Über-humanity?

"Of all the preposterous assumptions of humanity over humanity, nothing exceeds most of the criticisms made on the habits of the poor by the well-housed, well-warmed, and well-fed."

Herman Melville, novelist and poet (1819-1891)

Changing nonethelsss

"Not that I want to be a god or a hero. Just to change into a tree, grow for ages, not hurt anyone."

Czeslaw Milosz, poet and novelist (1911-2004)

Who's to blame? Is it even necessary to blame anyone?

"To blame the poor for subsisting on welfare has no justice unless we are also willing to judge every rich member of society by how productive he or she is. Taken individual by individual, it is likely that there's more idleness and abuse of government favors among the economically privileged than among the ranks of the disadvantaged."

Norman Mailer, novelist, journalist, essayist, playwright etc. (1923-2007)

Authentic? New Gospel? Wife? Female disciple?

 

Pretty interesting article on Jesus speaking about his wife...now let's see what the experts will say on the matter. Too bad the best bit is cut off.

 

"The Unknown Citizen" by W.H. Auden (poetry reading)

"Best Society" by Philip Larkin (poetry reading)

On Loan

"If, every day, I dare to remember that I am here on loan, that this house, this hillside, these minutes are all leased to me, not given, I will never despair. Despair is for those who expect to live forever. I no longer do."

Erica Jong, writer, poet, teacher (b. 1942)

Ministry of Silly Walks - Monty Python

This Be the Verse by Philip Larkin (read by Larkin)

They fuck you up, your mum and dad.   

    They may not mean to, but they do.   

They fill you with the faults they had

    And add some extra, just for you.

But they were fucked up in their turn

    By fools in old-style hats and coats,   

Who half the time were soppy-stern

    And half at one another’s throats.

Man hands on misery to man.

    It deepens like a coastal shelf.

Get out as early as you can,

    And don’t have any kids yourself.

From High Windows (1974)

Through life

"The tragedy in the lives of most of us is that we go through life walking down a high-walled land with people of our own kind, the same economic situation, the same national background and education and religious outlook. And beyond those walls, all humanity lies, unknown and unseen, and untouched by our restricted and impoverished lives."

Florence Luscomb, architect and suffragist (1887-1985)