Wednesday, August 18, 2010

Lost Classics

“Greek! Latin!” she spat. “What good it will do you, Greek and Latin? They are dead, the Greeks, the Romans–all dead, for a thousand years they are dead! A thousand years! I have been to Greece, been to Athens! And I can tell you–they are dead! What good did it do them, their literature, their art?! Plato? What good will he do for you? I have been to the grave of Plato, and I can tell you: he has been dead for a thousand years! Trust me, find something else to study, you’ll make a living at least, you’ll be happier!”

Read the rest of Daniel Mendelsohn's address here.

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