Quote of the Day (Adam Smith, on ‘The Virtues of Sensitivity and Self-Control’)

“Just as taste and good judgment, when considered as qualities that deserve praise and admiration, are supposed to imply an uncommon delicacy of sentiment and acuteness of understanding, so the virtues of sensitivity and self-control are thought of as consisting in uncommon degrees of those qualities. The likeable virtue of humaneness requires, surely, a level of sensitivity far higher than is possessed by crude ordinary people. The great and exalted virtue of magnanimity undoubtedly demands a much higher degree of self-control than the weakest of mortals could exert. Just as the common level of intellect doesn’t involve any notable talents, so the common level of moral qualities doesn’t involve any virtues. Virtue is excellence—something uncommonly great and beautiful, rising far above what is vulgar and ordinary. The likeable virtues consist in a degree of sensitivity that surprises us by its exquisite and unexpected delicacy and tenderness. The awe-inspiring and respectworthy virtues consist in a degree of self-control that astonishes us by its amazing superiority over the most ungovernable passions of human nature.”— Scottish economist and philosopher Adam Smith (1723-1790), The Theory of Moral Sentiments (1759)

These days, Adam Smith’s economic precepts in The Wealth of Nations (1776) are much more likely to be followed than the moral ones propounded here. Indeed, those virtues may be more flouted by the rich, famous, and powerful than by ordinary citizens. So much the worse for all of us.

Quote of the Day (Cullen Murphy, on Memorization as a Skill ‘Allowed to Atrophy’)

“Memorization is an antique skill that has heedlessly been allowed to atrophy. The word ‘rote’ tends to be employed these days solely with a pejorative inflection, as if rote memory were not a resource or a tool. I would propose the creation of a kind of oasis of memory. And I would suggest, as a start, these few basics: the ‘Rules of Civility’ from George Washington’s childhood chapbook; the biblical Song of Songs; Chapter Fourteen (‘Mealtime Manners’) of Emily Post's Etiquette; the preamble of the Constitution of the United States; Martin Luther King's ‘I Have a Dream’ speech; the official baseball rulebook; the Maxims of La Rochefoucauld; Chapter Seven (‘Tires, Wheels, Brakes, and Suspension’) of the Readers Digest Family Handyman guide Simple Car Care and Repair; Chapter 10 (‘some are more equal than others’) of George Orwell’s Animal Farm; the category ‘Anonymous’ in Bartlett’s Familiar Quotations; the words to ‘Louie, Louie.’ When students are ready to move on to second grade, they can add much more.”— American writer, journalist and editor Cullen Murphy, “The Oasis of Memory,” The Atlantic, May 1998

The image accompanying this post, showing Cullen Murphy at the 2007 Texas Book Festival in Austin, Texas, was taken Nov. 3, 2007, by Larry D. Moore.

Quote of the Day (Richard Morrison, on Staging Classical Music and Opera in Unusual Venues)

“Sad to say, many people are still put off by the rigmarole and ritual of classical concert venues and particularly by opera houses. For a hundred reasons, ranging from dress code and ticket prices to clapping etiquette and audience social mix, they feel out of place. So, a venue where everyone feels ‘out of place’—in a good way, because it’s never been a classical venue before—can be a good leveler.”—English music critic and cultural writer Richard Morrison, “Opinion: Can Classical Concerts in Unlikely Settings Attract New Audiences?”, BBC Music Magazine, June 2023

Movie Quote of the Day (‘Horse Feathers,’ As Groucho Mixes Geology and Theology)

Professor Quincy Adams Wagstaff [played by Groucho Marx)]: “Beyond the Alps lies more Alps. And The Lord Alps those that Alps themselves.”— Horse Feathers (1932), written by Bert Kalmar, Harry Ruby, S.J. Perelman, Will B. Johnstone, and Arthur Skeekman (uncredited)

Quote of the Day (Evan Thomas, Correctly Sensing a Dangerous Political Shift)

