The natural role of twentieth-century man is anxiety.
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Entries from February 18th, 2011
General Cummings on Modern Man – “The Naked and the Dead” – Norman Mailer
February 18th, 2011 · Comments Off on General Cummings on Modern Man – “The Naked and the Dead” – Norman Mailer · Sociology
Tags:Psychology
Every Man fitted into a Fear Ladder – “The Naked and the Dead” – Norman Mailer
February 18th, 2011 · Comments Off on Every Man fitted into a Fear Ladder – “The Naked and the Dead” – Norman Mailer · Sociology, War, WW2
To make an Army work you have to have every man in it fitted into a fear ladder… The Army functions best when you’re frightened of the man above you, and contemptuous of your subordinates.
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Cryto-fascist General Cummings’ View of Military Readiness – “The Naked and the Dead’ – Norman Mailer
February 17th, 2011 · Comments Off on Cryto-fascist General Cummings’ View of Military Readiness – “The Naked and the Dead’ – Norman Mailer · Sociology, War
A nation fights well in proportion to the amount of men and materials it has. And the other equation is that the individual soldier in that army is a more effective soldier the poorer his standard of living has been in the past.
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There are No Double Blind Tests in Life – “The Unbearable Lightness of Being” – Milan Kundera
February 17th, 2011 · Comments Off on There are No Double Blind Tests in Life – “The Unbearable Lightness of Being” – Milan Kundera · Love, Policy, Quotes, Science
We can never know what to want, because, living only one life, we can neither compare it with our previous lives nor perfect it in our lives to come. Was it better to be with Tereza or to remain alone? There is no means of testing which decision is better, be-cause there is no basis […]
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Trading Truth for Happiness – “Brave New World” – Aldous Huxley
February 16th, 2011 · Comments Off on Trading Truth for Happiness – “Brave New World” – Aldous Huxley · Culture, Philosophy, Science
People still went on talking about truth and beauty as though they were the sovereign goods. Right up to the time of the Nine Years’ War. That made them change their tune all right. What’s the point of truth or beauty or knowledge when the anthrax bombs are popping all around you? That was when […]
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Happiness is Never Grand – “Brave New World” – Aldous Huxley
February 16th, 2011 · Comments Off on Happiness is Never Grand – “Brave New World” – Aldous Huxley · Culture, Humanism, Philosophy
The world’s stable now. People are happy; they get what they want, and they never want what they can’t get. They’re well off; they’re safe; they’re never ill; they’re not afraid of death; they’re blissfully ignorant of passion and old age; they’re plagued with no mothers or fathers; they’ve got no wives, or children, or […]
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Goats and Monkeys! – “Brave New World” – Aldous Huxley
February 15th, 2011 · Comments Off on Goats and Monkeys! – “Brave New World” – Aldous Huxley · Culture, Humanism, Literature, Philosophy
“Don’t you want to be free and men? Don’t you even understand what manhood and freedom are?” Rage was making him fluent; the words came easily, in a rush. “Don’t you?” he repeated, but got no answer to his question. “Very well then,” he went on grimly. “I’ll teach you; I’ll make you be free […]
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Tags:Freedom
Shakespeare Makes Our Best Propaganda Technicians Look Absolutely Silly – Brave New World – Aldous Huxley
February 14th, 2011 · Comments Off on Shakespeare Makes Our Best Propaganda Technicians Look Absolutely Silly – Brave New World – Aldous Huxley · Campaigning, Love, Political Communication, Quotes
The Savage was reading Romeo and Juliet aloud reading (for all the time he was seeing himself as Romeo and Lenina as Juliet) with an intense and quivering passion. Helmholtz had listened to the scene of the lovers’ first meeting with a puzzled interest. The scene in the orchard had delighted him with its poetry; […]
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O Brave New World That has Such People in it. Let’s Start at Once! – “Brave New World” – Aldous Huxley
February 14th, 2011 · Comments Off on O Brave New World That has Such People in it. Let’s Start at Once! – “Brave New World” – Aldous Huxley · Love, Marriage
“O brave new world,” he began, then-suddenly interrupted himself; the blood had left his cheeks; he was as pale as paper. “Are you married to her?” he asked. “Am I what?” “Married. You know for ever. They say ‘for ever’ in the Indian words; it can’t be broken.” “Ford, no!” Bernard couldn’t help laughing. John […]
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