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.”

"10 THINGS I HAVE LEARNED ABOUT THE SEA" by Lorenzo Fonda

I'd like to share a poem with you. But first, a word from it's creator:

"This video is based on footage I shot on marine vessel 'Portland Senator' on the route from Los Angeles to Shanghai, in December 2008. Warning: this film requires ten minutes of your life and hopefully no phone calls during the screening. thank you."


One expects a poem to have an "author" and perhaps that is the better choice of word than "creator" but if you've sanctified ten minutes and experienced the film, you understand why the term falls woefully short. I'll venture that if you merely watched the film, you missed the experience.

Coupled with a soundtrack by the greatest ambient post-rock bands of all time ever ("Hammock"), this short film--this poem--sits you down and makes you think, feel  . . . well, you decide. I know how it made me feel. 

The photography: amazing
The music: moving
The insights: deep

Frankly, I'm intrigued with the idea of taking a cruise to a foreign port on a freighter:
  • Un-glamorous. I want to hear and feel the engines, the wind and the water.
  • Without distractions of the glittery; more personal freedom on deck 'cause nobody else is there!
  • On a mission. Think about it--seeing the world a passenger and not as a tourist.
  • A freighter will go through a storm, not around it.

Please visit Lorenzo's page to learn more about this trip and his experiences. Enjoy other photographs and insights as well.




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