Hitchcock Cameos

 

Moral Clarity

Commentary magazine: Seth Mandel looks at the leadership of German chancellor Friedrich Merz.

One of the greatest German leaders since Adenauer.

From the Letters of Lord Chesterfield

 

To know mankind well, requires full as much attention and application as to know books, and, it may be, more sagacity and discernment. I am, at this time, acquainted with many elderly people, who have all passed their whole lives in the great world, but with such levity and inattention, that they know no more of it now, than they did at fifteen. Do not flatter yourself, therefore, with the thought that you can acquire this knowledge in the frivolous chit-chat of idle companions; no, you must go much deeper than that. You must look into people, as well as at them. Almost all people are born with all the passions, to a certain degree; but almost every man has a prevailing one, to which the others are subordinate. Search every one for that ruling passion; pry into the recesses of his heart, and observe the different workings of the same passion in different people; and when you have found out the prevailing passion of any man, remember never to trust him where that passion is concerned. Work upon him by it, if you please; but be upon your guard yourself against it, whatever professions he may make you.

- From the letter of Lord Chesterfield to his son, October 4, 1746

[Samuel Johnson, an enemy, said that Chesterfield's letters reflect "the morals of a whore and the manners of a dancing-master."]

Ten Percent for The Big Guy

 

The Tribes of Car People

Are we losing our car culture?

And are we likely to lose even more?

[Photo by Mark Duffel at Unsplash]

Pilate's Magician Update

 The paperback version is now up at Amazon.

A completely unbiased source says, "Spread the word!"

A Civilized Place to Hang Around

 

The Clive James web page.

Britain Needs a Revolution

Replacing Churchill with a badger on the banknotes is worse than a tax on tea.

Let that proposal be put to a vote.

[Photo by Hans Veth at Unsplash]

Car Culture

My next Substack essay will be on the decline of the car culture.

Think about how our relationship with cars has changed.

And ponder a culture without the drive-in commentary of Joe Bob Briggs.

[Photo by Dominique Hicks at Unsplash]

Reading and Enjoying

 

On my re-read list: His great novel, The Family Moskat.