Tea at Trianon: Silence

John Wilson Croker on Marie-Antoinette

"We have followed the history of Marie Antoinette with the greatest diligence and scrupulosity. We have lived in those times. We have talked with some of her friends and some of her enemies; we have read, certainly not all, but hundreds of the libels written against her; and we have, in short, examined her life with– if we may be allowed to say so of ourselves– something of the accuracy of contemporaries, the diligence of inquirers, and the impartiality of historians, all combined; and we feel it our duty to declare, in as a solemn a manner as literature admits of, our well-matured opinion that every reproach against the morals of the queen was a gross calumny– that she was, as we have said, one of the purest of human beings."

~from History of the Guillotine by John Wilson Croker, 1844

Edmund Burke on Marie-Antoinette

"It is now sixteen or seventeen years since I saw the queen of France, then dauphiness, at Versailles; and surely there never lighted on this orb, which she hardly seemed to touch, a more delightful vision. I saw her just above the horizon, decorating and cheering the elevated sphere she had just begun to move in, glittering like a morning star full of life and splendor and joy. Oh, what a revolution....Little did I dream that I should have lived to see such disasters fall upon her, in a nation of gallant men, in a nation of men of honor and of cavaliers! I thought ten thousand swords must have leaped from their scabbards, to avenge even a look which threatened her with insult. But the age of chivalry is gone; that of sophisters, economists, and calculators has succeeded...."

~Edmund Burke, October 1790

Friday, March 5, 2010

Silence

A basic human right. (Via Joshua Snyder)

In fact, silence is necessary for many achievements in civilized society, especially meaningful and thoughtful study (as opposed to mere memorization). Concentrated minds need to focus without interruption. When I used to tell my students that simple truth, I was often greeted with smirks and bewildered looks. Some had not even imagined reading a serious book in silence.

Quiet is also vital to contemplation, prayer, and worship. Churches should have signs that say (right after the admonition against beach apparel): “Be Still. Think. Listen. Pray.”

Silence is the enemy of everything superficial, stupid, and ugly.

Laura said...: Thanks for the reminder! I totally agree, but I forget sometimes. Noise is so pervasive! By the way, C.S. Lewis agrees too: http://bronzedshoe.wordpress.com/2010/02/12/are-you-talkative-and-outgoing-if-so-you-might-not-relate-to-this-post-at-all/; March 5, 2010 at 9:47:00 AM EST
Gareth Russell said...: I remember hearing a sermon preached on the benefits of silent contemplation, taking as its text the Gospel according to Saint Luke, Chapter 2, verse 19.; March 5, 2010 at 2:09:00 PM EST
Julygirl said...: Silence....these days a person would have to look up the word in the dictionary since its meaning is unknown and its benefits unavailable. When I was a little girl we had a quiet time in the afternoon when we could do whatever we wanted so long as it did not entail noise.; March 5, 2010 at 11:01:00 PM EST