The Art of Literature

Today as I try to put some order in the bedroom, I chanced upon this small piece of paper. Looking back, as a college student, I would borrow books from the library, books which were not required reading but which interested me. My happiest days in college were spent savoring Chinese classic novels and feasting on the literary gems in the form of poetry from different countries. I loved Japanese poetry best, for the subtlety and elegance, the delicate mix of melancholy and celebration of sorrows.

This piece of paper is a transaction receipt from the College of Arts Library, indicating my borrowed items: "Cosmology in Antiquity" and Arthur Schopenhauer's "The Art of Literature". It is from the latter that I derived the quotes in the pic.

On style, Schopenhauer writes that there are two kinds of tediousness:
1. Objective- author has no perfect knowledge he wantd to communicate.
2. Subjective- reader is disinterested in the topic of the author.

Other important thoughts that I found valuable enough to note down are:

"Authors should use common words to say uncommon things."

"Words make truth intelligible."

"Le secret pour être ennuyeux, c'est de tout dire. (...) To use many words to communicate few thoughts is everywhere the unmistakable signs of mediocrity. To gather much thought into few words stamps the man of genius."

"The business of the novelist is not to relate great events, but to make small ones interesting."

On life, which I had been enlightened to at an early age while lapping up the Book of Ecclesiastes:

"Human life is short and fleeting."

On good books:

"A good book should be read at least twice."

On above, I have read not a few good books but due to lack of time, I seldom read a book twice. The Bible I have read numerous times simply because it was the only book I could get hands onto at home when I was young. Now with so many books in my collection, I very rarely reopen a loved book unless required or compelled to do so.

A Message 4

"To love someone deeply gives you strength. Being loved by someone deeply gives you courage."

I have been meditating on these words ever since I received this quote from Mr. Ube as I attempt to give a value to these two propositions. All this while marveling at how timely this quote came as I constantly found myself praying for courage and strength.

Yesterday's Messages

Just sharing two messages which I picked yesterday in church.

I guess this must be due to my constant prayer for strength and courage. 

And this is to assure me that my prayers will not go unanswered.

Batman Movies

Lately I have been watching Batman movies, starting with those directed by Tim Burton. Those are just well, Burtonesque, with dangerously playful madness pervading the atmosphere. Christopher Nolan's on the other hand, are more serious and darker in a different sense.

A notable difference is the sudden lack of witty lines. The previous Batman films which saw Batman battling Joker, Riddler, Posion Ivy, Bane, Mr. Freeze, and Two Face had more pun-intended quotes which would certainly delight those who find wordplay amusing.

Today I watched Batman Begins (2005) which was directed by Nolan. It looks more like a psychological thriller than an action flick. But well, Batman is deeply psychological. Bruce Wayne has always been managing his fears. Bats used to frighten him, but then later on,, he turned that fear into something positive: by becoming one with his fear and become Batman, the costumed hero feared by the bad guys in Gotham City.

There are lots of flashbacks to Bruce Wayne's childhood, which are of course, necessary because the film is about the beginnings of Batman. We see in this movie why Bruce Wayne chose to be Batman instead of any other animal-inspired hero. It also gives a glimpse of what his parents were like. Altruism must run in the family blood! Moreover, the movie emphasizes the importance of using one's powers for the good of mankind and of standing up to evil especially when one has the means to do so.

As usual, Alfred Pennyworth is there to give sound advice to his young master. In particular I like his inspiring line:

"Why do we fall, sir? So that we might learn to pick ourselves up."

This was also what Bruce Wayne's father told his son when the latter fell into a deep hole and was traumatized by bats. And this is what I should tell myself whenever I fail in something: that it's meant to happen to teach me a lesson or two about determination and the human will.

I'll be watching The Dark Knight next. And I hope to watch The Dark Knight Rises on the big screen.

A Message 3

"You'll never be brave if you don't get hurt. You'll never learn if you don't have mistakes. And you'll never be successful if you don't encounter failures. Negative results do not mean that God is hard on you. We always start from the ground in order for us to appreciate our way to the top."

A Message 2

"If you're honest, dedicated, and committed, no one can pull you down."

Perfect timing as usual. These days, I'm thinking of how bleak and uncertain the future is. Lately, my relatives have joined the fray in discouraging me to pursue archaeology saying that it's worthless, a waste of time and money, and that I'm better off marrying a rich man and/or pursuing a lucrative career in law. Well, I do plan to go to law school, but for the meantime, I mean to enjoy life and pursue what has been of interest to me since my childhood days. Adults, they really do not understand anything and they think that they know everything. Sad. They don't even know what archaeology is and they do not bother to find out what we archaeologists do. Sadder still because they want me to pursue a common ordinary life. Who would be happy with just earning money and not living life the way you want it lived?

And then there are issues concerning people who keep on looking at other people's achievements and trying to pull them down. I have recently read an article in the Chinese newspapers regarding envy and its good and bad sides. The article says that the bad side of envy is that a person does whatever it takes to pull an achiever down. That "downer" is a complete loser, instead of focusing on his own improvement, he attempts to destroy other people's lives without realizing that it is his life he is destroying. And then there's the good side which propels and motivates one to do his best and to continue improving.

I do not agree with the article. Instead of envy, perhaps the author should have written "admiration". On the other hand, looking back, I really was envious of other people, especially those who are really intelligent and smart, not just academically but also in practical aspects. They became a sort of model for me to strive hard and to put my best foot forward. But I'm all over that phase now. At present, I admire a lot of people, and they are not just intellectually gifted, but also visionaries and have a big heart for people. I think the latter's what make me admire them more.

I wonder if the above quote is true. Sometimes it also takes a strong heart and strong convictions to resist the negative vibes of people. For now I guess I'll just have to focus on my studies and to remain committed to what I am doing. Perhaps, someday, people will see the significance of my work. Perhaps not. Either way, at least  followed my heart. Whatever decisions I make now will greatly affect the future. But what the hell, the present is more important.

A Message

"In life, there are always people watching our next move, desperately waiting for us to fail and even praying for us to give up. Don't mind them! It just doubles the fun of living and surviving. Let's keep in mind that failures and problems are not the things that we should be scared of. They could lead to breakthroughs and great discoveries. See life as an adventure and enjoy every moment of it!"

I received this SMS at an opportune moment in my life, when I was in self-doubt and in great need of good cheer amidst this savage civilization. And twice did  receive the message. The best part is that the sender is not even a dear friend nor an acquaintance, but an anonymous one. I have subscribed to SMS News, you see, and sometimes, it sends me inspiring quotes as well as jokes.