Thursday, March 20, 2008

Thoughtful Thursday

In anticipation of the upcoming "Thoughtful Thursday" post, The Baroness decided (for once) to be a little prepared. So she started searching. She searched poetry.com. Nothing jumped out at her. She went to her "Great Thoughts" reference book. Not so great. She thought of her "Ex Libris" book - that would indeed have something. But it was in her 3rd floor study - too much of a schlep, and Jeeves was no where to be found to do said schlepping. Damn servant. So, she scanned her office bookshelf, and her eyes alit on a book near and dear to her heart. Not quite the book to get warm fuzzies from, but it has context and meaning to the Baroness. And it was the perfect springboard for today's post.

The book "Surviving Cancer", was given by a dear lady and is about another dear lady. It was just the touchstone I needed at the beginning of my walk, and was so very appreciated. In her introduction, Ms. Levine quoted Joseph Campbell (whom she referred to as "the famous mythologist"):
We must be willing to get rid of the life we have planned,
so as to have the life that is waiting for us
The fact she referred to him as a mythologist was intriguing, so I sought out something a little more substantial to share with you. But - story of my meandering life - instead of looking for Joseph Campbell, I somehow ended up at Joseph Conrad instead. A happy accident. Mr. Campbell, we'll save you for another day. Back to your mythologicking.

I found this to be appropos- for all of us who craft our posts day after day; for those of us who inspire, who cajole, who amuse. Think of the visual that Shining Egg created in her wonderful post - we are all a community.

Enjoy - and keep on keepin' on.

"You perceive the force of a word. He who wants to persuade should put his trust not in the right argument, but in the right word. The power of sound has always been greater than the power of sense. I don’t say this by way of disparagement. It is better for mankind to be impressionable than reflective. Nothing humanely great—great, I mean, as affecting a whole mass of lives—has come from reflection. On the other hand, you cannot fail to see the power of mere words; such words as Glory, for instance, or Pity. I won’t mention any more. They are not far to seek. Shouted with perseverance, with ardor, with conviction, these two by their sound alone have set whole nations in motion and upheaved the dry, hard ground on which rests our whole social fabric. There’s “virtue” for you if you like!… Of course, the accent must be attended to. The right accent. That’s very important. The capacious lung, the thundering or the tender vocal chords. Don’t talk to me of your Archimedes’ lever. He was an absent-minded person with a mathematical imagination. Mathematics commands all my respect, but I have no use for engines. Give me the right word and the right accent and I will move the world.

What a dream for a writer! Because written words have their accent, too. Yes! Let me only find the right word! Surely it must be lying somewhere among the wreckage of all the plaints and all the exultations poured out aloud since the first day when hope, the undying, came down on earth. It may be there, close by, disregarded, invisible, quite at hand..."

Joseph Conrad, preface to "A Personal Record"



7 comments:

Canadian flake said...

Thanks again so much for your kind and thoughtful advice on my blog. It was great appreciated.

Shelley Jaffe said...

Countess Canadian: You are most very welcome. I look forward to reading many posts from you in the future. Vive la Canuck!!

Lisa said...

"We must be willing to get rid of the life we have planned,
so as to have the life that is waiting for us"

I like that. Am tucking it into my head for when I'm stuck in a rut or frustrated

Thanks BVB!!!... LL

Lisa said...

(LL = Babs Peapod .. sorry, that's how I usually sign my emails for folks who know all of the BPDB names. You're in the in now! haha)

Shelley Jaffe said...

Countess Babs: Wasn't that just the best line? Glad you liked it too. And let me tell you, Margie Levine TOTALLY lived it. If your mom ever needs some inspiration, Margie's the gal.

BTW, I'm always happy to be in the know. ;)

Anonymous said...

I too love the quote. I found it very inspiring.

Of particular interest was the thought that the correct word was more inspring than the intent behind it; our ponderings for thoughts that will move our audience... Do you ever search for the right word? I know I do.

Shelley Jaffe said...

Countess AG: I search for the right words every damn day. It's a wonder I post anything at all - eventually I just blurt out what comes into my head. This would explain A LOT.

What I'm finding challenging right now is trying to keep it clean while keeping it real. Because, between you, me and the blogosphere, The Baroness is very colorful in real life.

 
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