Teaching

The good teacher emulates Socrates and Christ, neither of whom was popular with the majority of his hearers, nor wrote articles or books, nor held degrees-honorary or earned-from recognized institutions of lower or higher learning.
-Marion Montgomery. "The Segregation That Is Needed." in The Truth of Things. (39)

Robert Taft

The American way of life certainly does not guarantee equality in mental power or in character or in energy. It has only guaranteed that a man who had the necessary qualities might rise in public life and acquire a greater influence, a greater fame, a greater power than his fellows; that he might rise in material wealth and acquire a greater comfort and luxury, if he desires it, for himself and his family; that he might earn a simple living on which he could base the development of true happiness for himself and his family without either wealth or power.
-quoted in Russell Kirk and James McClellan. The Political Principles of Robert A. Taft. (38)

Irony or, that's the way the world is

I drive past a certain construction site on my way to work. For the past two years, they have had the right lane blocked off to allow trucks access onto the road. Never saw a truck there in two years. This morning the cones blocking off the lane were gone and, of course, I saw my first truck trying to get on the busy road.

More on Tocqueville

Tocqueville's one fundamental purpose: the preservation of human freedom and dignity. (218)
-and-
Tocqueville never swerved from his conviction that one of the greatest dangers to democratie was the trend toward the concentration of power. (220)
-James T. Schliefer. The Making of Tocqueville's Democracy in America.

Alexis de Tocqueville

Give common interests to men, join them in common affairs, facilitate their association, give a practical and simple character to this development, constantly draw them closer together, elevate their spirits and their hearts as much as possible. Govern them honestly and prudently. I can imagine making ourselves guardians to the communes if we want to emancipate them. That the government, if it wishes may treat the local powers like children, I allow; but not like fools. Only fools are kept under supervision throughout their lives.
-excerpt from a note quoted in James T. Schleifer. The Making of Tocqueville's Democracy in America. (217)

Community

Faulkner at a crucial point in midhistory of the southern renaissance as a community-affirming idea, like Allen Tate at the beginning, came upon its impossibility. It would only work if no one thought about it.
-Michael Kreyling. Inventing Southern Literature. (144)

The NBA Championship

It was fun today, basking in the glow of the NBA Championship. First major sports championship in this area for twelve years (the Stars won the Stanley Cup). In fact, of all the major sports franchises in DFW, the Cowboys have gone the longest without an appearance in a championship. Can somebody buy Jerry Jones a clue?
This victory was so satisfying on so many levels. Beating the "chosen one", for starters. All the hype means nothing without the ring. And how the Mavs won. One superstar, and a lot of committed veteran role players.
The turning point of the series may have been the Wade-James show to put them up by fifteen in game 2, but the turning point last night was Stevenson's bump of a Heat player after Miami took the lead in the 2nd. Instead of a quick timeout for the Mavs to settle down, it took fifteen minutes for order to be restored, bu which time the adrenalin of the Miami players and fans was gone.