Look within and life, it seems, is very far from being “like this.” Examine for a moment an ordinary mind on an ordinary day. The mind receives a myriad impressions–trivial, fantastic, evanescent, or engraved with the sharpness of steel. From all sides they come, an incessant shower of innumerable atoms; and as they fall, as they shape themselves into the life of Monday or Tuesday, the accent falls differently from of old; the moment of importance came not here but there….
— Virginia Woolf, from “Modern Fiction” in The Common Reader 1925)
Notes:
- Quote via Whiskey River. Portrait via The New Yorker
- Inspired by: “We live through myriads of seconds, yet it is always one, just one, that casts our entire inner world into turmoil, the second when (as Stendhal has described it) the internal inflorescence, already steeped in every kind of fluid, condenses and crystallizes—a magical second, like the moment of generation, and like that moment concealed in the warm interior of the individual life, invisible, untouchable, beyond the reach of feeling, a secret experienced alone. ~ Stefan Zweig, Confusion (NYRB Classics; Tra edition (July 25, 2012) (via The Hammock Papers)
deep thoughts on a Monday morning. I often think about the kinder I teach, so many new things, new ideas, taking it all in, learning about the world, trying to make sense of it, with most things new to them, imagine –
Like a Giant sponge 🧽 they are.
Have always been fascinated by the way days ‘shape themselves.’ When a holiday falls on a Monday, for example, you realize how random one’s ‘dislike’ or dread of the day really is. Happy *new* day, pal! ☺️
So true! Have a great week Lori.
I suppose there are immutable priorities – breath, sensory messages, children, etc – and shape shifting ones – those that morph into something else as the lighting changes….
So true. Lighting and lightning that materializes.
That’s a ‘deep’ and powerful start of this week! But seeing that you’ve got the first inspiration by Stefan Zweig’s Verwirrung der Gefühle, I had to re-read it twice.
Only, have you read Zweig’s book? It’s complicated, a highly charged and unconventional ‘story’ and I think good old Z created quite a stir amongst his peers…
As I adore Zweig’s writing (and thinking!) even more than Woolf’s (as you might know), I rely on both, your inspirational ‘take away’ as well as the Original book. Good one David.
I have not read any of Zweig’s books. Kiki, where should I start?
That’s difficult to say – we don’t always read the same books. But I think with Chess, A Novel you can’t go wrong. It’s his most famous book, although you quoted from Confusion (of feelings) which threw quite a bundle of light and shadow at the time (I imagine!) on homosexuality. He was a fascinating, intelligent and sensitive writer and his style is concise and immensely readable. I found this link for you:
https://www.penguinrandomhouse.com/books/214684/confusion-by-stefan-zweig-translated-by-anthea-bell/
Let me know what you think, if you get one of his books.
Will do Kiki. Thank you.
A thoughtful start to the week. Enjoy the upcoming warmth and sun to brighten each new day.
Thank Val.
I also loved Mrs. Dalloway…by Woolf. Her prose is sometimes poetry. Listen to this: “Fear no more says the heart, committing its burden to some sea, which sighs collectively for all sorrows, and renews, begins, collects, lets fall.” And she’s such a compassionate describer of her characters with all their flaws. I hadn’t read the novel for years, and it was such a joy to revisit and rediscover it. Happy day to you David … lovely post ~ smiles hedy
You’ve convinced me to try to read it once again…
Thank you Hedy. You too.
Such true words, from Virginia’s mouth.
One never knows where the gift of a breath will lead…
So try!
So true!