This sentence caught my eye last night. November 24, 2007
Posted by Anya in : I won't keep things purposely vague , trackbackOurs is the only civilization in history which has enshrined mediocrity as its national ideal.
The quote with more context is, “Our civilization has achieved a distinction of sorts. It will not be remembered for its techology or even its wars but for its novel ethos. Ours is the only civilization in history which has enshrined mediocrity as its national ideal. Others have been corrupt, but leave it to us to invent the most undistinguished of corruptions. No orgies, no blood running in the streets, no babies thrown off of cliffs. No, we’re sentimental people and we horrify easily. True, our moral fiber is rotten. Our national character stinks to high heaven. But we are kinder than ever. No prostitute ever responded witha quicker spasm of sentiment when our hearts are touched. Nor is there anything new about about thievery, lewdness, lying, adultery. What is new is that in our time liars and thieves and whores and adulterers wish also to be congratulated and are congratulated by the great public, if their confession is sufficently psychological or strikes a sufficiently heartfelt and authentic note of sincerity. Oh, we are sincere. I do not deny it. I don’t know anybody nowadays who is not sincere… We are the most sincere Laodiceans who ever got flushed down the sinkhole of history.”
So I’d be interested to hear your thoughts on that quote. I’ll tell you where it’s from if you really must know, but for now I want your thoughts without that bias. Â
But be encouraged, even if it is true and our culture’s ideal is being mediocre…Â About our God it is said,
“Who is like you, O Lord, among the gods?
Who is like you, majestic in holiness,
awesome in glorious deeds, doing wonders?”
And, as a final note, what I quite randomly have stuck in my head…
Staying up all night staring at the stars
Staying up all night playing this guitar.
Not that I can play the guitar. I can identify that quote too, but won’t, unless I’m jumped on for breaking copyright laws.
Comments»
I really like that line at the top. So true.
(And I liked the quote about stars and guitars because I CAN play guitar! All those hours of practice have finally paid off in this moment :))
Seize The Day!
-StrongJoy
Oh, another thing: Please DO tell us where that paragraph is from. I do think it’s extremely well-written and catching. I think one really interesting thing is how we talk so disgustedly about the horrors of Rome and don’t realize that our own civilization is even worse. At least there was a little DISCIPLINE in Rome, (not that discipline is the most important thing, of course, but a soft generation needs it) We haven’t even got that! Why do we boast about PROGRESS???
Seize The Day!
-StrongJoy