Real misanthropes are not found in solitude, but in the world; since it is experience of life, and not philosophy, which produces real hatred of mankind.
I can't say I hate people.... Or humanity. As Schopenhauer pointed out.... Every person is a "fellow sufferer" ー And reading Beckett's Three Novels.... Well,
Even the idiots and breeders and buttholes and well, so on ー
We are ALL thrown into the shit ー equally thrown and equally the shit....
Giacomo Leopardi. Undated entry, 1817-1830s. Trans. Major-General Patrick Maxwell
" Death is not an evil, for it liberates man from all evils, and in taking away his earthly comforts it extinguishes his desire for them. Old age is an unmitigated evil, for in taking away all his pleasures it leaves to man the desire for them, and brings with it all manner of sufferings. For all this, men fear death, and desire old age. "
Giacomo Leopardi. Undated entry, 1817-1830s. Trans. Major-General Patrick Maxwell 1905
" It is surely calculated to cause a pang to parents and to the educators of the rising generation, to reflect that whatever may be the natural gifts of their children o their charges, and whatever diligence and care may be employed in bringing them up, contact with the world will assuredly corrupt them, and, unless they die first, will too probably convert them into rogues. This consideration reminds one of the answer of Thales to the question of Solon, as to the reason why he did not take a wife. Thales said that he was deterred from marriage by the contemplation of the varied anxieties which racked the minds of the parents regarding the future of their children, and their dread of the misfortunes and perils which might await them. But, in my opinion, he would have found a more rational and valid excuse had he alleged his reluctance to add to the number of rogues already existing. "
Giacomo Leopardi. Undated entry, 1817-1830s. Trans. Major-General Patrick Maxwell 1905
" According to Tacitus, the emperor Otho used to say that since the same end was allotted to the virtuous and to the vicious, it would be just as well if a man did something deserving of death. Some such sentiment apparently influences those persons who, by nature virtuous and well-disposed, become perverted and depraved by intercourse with the world, and are exacerbated by experience of the ingratitude and the injustice of men, and the fierce hostility which they evince towards their neighbours, and more especially towards the good. And in this matter such persons are not actuated by inherent corruption, or influenced by the evil example, as weak characters are wont to be. Neither are they moved by the promptings of self-interest, or by any desire for the worthless advantages of the world, nor even by the hope of escaping from the prevailing malevolence around them, but their attitude is assumed by deliberate choice, with the view of avenging themselves on men, and retaliating their iniquity, by employing against them their own weapons. And this perversion which I have referred to as occurring in the disposition of persons of this stamp, is all the more marked when it springs from a consciousness of virtue in themselves ; and is all the more formidable when it is combined, as it frequently is, with a certain elevation and force of character, in which case it resembles a species of heroism. "
Giacomo Leopardi. Undated entry, 1817-1830s. Trans. Major-General Patrick Maxwell 1905
" In all countries those faults and failing which are common to mankind, an universal to all human societies, are supposed to be peculiar to these particular countries. I have never been in a place where I have not heard some such sentiments as the following: -"Here the women are giddy and inconstant ; they are badly educated , and read little" -or, "Here the public is meddlesome, and full of idle curiosity about the affairs of their neighbours, given to tittle-tattle and backbiting" – or, "Here money and favouritism and baseness can effect anything" – "Here envy prevails everywhere, and friendship is hollow," and so on ; -just as if elsewhere matters were any different. The fact is, men are base by necessity, yet they are resolved to believed that they are base only by accident. "
Giacomo Leopardi. Undated entry, 1817-1830s. Trans. Major-General Patrick Maxwell 1905
" The human race in all its subdivisions consists of two classes – those who abuse power, and those who suffer in consequence ; since no law or authority can effectually prevent this. And since, in spite of any conceivable progress of civilisation or philosophy, all who live or have yet to live, must belong to one or the other of these two classes, it behoves all who can, to make their choice between them. But truly, not all can do so, or at all times. "
Giacomo Leopardi. Undated entry, 1817-1830s. Trans. Major-General Patrick Maxwell 1905
" No man is ever so completely disillusioned by the world, or has so thoroughly gauged it, or is so irreconcilably disgusted with it, but that, if the world suddenly smiles on him, he will insensibly undergo a partial reconciliation to it. So no man is in our opinion such a scoundrel but that, if he politely takes off his hat to us, he will appear not such a scoundrel after all. This reflection serves to illustrate the weakness of human nature ; not to justify either the world or the scoundrel. "
Giacomo Leopardi. Undated entry, 1817-1830s. Trans. Major-General Patrick Maxwell 1905
" Some young men sometimes fancy that they will make themselves interesting in the eyes of others by affecting a melancholy mood. Now it is possible hat melancholy, when affected, may be pleasing enough for a time, especially to women. But when it is real, it is shunned by all mankind; and in the long run nothing is so pleasing and so successful in the commerce of society as cheerfulness; since when all is told, and with all due deference to some young men, the world, and wisely, would rather laugh than weep. "
Giacomo Leopardi. Undated entry, 1817-1830s. Trans. Major-General Patrick Maxwell 1905
" Bion, the humorous philosopher of Borysthenes, used to say that it was impossible to please the multitude except by becoming a savoury pasty, or a generous wine. And yet, while society exists, this impossibility will continue to be pursued, even by those who profess not to pursue it, and sometimes even by those who honestly believe they do not pursue it. In the same way, so long as the human race shall endure, the wisest of men will persevere in the pursuit of happiness, and in the vain hope of attaining it. "
"In this world nothing is more rare than a person who is habitually endurable. "
_-_ritr._A_Ferrazzi%2C_Recanati%2C_casa_Leopardi.jpg){kind=spacer}
I can't say I hate people.... Or humanity. As Schopenhauer pointed out.... Every person is a "fellow sufferer" ー And reading Beckett's Three Novels.... Well,
ReplyDeleteEven the idiots and breeders and buttholes and well, so on ー
We are ALL thrown into the shit ー equally thrown and equally the shit....
