“When the standing ovation is thought permissible for any and every performance which wins the heart of the audience—even a lot of first graders doing “Twinkle, Twinkle, Little Star”—the performers are likely to be disappointed and even insulted in the future when a more reasonable audience offers more modest praise. But great praise ought toContinue reading “When Is A Standing Ovation Warranted?”
Category Archives: CiRCE Links
The Secret Life Of
“Almost all our faults are more pardonable than the methods we resort to to hide them,” said La Rochefoucauld. In the latest episode of Proverbial, I return to one of my favorite subjects: secret sin. Episode 82 is available now.
A Tale Of Two Writing Teachers
My latest for CiRCE is about two teachers, one who spends hours grading bad essays and the other of whom spends just a few minutes. Which teacher offers more help to her students?
The Love Of Learning Is Not A Virtue
“Thoughtful Christians rightly lampoon the vagueness and insipidity of secularist slogans like “Love is love” and “Be yourself.” And yet, to “love learning” is just as vague. Love learning what? When a certain student does not do his math homework and spends Latin class flirting with the girl beside him, the problem isn’t that heContinue reading “The Love Of Learning Is Not A Virtue”
Losing Weight
“It is easier to be wise for others than for ourselves,” said La Rochefoucauld. The new episode of Proverbial is available now.
For The Love Of God, We Need More Dancing
“Having abandoned the Incarnation, we now regard physical contact between persons as either sexual, violent, or an indication of sickness (a doctor touches his patient). However, dancing offers us physical contact with others which is generous, structured, mannered, and lively. A traditional dance neither incites sexual passion nor denies the sexual nature of the dancers.Continue reading “For The Love Of God, We Need More Dancing”
Proverbial: The Bird Story
It is not a story I have often told, but I suppose a few readers of this blog may be familiar with “the bird story.” This week on Proverbial, though, I have made a record of it.
Proverbial, Episode 78: Homework
“Big book, big bore.” -Callimachus The latest episode of Proverbial is, I think, the best episode since “Marvin.”
What Does It Mean To Wrestle With A Text?
“I have wrestled with great books, but the wrestling didn’t take place while I was reading. Wrestling with a text is rarely a discrete event, but an ambient one. We wrestle with a text during the year which transpires between a first and second read. Our very lives persuade us to view a book differently.Continue reading “What Does It Mean To Wrestle With A Text?”
Once More (With Feeling)
“Parent: Are you ever tempted to let the self-care crowd into the school and then try to help them see things differently? St. Benedict: We can do more good for the self-care crowd by sending them away.” -from my latest for CiRCE
There are still faint glimmers of civilization left in this barbaric slaughterhouse that was once known as humanity. 