By Robinson Jeffers
Then what is the answer?—Not to be deluded by dreams.
To know the great civilizations have broken down into violence, and their
tyrants come, many times before.
When open violence appears, to avoid it with honor or choose the least
ugly faction; these evils are essential.
To keep one’s own integrity, be merciful and uncorrupted and not wish for
evil; and not be duped
By dreams of universal justice or happiness. These dreams will not be
fulfilled.
To know this, and know that however ugly the parts appear the whole
remains beautiful. A severed hand
Is an ugly thing, and man dissevered from the earth and stars and his
history...for contemplation or in fact...
Often appears atrociously ugly. Integrity is wholeness, the greatest beauty is
Organic wholeness, the wholeness of life and things, the divine beauty of
the universe. Love that, not man
Apart from that, or else you will share man’s pitiful confusions, or drown in
despair when his days darken.
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