DIOGENES - H. L. MENCKEN

MANY LIVES, MANY MASTERS

THE TRUE STORY of a prominent psychiatrist, his young patient [his young female patient, Catherine] and the past-life therapy that changed both of their lives.

DR BRIAN WEISS: "MANY LIVES, MANY MASTERS", Piatkus/Little, Brown/Hachette INDIA ₹ 375.

DIOGENES

It was the famous Greek philosopher and cynic Diogenes who went around the streets of Athens, lantern in hand, looking for an honest person.

This was over two thousand years ago, but I presume that Diogenes would have as little success in his search today. Lying seems to be an integral weakness of mortal character. Indeed, one philologist goes as far as to theorize that language must have been invented for the sole purpose of deception.

- Norman Lewis: WORD POWER MADE EASY

***

DIOGENES DECLINES TO RENDER A COMMAND PERFORMANCE FOR ALEXANDER THE GREAT

[A LETTER TO ARISTIPPUS]

In his early manhood Diogenes, the "ragged cynic", evidenced a keen interest in matters philosophical and soon became famous for his preference for extreme poverty, his masterly self-control, his encounter with pirates at sea, and his ceaseless search for an honest man - "poking in dark corners illumined only by a little lantern and a great self-possession." This letter shows how a man who had conquered the world, Alexander the Great, could be quietly defied by one who had conquered himself. - Editor

"... let him come hither ..."

ARISTIPPUS:

You send me word that Alexander, King of Macedonia, has a great desire to see me... you know I am subject to nobody. If that prince has a mind to be acquainted with me, and my manner of life, let him come hither.

Farewell.

- "A Treasury of the World's Great Letters: From Alexander the Great to Thomas Mann", Selected and edited by M. Lincoln Schuster, SIMON AND SCHUSTER; 562 pages.

[Of course, I have a copy of the book. I never write about or quote from any book that I have not purchased and have in My personal library of about 3000 carefully chosen books. I can afford to buy books regularly every month because I don't smoke, I don't drink, I don't gamble, I don't run after s. gals, I don't go to clubs, and I don't visit prostitutes or call girls. - G]

Kishalay Sinha [G]

H. L. MENCKEN ADMITS TO A PHILOSOPHER THAT GOD HAS TREATED HIM WITH VAST POLITENESS

[A LETTER TO WILL DURANT]

Noted as a newspaperman, editor, author, and critic, the Sage of Baltimore was both a prompt and prodigious letter writer. His brief notes and his long letters are both marked by his torrential style, his militant manner, and his colorful images. The letter printed below (written in 1930) was prompted by a request from Will Durant, author of "The Story of Philosophy", who was conducting a Socratic symposium of his own and asked Mencken (among others) to explain what meaning life held for him. - Editor

"... if He really exists, [He] deserves to be denounced instead of respected."

You ask me, in brief, what satisfaction I get out of life, and why I go on working... What the meaning of life may be I don't know. I incline to suspect that it has none...

The act of worship seems to me to be debasing rather than ennobling. It involves grovelling before a Being who, if He really exists, deserves to be denounced instead of respected. He must be set down a most stupid, cruel and villainous fellow. I can say this with a clear conscience, for He has treated me very well - in fact, with vast politeness.

The noblest man, I think, is that one who fights God, and triumphs over Him. When I die I shall be content to vanish into nothingness. No show, however good, could conceivably be good forever.

H. L. Mencken

- "A Treasury of the World's Great Letters: From Alexander the Great to Thomas Mann", Selected and edited by M. Lincoln Schuster, SIMON AND SCHUSTER; 562 pages.

"কেমন আছ?"

"খুব ভাল আছি ৷" [অর্থাৎ "বুক br. ফেটে যাচ্ছে - আর v. যন্ত্রণা দিচ্ছে - কেন এত নিষ্ঠুর, এত নির্বিকার বুঝি না - আত্মহত্যা করতে ইচ্ছা করে - আত্মহত্যা করতাম যদি কোন লাভ হত - কিন্তু আমার ত কোন লাভ হবে না - বরং আমার শত্রুণীদের লাভ হবে - তা হতে দেব কেন - না, আত্মহত্যা করব না - দেখা যাবে কে বা কাহারা জিতে - আমি না আমার ঘোর শত্রুণীরা ৷"]