(i really like that word, btw)
Giacomo Leopardi. Undated entry, 1817-1830s. Trans. Major-General Patrick Maxwell
ReplyDelete" Death is not an evil, for it liberates man from all evils, and in taking away his earthly comforts it extinguishes his desire for them. Old age is an unmitigated evil, for in taking away all his pleasures it leaves to man the desire for them, and brings with it all manner of sufferings.
For all this, men fear death, and desire old age. "
Giacomo Leopardi. Undated entry, 1817-1830s. Trans. Major-General Patrick Maxwell 1905
ReplyDelete" It is surely calculated to cause a pang to parents and to the educators of the rising generation, to reflect that whatever may be the natural gifts of their children o their charges, and whatever diligence and care may be employed in bringing them up, contact with the world will assuredly corrupt them, and, unless they die first, will too probably convert them into rogues. This consideration reminds one of the answer of Thales to the question of Solon, as to the reason why he did not take a wife. Thales said that he was deterred from marriage by the contemplation of the varied anxieties which racked the minds of the parents regarding the future of their children, and their dread of the misfortunes and perils which might await them.
But, in my opinion, he would have found a more rational and valid excuse had he alleged his reluctance to add to the number of rogues already existing. "
Giacomo Leopardi. Undated entry, 1817-1830s. Trans. Major-General Patrick Maxwell 1905
ReplyDelete" According to Tacitus, the emperor Otho used to say that since the same end was allotted to the virtuous and to the vicious, it would be just as well if a man did something deserving of death. Some such sentiment apparently influences those persons who, by nature virtuous and well-disposed, become perverted and depraved by intercourse with the world, and are exacerbated by experience of the ingratitude and the injustice of men, and the fierce hostility which they evince towards their neighbours, and more especially towards the good. And in this matter such persons are not actuated by inherent corruption, or influenced by the evil example, as weak characters are wont to be. Neither are they moved by the promptings of self-interest, or by any desire for the worthless advantages of the world, nor even by the hope of escaping from the prevailing malevolence around them, but their attitude is assumed by deliberate choice, with the view of avenging themselves on men, and retaliating their iniquity, by employing against them their own weapons.
And this perversion which I have referred to as occurring in the disposition of persons of this stamp, is all the more marked when it springs from a consciousness of virtue in themselves ; and is all the more formidable when it is combined, as it frequently is, with a certain elevation and force of character, in which case it resembles a species of heroism. "
Giacomo Leopardi. Undated entry, 1817-1830s. Trans. Major-General Patrick Maxwell 1905
ReplyDelete" In all countries those faults and failing which are common to mankind, an universal to all human societies, are supposed to be peculiar to these particular countries. I have never been in a place where I have not heard some such sentiments as the following: -"Here the women are giddy and inconstant ; they are badly educated , and read little" -or, "Here the public is meddlesome, and full of idle curiosity about the affairs of their neighbours, given to tittle-tattle and backbiting" – or, "Here money and favouritism and baseness can effect anything" – "Here envy prevails everywhere, and friendship is hollow," and so on ; -just as if elsewhere matters were any different. The fact is, men are base by necessity, yet they are resolved to believed that they are base only by accident. "
Giacomo Leopardi. Undated entry, 1817-1830s. Trans. Major-General Patrick Maxwell 1905
ReplyDelete" The human race in all its subdivisions consists of two classes – those who abuse power, and those who suffer in consequence ; since no law or authority can effectually prevent this. And since, in spite of any conceivable progress of civilisation or philosophy, all who live or have yet to live, must belong to one or the other of these two classes, it behoves all who can, to make their choice between them. But truly, not all can do so, or at all times. "
Giacomo Leopardi. Undated entry, 1817-1830s. Trans. Major-General Patrick Maxwell 1905
ReplyDelete" No man is ever so completely disillusioned by the world, or has so thoroughly gauged it, or is so irreconcilably disgusted with it, but that, if the world suddenly smiles on him, he will insensibly undergo a partial reconciliation to it. So no man is in our opinion such a scoundrel but that, if he politely takes off his hat to us, he will appear not such a scoundrel after all. This reflection serves to illustrate the weakness of human nature ; not to justify either the world or the scoundrel. "
Giacomo Leopardi. Undated entry, 1817-1830s. Trans. Major-General Patrick Maxwell 1905
ReplyDelete" Some young men sometimes fancy that they will make themselves interesting in the eyes of others by affecting a melancholy mood. Now it is possible hat melancholy, when affected, may be pleasing enough for a time, especially to women. But when it is real, it is shunned by all mankind; and in the long run nothing is so pleasing and so successful in the commerce of society as cheerfulness; since when all is told, and with all due deference to some young men, the world, and wisely, would rather laugh than weep. "
Giacomo Leopardi. Undated entry, 1817-1830s. Trans. Major-General Patrick Maxwell 1905
ReplyDelete" Bion, the humorous philosopher of Borysthenes, used to say that it was impossible to please the multitude except by becoming a savoury pasty, or a generous wine. And yet, while society exists, this impossibility will continue to be pursued, even by those who profess not to pursue it, and sometimes even by those who honestly believe they do not pursue it. In the same way, so long as the human race shall endure, the wisest of men will persevere in the pursuit of happiness, and in the vain hope of attaining it. "
"In this world nothing is more rare than a person who is habitually endurable. "