Writers sometimes talk as though they were the only friends of civilization. This is their conceit. But they have special powers to serve -- or to corrupt -- civilization, and are obliged to use them. Storm Jameson More Quotes by Storm Jameson More Quotes From Storm Jameson Only one person in a thousand knows the trick of really living in the present. Most of us spend fifty-nine minutes an hour living in the past, with regret for lost joys or shame for things badly done (both utterly useless and weakening) or in a future which we either long for or dread. . . . There is only one minute in which you are alive, this minute, here and now. The only way to live is by accepting each minute as an unrepeatable miracle. Which is exactly what it is-a miracle and unrepeatable. Storm Jameson regret long past The only way to live is to accept each minute as an unrepeatable miracle, which is exactly what it is: a miracle and unrepeatable. Storm Jameson way-to-live miracle life There is only one world; the world pressing against you at this minute. There is only one minute in which you are alive; this minute here and now. The only way to live is by accepting each minute as an unrepeatable miracle. Storm Jameson way-to-live miracle spiritual Happiness comes of the capacity to feel deeply, to enjoy simply, to think freely, to risk life, to be needed. Storm Jameson happiness inspirational life There is as much vanity in self-scourgings as in self-justification. Storm Jameson self-justification vanity self I am never happier than when I am alone in a foreign city; it is as if I had become invisible. Storm Jameson invisible cities ifs War, for any cause, is inexcusable. There is nothing which excuses us for the beastly ingenuity of our wars. Only fools, only the diseased, think that we are served by killing the strong young men with machines. Storm Jameson strong men war Surprise will be my last emotion, not fear. Storm Jameson surprise lasts emotion For what I have received may the Lord make me truly thankful. And more truly for what I have not received. Storm Jameson thanksgiving thankfulness religion Only one person in a thousand knows the trick of really living in the present. Storm Jameson really-living live-in-the-present tricks The young are so much more vulnerable than the old - the stuff is still warm and malleable, it takes impressions. Storm Jameson youth vulnerable stuff to grow old is to have taken away, one by one, all gifts of life, the food and wine, the music and the company. ... the gods unloose, one by one, the mortal fingers that cling to the edge of the table. Storm Jameson wine taken tables What I do not know and cannot even hope to understand before I die is why human beings are willfully, coldly, matter-of-factly cruel to each other ... What nerve has atrophied in the torturer, or worse is sensually moved? Storm Jameson cruelty nerves matter No form of art repeats or imitates successfully all that can be said by another; the writer conveys his experience of life along a channel of communication closed to painter, mathematician, musician, film-maker. Storm Jameson musician communication art Nothing lasts. Not even a great sorrow. Storm Jameson impermanence lasts sorrow Speaking the truth, once you have started it, is too exhilarating to draw back. Storm Jameson exhilarating speak-the-truth draws Hope is a talent like any other. Storm Jameson hopeful talent hope Perhaps this is in the end what most marriages are - gentleness, memory, and habit. Storm Jameson habit ends memories She did not so much cook as assassinate food. Storm Jameson cooks cooking Language is memory and metaphor. Storm Jameson metaphor language memories