“[T]he old and weary (and increasingly cowed) mainstream media, of which I have been a charter member for more than 30 years, may not be as successful as it used to be at exposing the sort of distortions that can fuel mindless rage. Whether those distortions come from the far right or far left, the consequences could be disastrous: a protectionist who sets out to shield workers from foreign competition and wrecks the free-trade regimen that has made America prosper; a law-and-order vigilante who comes to office after a terrorist attack with a program to suspend cherished individual liberties to keep America ‘safe’; a soak-the-rich populist who kills economic growth in the name of helping the little guy.”—American journalist and biographer Evan Thomas, “Why It’s Time to Worry,” Newsweek, Dec. 13, 2010

Of the three alternative nightmare Presidential candidates described by Thomas, the one that has come closest to realization is the first: a protectionist.

However, the second candidate, seeking to “suspend cherished individual liberties to keep America ‘safe,’” has also come to pass—ironically, in the form of a President who once aired an ad, “Let our politicians give back our police department's power to keep us safe,” only to foment a coup d’etat on Jan. 6, 1921, in which police desperately tried to prevent the safety of members of Congress.

Finally, a “populist” has won twice, but not through a “soak the rich” program (he is, after all, a plutocrat!), but by appealing to the worst prejudices of voters.

Sadly, the "time to worry" has passed. The emergency is here; it's now time to ensure, against growing odds, the survival of the republic.

(The image accompanying this post, showing Evan Thomas reading at Annapolis Book Festival, was taken Apr. 28, 2018, by Slowking4.)

Spiritual Quote of the Day (Gospel of Luke, on the Good Samaritan)

“But wanting to justify himself, [a scholar of the law] asked Jesus, ‘And who is my neighbor?’ Jesus replied, ‘A man was going down from Jerusalem to Jericho, and fell into the hands of robbers, who stripped him, beat him, and went away, leaving him half dead. Now by chance a priest was going down that road; and when he saw him, he passed by on the other side. So likewise a Levite, when he came to the place and saw him, passed by on the other side. But a Samaritan while traveling came near him; and when he saw him, he was moved with pity. He went to him and bandaged his wounds, having poured oil and wine on them. Then he put him on his own animal, brought him to an inn, and took care of him. The next day he took out two denarii, gave them to the innkeeper, and said, “Take care of him; and when I come back, I will repay you whatever more you spend.” Which of these three, do you think, was a neighbor to the man who fell into the hands of the robbers?’ He said, ‘The one who showed him mercy.’ Jesus said to him, ‘Go and do likewise.’”—Luke 10:29-37 (New Revised Standard Version, Catholic Edition)

This, one of the most famous of Christ's parables, gains in poignancy when one remembers the animus that so many Jews of his time had for Samaritans. A priest and a Levite, both members of groups deeply familiar to his audience, pass by the robbed and half-dead traveler. It's only a person from the despised Samaritans who comes to the traveler's aid. 

If even someone from an "out" group can react with mercy, Jesus is telling his listeners (and us), why can't you?

The image accompanying this post, The Good Samaritan, was created by the Italian Renaissance painter Jacopo Bassano (c. 1510-1592).

Quote of the Day (Robert Downey Jr., on Genre Vs. ‘Important’ Movies)

“There is no guarantee that doing a movie you think is 'important' isn't going to be the worst piece of tripe I've ever had to sit through. Or that this kind of two-dimensional genre movie I'm doing isn't actually going to be thoroughly entertaining. Isn't that why you went to the movies to begin with?”—Oscar-winning actor Robert Downey Jr. quoted by Chris Heath, “RD3,” GQ, May 2013

This is the argument that Hollywood has been making since at least 1938, when Marie Antoinette and The Adventures of Robin Hood both premiered. Which is more fondly remembered—and, I would say, viewed—these days?

The image accompanying this post shows Robert Downey Jr. speaking at the 4 San Diego Comic Con International, for "Avengers: Age of Ultron," at the San Diego Convention Center in San Diego, CA. It was taken on July 26, 2014, by Gage Skidmore.