Sublime

One, at least, of the essentials of it is smallness, smallness in preference to largeness, smallness for smallness’ sake. The merry-maker wants a pleasant parlour, he would not give twopence for a pleasant continent.

But the legacy of Romanticism has been an epidemic of loneliness, as we are repeatedly brought up against the truth: the radical inability of any one other person to wholly grasp who we truly are. Yet there remains, besides the promises of love and religion, one other – and more solid – resource with which to address our loneliness: culture.

The poet accused cities of fostering a family of life-destroying emotions: anxiety about our position in the social hierarchy, envy at the success of others, pride and a desire to shine in the eyes of strangers.

Essayez. Modestement, pour commencer. Déjeunez en flânant. Lambinez. Musardez. Flottez. On se sent supérieur et on a l’impression de contrôler sa destinée lorsqu’on ralentit, et qu’on se laisse porter. Marcher ainsi, c’est refuser de devenir une victime de la ville, c’est la saisir et en profiter. Vous êtes un saint, pas un pécheur !

Culturally and collectively, we have made a momentous mistake which has left us both lonelier and more disappointed than we ever needed to be. In a better world, our most serious goal would be not to locate one special lover with whom to replace all other humans but to put our intelligence and energy into identifying and nurturing a circle of true