Henri-Frédéric Amiel on The Unexamined Life March 28th, 2008
An extension of the well-known quote “the unexamined life is not worth living”:
The man who has no refuge in himself, who lives, so to speak, in his front rooms, in the outer whirlwind of things and opinions, is not properly a personality at all. He floats with the current, who does not guide himself according to higher principles, who has no ideal, no convictions–such a man is a mere article of furniture–a thing moved, instead of a living and moving being–an echo, not a voice. The man who has no inner life is the slave of his surroundings, as the barometer is the obedient servant of the air at rest, and the weathercock the humble servant of the air in motion. -Henri-Frédéric Amiel
have you watched the Demetri Martin BBC special called “If I” it’s mostly an exposition of that sentence. it’s somewhere on youtube and really worth watching.
If you don’t know who Demetri Martin is, he’s this really funny stand-up comedian who also is a big fan of palindromes and word puzzles. all of his stuff is great, especially the BBC special. not as many jokes, but very thoughtful. inspiring even.
on September 21st, 2008 at 12:39 am