Times of cultural misery are the most conducive to immersing oneself in great eras, great works, and great achievements. This is because everything in them stimulates an interest accentuated by contrast, leaving no doubt as to where attention should be directed. In truth, even in the most prolific times, the portion that survives is small, and therefore the portion that distracts is large. There is, of course, a special feeling that comes from novelty; but perhaps this feeling diverts attention from where it could be focused much more profitably.
Tag: behavior
The Most Important Book Yet to Be Written…
The most important book yet to be written by a new and necessary Gilberto Freyre will describe what happened in Rio de Janeiro in the last century. Such a work, if undertaken seriously, will be the most significant of the century. It is a perhaps unprecedented human catastrophe that separates the Rio de Janeiro of Machado de Assis from the Rio de Janeiro of the 2000s, and even though it is scandalous, it is difficult to trace the succession of events that made it possible. To do so, it would be necessary to gather documents and delve into history with unusual awareness and acumen, capable of identifying the psychological roots of a physically crystallized phenomenon. Someone will have to do it. From a destruction like this, something very important must be learned. Possibly, Brazil’s destiny depends on the success of such an undertaking.
When We Encounter a Man Who Boasts…
When we encounter a man who boasts about something that should shame him, we see how easily cleverness turns into vice. To have such a quality, it is better to always be deceived! Undoubtedly, there is no moral embarrassment in being a victim, nor in giving credit to those who do not deserve it. If something is lost, it goes without leaving a mark on the conscience, and time never exacts the price of remorse. The one who wins, however, will realize that what he has gained is little, and will be happier to the extent that the vileness he nurtures leaves no room for objections—complete happiness, as we can see, is only possible for an animal.
The Human Capacity to Get Rid…
The human capacity to get rid of the powerful impression caused by death is impressive. When experienced, it seems decisive, there seems to be a certainty that its vividness will never leave the memory. But then time passes, and the day comes when it is as if it had never happened, and one lives peacefully, ignoring what once seemed like a lesson. Forgetting is a gift; but only partially: remembering, sometimes, is ensuring that the past has not been in vain.