Vanity and pride are different things, though the words are often used synonymously. A person may be proud without being vain. Pride relates more to our opinion of ourselves; vanity, to what we would have others think of us. Thus from Mary Bennet in Jane Austen’s Pride and Prejudice. It is not a helpful distinction … Continue reading Vanity VS Pride
Socrates
The Feeling of the Philosopher
I started to climb because I wanted to see what it was like in the clouds. I reached them long ago, but I kept going. Every step showed more ahead and more behind. How could I stop? When I came to the top, the clouds broke. Only the stars showed down. I lay on my … Continue reading The Feeling of the Philosopher
The Beginning of Wisdom
Edmund yanked George’s little hand as they plodded along the covered walkway. The evening was already dark. Rain dripped off the tiles above them and dulled the patter of their steps. “Come on, George!” he said. “We’ll be late for dinner.” George’s head lowered, but he didn’t speed up. They came to a high gallery. … Continue reading The Beginning of Wisdom
The Unexamined Life
A sizable galleon cut through the waves with hardly a rise and fall of the bow. The Great Cabin below the poop was high enough to have windows that lightened it on the cloudless day. The crows nest had just reported that land was out of sight. After a long stretch in dry-dock for repairs, … Continue reading The Unexamined Life
A Grain of Salt 