Book: The Man Without Qualities by Robert Musil
Translated from: German (Austria)
Genre: Classic Novel
Rating: 9/10 utterly delicious … the cynic’s bible
This delicious book has a quotable passage on every page and I’ll be back with some favourites. However, this one must take pride of place as it speaks to us across time. It’s a long one, but worth it.
In almost no time after he had sent out his statement to the press, His Grace had intimations that all those who have no money harbour inside them an unpleasant crank. This opinionated man-within-the-man goes with him to the office every morning and has absolutely no way to air his protest against the way things are done in the world; so instead he keeps his eyes glued to a lifetime secret point of his own that everyone else refuses to see, although it is obviously the source of all the misery in a world that will not recognise its saviour.
… snip snip …
In the right circumstances, a man can help himself by writing a book about his point, or a pamphlet, or at least a letter to the editor, [or a blog]*, thereby putting his protest on the historical record, which is marvellously comforting even if nobody ever reads it. Usually, however, it can be counted on to attract the attention of a few readers who assure the author that he is a new Copernicus, whereupon they introduce themselves as unrecognised Newtons. The custom of picking the points out of each other’s fur is widespread and a great comfort, but it is without lasting effect because the participants soon fall to quarrelling and find themselves isolated again.
*My addition is, I think, not unfair. Many blogs are more in the spirit of letters to the editor trying to sell a world-view than on-line diaries. Musil reminds us there is nothing new under the sun.
