves, it is harder to see what life has transformed them into.

The caste system, if interpreted as a system of psychological types, is all too well founded. Much can be said about the number of types, their characteristics and their predominance, or not, in this or that society. What cannot be doubted is the existence of men with such different motivations and predispositions that, even if they are born and live on the same soil, they do not understand each other very much. This is why it will always be impossible to establish a model of life that everyone should strive for: the ideal for some is failure and death for others.

The noblest function of humor is to appear as a defense and a relief when despair seems inevitable. This is proven by countless biographies, such as that of Polish lieutenant Slavomir Rawicz, who was arrested and taken to Siberia by the Soviets. It is moving to see him speak with the utmost gratitude of the prisoners who, in the midst of misery, anguish and fatigue, were able to crack a joke. It does not sound like much. But there, laughter was like a miracle, invigorating and purifying. Perhaps true humor only manifests itself in the moments of greatest tension; at least, that’s when it definitely proves its worth.