classics digests, reflections and reviews
君不见黄河之水天上来，奔流到海不复回。 君不见高堂明镜悲白发，朝如青丝暮成雪。 人生得意须尽欢，莫使金樽空对月。 天生我材必有用，千金散尽还复来。 Behold, waters of the Yellow River, coming down from heaven, running to the sea, never to return. Behold, and lament, white hair in the hall mirror, in the morning it is black like silk, in the evening turns to snow. When a man has full possession of his wits/wishes, he should rejoice to the utmost. Never let the golden chalice be empty, under the gaze of […]
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The following is a transcript of Leonard Bernstein’s address to the audience before a performance of Brahms Piano Concerto No. 1, with soloist Glenn Gould and the New York Philharmonic at Carnegie Hall on April 6, 1962 [1]. I find his speech both remarkable in itself and highly relevant today. Among other things, it demonstrates how people with strong convictions and disagreements can get together and “achieve a unified performance”. […]
Read moreYour hands have made me and fashioned me, An intricate unity; Yet You would destroy me. Remember, I pray, that You have made me like clay. And will You turn me into dust again? —Job 10:8-9 (NKJV) When I received news yesterday of an acquaintance’s being diagnosed with and treated for cancer, that verse in Job 10 came to me. When Job received news that all his children had died […]
Read moreLove Inspires How can my Muse want subject to invent While thou dost breathe, that pour’st into my verse Thine own sweet argument, too excellent For every vulgar paper to rehearse? O, give thyself the thanks if aught in me Worthy perusal stand against thy sight, For who’s so dumb that cannot write to thee, When thou thyself dost give invention light? Be thou the tenth Muse, ten times more […]
Read moreFor the Down-and-Out When in disgrace with Fortune and men’s eyes I all alone beweep my outcast state, And trouble deaf heaven with my bootless cries, And look upon myself and curse my fate, Wishing me like to one more rich in hope, Featur’d like him, like him with friends possess’d, Desiring this man’s art, and that man’s scope, With what I most enjoy contented least; Yet in these thoughts […]
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What is Dance Aristotle gives this definition of motion in Physics: Motion is the fulfilment of what exists potentially, in so far as it exists potentially, namely, of what is alterable qua alterable, of what is movable qua movable,…Motion is in the movable, by the action of that which has the power of causing motion; and the actuality of that which has the power of causing motion is not other […]
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