Friday 29 April 2011

Against the Proud Paralytics

“Do not be proud of the fact that your grandmother was shocked at something which you are accustomed to seeing or hearing without being shocked. . . . It may mean that your grandmother was an extremely lively and vital animal; and that you are a paralytic.” 

G.K. Chesterton, “On Dialect and Decency”, Avowals and Denials (New York: Dodd, Mead, & Co., 1935), pp.77-8.

15 comments:

Bruce Charlton said...

It doesn't really support the GKC's point - but it could equally be said that:

'You would be shocked at many things which your grandmother would be accustomed to seeing or hearing without being shocked.'

Such as:

http://www.listal.com/list/top-10-politically-incorrect-kids

Restroom said...

It's a fine thing you're back to writing now. There's fuck-all else on the internet as enjoyable.

dearieme said...

I can remember my parents calmly discussing the fact that when they were young (1920s) it was not uncommon to simply let a seriously deformed or disabled newborn babe die. I was too young to ask whether such a wee mite might be put out of its misery, i.e. be smothered, but I dare say it was.

dearieme said...

Oops: "I dare say it was" should have read "I dare say it was not uncommon".

James Higham said...

Agree with Chesterton - the dulling of the "moral sense" is a symptom of the greater malaise.

David Duff said...

Your new design - very elegant but I miss the Lichtenberg quote, you know, the one I nicked for my place!

James Higham said...

Quite like the new layout.

dearieme said...

When I was wee, houses often went that colour from the cigarette smoke.

Doofus said...

Oh no. It looks like deogulwolf has gone back into hibernation.

dearieme said...

I do apologise old fruit, I failed to wish you a Merry Christmas. Nonetheless, a Happy New Year to you.

Deogolwulf said...

And to you, old horse.

poulpinnette said...

Merry Christmas to you.
Looks like I found your little jewel of a blog when you have decided that there is more to life than blogging in the Pascalian universe...

dearieme said...

It's been more than a year. If you won't pay any heed to the requests of your old regular readers, will Miss Hanshaw's imploring move you?
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=h2FaPVrTZUc

Whispering Jack said...

Never fails to move me.

Let's hope it's not "That's all" from D.

Deogolwulf said...

I thought it better to do more reading than writing.