Tolstoy, after Rousseau, on Knowledge and Wisdom

“Real wisdom is not the knowledge of everything, but the knowledge of which things in life are necessary, which are less necessary, and which are completely unnecessary to know. Among the most necessary knowledge is the knowledge of how to live well, that is, how to produce the least possible evil and the greatest goodness in one’s life. At present, people study useless sciences, but forget to study this, the most important knowledge.”

To: my NaNoWriMo friends

“Blessed are the legend-makers with their rhyme
Of things not found within recorded time . . .
They have seen Death and ultimate defeat,
And yet they would not in despair retreat,
But oft to victory have turned the lyre
And kindled hearts with legendary fire,
Illuminating New and dark Hath-been
With light of suns as yet by no man seen.”

--By J.R.R. Tolkien, ‘Mythopoeia,” in “Tree and Leaf” (London: Unwin Hyman, 2nd ed. 1988)
Happy Writing this month!

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