"a radical question"

[eldritchhobbit]

As I seem to be losing a battle with the icky flu that has waylaid a significant percentage of my students, I will simply say hello and offer, as intellectual "comfort food," a quote for the day from a much-beloved book:

"May I ask this? Under what circumstances is it moral for a group to do that which is not moral for a member of that group to do alone?"

"Uh... that's a trick question."

"It is the key question, dear Wyoming. A radical question that strikes to the root of the whole dilemma of government. Anyone who answers honestly and abides by all consequences knows where he stands -- and what he will die for.... I am free, no matter what rules surround me. If I find them tolerable, I tolerate them; if I find them too obnoxious, I break them. I am free because I know that I alone am morally responsible for everything I do."

The Moon is a Harsh Mistress, Robert A. Heinlein

Comments

[frahulettaes.livejournal.com]

So thinky for a monday.
And yet, it's been way too long since I read any Heinlein.
For just that reason.
thanks for the reminder.
Also, feel better soon.

[eldritchhobbit.livejournal.com]

Thanks so much - the drugs are at last kicking in. :) I'm anxious to get back on my LJ feet soon! Gotta love Heinlein...

[maidoforange.livejournal.com]

(((EH))). Nasssty flu! It does seem to be going around. I hope it does not last too long!

[eldritchhobbit.livejournal.com]

It is going around - some schools are even shutting down because of it. My classes seem to have a revolving door to the infirmary. I think we all need to take a week off and spray ourselves with Lysol until all the germs go away. :) I'm anxious to catch up with everyone, since I feel like I've been out of the LJ loop -- thanks so much for the good thoughts, (((MoO)))!

[serpentcoils.livejournal.com]

bad flu! bad! *banishes flu* :( that would be a fantastic quote for my work group, esp. the responsibility part. ;p

[eldritchhobbit.livejournal.com]

This flu really is evil. Sithly, even. But the drugs are starting to do their job, thank heavens! Thanks for the banishing bit. It's helping! :) Oh, and thanks SO MUCH for the Tori! What do you think of the album? I'm kind of stuck on "Jamaica Inn" and "Parasol" at the moment. And "Toast," too.

[serpentcoils.livejournal.com]

you're very welcome! X) her voice is even more mesmerizing to me! i love "hoochie woman," heh, and "general joy(?)." :)

[eldritchhobbit.livejournal.com]

Yes! Her voice is in particularly great form on this album. You know, each CD seems to have a song that takes me a while to grasp, but once I do, it becomes a huge favorite of mine. ("Carbon" was like that on Scarlet's Walk: once I "got it," it blew me away.) Well, "The Beekeeper" just became that song for me, like a lightbulb going on in my head. Awesome! :)

[fungus-files.livejournal.com]

man, you are the best source of quotes this side of Bartlett's! your library must be a sight to behold. hope you shake the lurgy soon! *sends flu-lethal amount of echinacea your way*

[eldritchhobbit.livejournal.com]

LOL! ::blush:: Thanks! It's just so nice to get to revisit some of my favorite passages. I'm a compulsive highlighter in books, but the up side of that is that I can always find the parts that really speak to me. It's fun to get to share them like this. And thanks so much for the good wishes. We've had a regular epidemic here, especially at school, and just when one set gets well, another reinfects them. No fun whatsoever.

Hello

[faramirgirl.livejournal.com]

Hope that you get to feeling better (((eldritchobbits)))

Re: Hello

[eldritchhobbit.livejournal.com]

Thank you so much! The best part about LJ is that I can send you hugs without all the germs. :) (((FG)))

[randomalia.livejournal.com]

Ooh yes, a really wonderful quote. I'm going to have to write that one down.

Sorry to hear you're feeling poorly! I recommend lots and lots of garlic, fresh if possible. Whenever I get a cold I crush some garlic into some soup or whatever else. It's a great booster of the immune system.

Hope you get well soon! :)

[eldritchhobbit.livejournal.com]

So glad you like the quote! The garlic idea is great advice, which I am going to follow immediately. (Fresh garlic in some even sounds good, and nothing's been sounding good the last couple of days.) At the moment school is like one huge sick ward, and we're all just making each other ill over and over again. But this too shall pass. I'm feeling better already, and I'm anxious to get back into everything, including LJ! Thanks again for the great suggestion -- I'm so glad I have some fresh garlic already in the kitchen! :)