Books and wisdom

[Hermes]

Books won't stay banned.  They won't burn.  Ideas won't go to jail.  In the long run of history, the censor and the inquisitor have always lost.  The only weapon against bad ideas is better ideas.  ~Alfred Whitney Griswold, New York Times, 24 February 1959

What progress we are making.  In the Middle Ages they would have burned me.  Now they are content with burning my books.  ~Sigmund Freud, 1933


Wherever they burn books they will also, in the end, burn human beings.  ~Heinrich Heine, Almansor, 1823


Every burned book enlightens the world.  ~Ralph Waldo Emerson

To choose a good book, look in an inquisitor’s prohibited list.  ~John Aikin

[Hermes]

......and the value of humour too.  Humourless people are so grim!
Hermes


"After 30+ years working in the humour industry and extensive research into brain function and positive psychology – we have discovered a large amount of scientific evidence which proves humour is a vital function of both future-proof organisations and individuals, alike.

Humour changes our feeling, thinking, behavior and even our biochemistry, in order to help us lead healthier and happier lives.  You cannot feel stressed, angry, depressed, anxious, guilty, or resentful and experience humour at the same time.""

http://www.humouraustralia.com.au/WhyHumour.htm

 

"Humour and distressing emotions cannot

occupy the same psychological space."

Dr Steven Sultanoff

[Hermes]

Yes, Shunned, humour is wonderful, and we also need to laugh at ourselves and our daft foibles sometimes. LOL.

The solemn and the deadly serious trigger off some kind of mischef reaction in me L.

All the best
Hermes

[Certain Hope]

Laughter is so very healing...

I am just really leery of the sort of humor which feels to me like masked cruelty. There's someone with whom I've been working who does this, and always with a plastic sneer on her face. Well, I've been observing more lately, from the sidelines, and noticing that I'm not the only one finding her very un-funny. A good portion of the time, she is simply ignored, but sometimes her cackling comes out at such high volume that it's impossible to not react.

Good humor, though, is a balm, indeed! When I get too serious-minded at home, my husband is sure to take that as a challenge... so my more dour moods never last for long. Sometimes I find it annoying, but mostly I am grateful.... because dour is only a half-step away from sour, after all... lol.

okay, done babbling now 

[Lupita]

Doy por bien sufrido lo sufrido
Doy por bien llorado lo llorado
Porque para estar ahora enamordo
Fue menester haber estado herido
Porque despues de todo he comprobado
Que no se goza bien de lo gozado
Hasta depues de haberlo padecido
Porque despues de todo he comprendido
Que lo que el arbol tiene de florido
Vive de lo que tiene sepultado

Santa Teresa de Jesus

You can tranlate to our friends.

[Lupita]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NEJF_TRNV1s


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VfXjk7GkCF8


Come on Hermes, you only have to make a click here.

[Hermes]

Dear Lupita:

Of those pieces you gave the links for, I loved best Scriabin Etude Op 8 No 12.

As for Santa Teresa, this is very loosely translated just for the benefit of our friends: (I am no poet LOL)

It was worth suffering deeply what I have suffered
It was worth weeping all the tears that I have wept
Because it was necessary to have been wounded
In order to be now in love.
And after all I have discovered
That one does not enjoy in full the ardour of the joy experienced
Until after it has been suffered
Because after all I have understood
That the tree now in bloom
Had to spring forth from what laid buried


But an English version of Santa Teresa's works can be found:

PEERS, E. ALLISON. (TRANSLATOR & EDITOR.): The Complete Works of Saint Teresa of Jesus (Volume Three.)
London: Sheed & Ward Ltd., 1982. 11th Imp. The definitive three-volume edition of St. Teresa of Avila's prose and poetry, in Prof. E. Allison Peers' justly celebrated translation. Pp. 23/408. P/b. VG.

GBP 9.00 = appr. US$ 18.25 Offered by: Beckham Books - Book number: 29721

Best wishes to all, including the English only speakers/readers/writers. L.
Hermes

 

[Lupita]

Hermes!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

That is so beautiful!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Your translation is very very nice!!!!!!!!!

Thank you for listening the music that I so much love!!

[Hermes]

Many thanks, Lupita, for your kind compliment!

You know, I have read that the person who acquires another language acquires another soul, .......and could I add, another "voice".  It is a gift to be able to do so.

All the best
Hermes

[Certain Hope]

You know, I have read that the person who acquires another language acquires another soul, .......and could I add, another "voice".  It is a gift to be able to do so.

All the best
Hermes

Such a lovely thought, Hermes... another soul, an entirely different perspective - with all the associated nuances of feeling...
yes, very much like another voice. Not only languages, either... but music, as well... which I believe is a language of its own.

Thank you for the translation of Santa Teresa, as well! Reminds me very much of a Bible passage within the Gospel of John, chapter 12 - the words of Jesus saying,
Verily, verily, I say unto you, Except a corn of wheat fall into the ground and die, it abideth alone: but if it die, it bringeth forth much fruit.
He that loveth his life shall lose it; and he that hateth his life in this world shall keep it unto life eternal.

Which reminds me... I appreciate and enjoy many different Bible translations, but - to me - ye olde King James is a language of its own, too!
Transports me to another time and place... in a good way.

Thanks again!

Carolyn