Comments on: We would find ourselves with an atomised society in which no one felt he had any duty to anyone else

By: Lucklucky

Lucklucky — Tue, 31 Mar 2020 02:06:32 +0000

“Maurois is an interesting writer. I was impressed by his insight that: men who are intelligent, but not at all creative, tend to be voracious adopters of intellectual systems created by others, and often apply those systems more rigidly than their originators would have.”

Good one, David.

By: David Foster

David Foster — Tue, 31 Mar 2020 02:02:58 +0000

Maurois is an interesting writer. I was impressed by his insight that: men who are intelligent, but not at all creative, tend to be voracious adopters of intellectual systems created by others, and often apply those systems more rigidly than their originators would have.

Recently, I’ve been remembering an early-1940 interview he conducted with Paul Reynaud, who had just become Prime Minister of France. The discussion turned to the bitter conflict between Reynaud and his long-time rival Daladier.

“Nevertheless,” said Maurois, ” you must admit that Daladier certainly a man who loves his country.”

Yes,” replied Reynaud. “I believe he desires the victory of France, but he desires my defeat even more.”

This may not have been totally fair to Daladier, but it certainly applies to many American politicians, academics, and media types today. Applies, indeed, in even stronger form, because “they desire the victory of America over (terrorism, coronavirus, etc)” is in many cases not true: these things are mere background for the political power struggle.

By: Harry Jones

Harry Jones — Sun, 29 Mar 2020 22:57:43 +0000

American society has been atomized all my life. I’m well used to it.

There are many kinds of solidarity. Most of them are a sham. Real solidarity is based on a common interest plus mutual regard. As for the rest, no cause to mourn the death of an an illusion.

Systems aren’t serious. Systems are mindless. People are serious.