The moment that emotions are
depicted and represented, that moment they have felt the holy and
transfiguring power of art; and then they pass out of the region of
stuffy conventions and commonplace decorums into a finer and freer
air. I do not deny that there is much vulgar inquisitiveness
abroad, but that matters little; and, for myself, I am glad to
think that the world is moving in the direction of a greater
frankness. I do not mean that a man has not a right to live his
life privately, in his own house and his own circle, if he wills.
But if that life is lived simply, generously and bravely, I welcome
any ripple or ray from it that breaks in light and fragrance upon
the harsher and uglier world.
July 1, 1889.
I have just read an interesting sentence. I don't know where it
comes from--I saw it in a book of extracts.
"I am more and more convinced that the cure for sentiment, as for
all weakened forms of strong things, is not to refuse to feel it,
but to feel more in it. This seems to me to make the whole
difference between a true and a false asceticism. The false goes
for getting rid of what it is afraid of; the true goes for using
and making it serve, the one empties, the other fills; the one
abstracts, the other concentrates.
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