From Brainpickings: “In 1973, one man sent a distressed letter to E.B. White, lamenting that he had lost faith in humanity. The beloved author, who was not only a masterful letter-writer but also a professional celebrator of the human condition and an unflinching proponent of the writer’s duty to uplift people, took it upon himself to boost the man’s sunken heart with a short but infinitely beautiful reply, found in Letters of Note: Correspondence Deserving of a Wider Audience.”
Dear Mr. Nadeau:
As long as there is one upright man, as long as there is one compassionate woman, the contagion may spread and the scene is not desolate. Hope is the thing that is left to us, in a bad time. I shall get up Sunday morning and wind the clock, as a contribution to order and steadfastness.
Sailors have an expression about the weather: they say, the weather is a great bluffer. I guess the same is true of our human society — things can look dark, then a break shows in the clouds, and all is changed, sometimes rather suddenly. It is quite obvious that the human race has made a queer mess of life on this planet. But as a people we probably harbor seeds of goodness that have lain for a long time waiting to sprout when the conditions are right. Man’s curiosity, his relentlessness, his inventiveness, his ingenuity have led him into deep trouble. We can only hope that these same traits will enable him to claw his way out.
Hang on to your hat. Hang on to your hope. And wind the clock, for tomorrow is another day.
Sincerely,
E. B. White
“E. B.” White (1899 – 1985), was an American writer. He was a contributor to The New Yorker magazine and a co-author of the English language style guide, The Elements of Style, which is commonly known as “Strunk & White“. He also wrote books for children, including Charlotte’s Web, Stuart Little and The Trumpet of the Swan. Charlotte’s Web was voted the top children’s novel in a 2012 survey of School Library Journal readers, not for the first time. In 1978, White won the Pulitzer Prize Special Citation for his letters, essays and the full body of his work. (Source: Wiki)
Post Source: Brainpickings. E.B. White Portrait Source: Pace / MacGill Gallery
Lovely…reminds me of the incredible impact (and potential dying art) of letter writing..
Yes, and to sit and string a string of such beautiful pearls in response to someone in distress, magic…
I am hanging onto my hat–but the winds are pretty fierce sometimes…
Smiling. So true!
On Wed, May 7, 2014 at 7:05 AM, Live & Learn wrote:
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Just when I think humanity has disappeared, I witness a random act of kindness. My faith restores.
Yes, beautiful words, and true.
Reblogged this on Views from the Hill and commented:
Something to think about
Thanks for sharing.
Reblogged this on “Views from the Hill.” Thanks for the wonderful inspiration
I love this! Yes, something as simple as winding the clock can bring us back to living.
I remember hearing the words of a United Nations humanitarian director. She said she knew they had made progress when the inhabitants of a war torn zone would begin to plant their crops again. It showed that they had some hope for the future.
Thanks for sharing. Beautiful. Reminded me of:
That is so funny (not haha funny). I use that same expression when things don’t go right. “Tomorrow is another day.”
Yes…
the sun will always return in time.
Yes.
This is wonderful. It takes a village, but starts with one person.
Yes, that’s right. You thoughts remind me of Margaret Mead’s words:
“Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful, committed, citizens can change the world. Indeed, it is the only thing that ever has.”
― Margaret Mead
That is one of the best and most realistic quotes there is. Thanks for providing it. It has extra meaning here in the states, as our leaders are so dysfunctional, the best way to make change is at the local level, especially on the environment – think globally, act locally.
So true. Disfunction rains.
splendid, the written word knows no bounds
You are so right Fong. I feel the same way.
I adore the Letters of Note blog (http://www.lettersofnote.com) Here are some of my favorite letters:
•You’ve Got to Sell Your Heart – F. Scott Fitzgerald gives brutally honest feedback to an aspiring writer
•Damn You all To Hell – Tom Hanks replies to staff at the Nerdist who ask him to appear on a podcast.
•Live Like a Mighty River – Father advises son on coping with life.
•People Simply Empty Out – Writer looks back on his escape from the 9 to 5.
•To My Former Master – A former slave replies to his former master’s request for him to return to the plantation.
Hi Sherry. You have inspired me to buy the book. I’m on it. Thank you.
Awesome!! You inspire me constantly. It feels great to return the favor.
Ahhh, thank you Sherry.
Beautiful!
It is!
So nice of him to consider writing a letter. A beautiful one!
It is a beautiful letter. To sit down and bang sometime like THIS out. Amazing.
I love the compassion in this missive. To take the time not only to write, but to write something so beautiful, so thoughtful, so timeless, wow. What a gift he gave…to this man and to the rest of us. Words “in good hands” can be enchanting, a soothing balm, a beacon of hope….
So true Lori. All of it. Man is so deserving of the Pulitzer for Letters.