If thou wilt know and learn anything with profit, love to be thyself unknown and to be counted for nothing.
Rest from inordinate desire of knowledge, for therein is found much distraction and deceit. Those who have knowledge desire to appear learned, and to be called wise. Many things there are to know which profiteth little or nothing to the soul. And foolish out of measure is he who attendeth upon other things rather than those which serve to his soul’s health. Many words satisfy not the soul, but a good life refresheth the mind, and a pure conscience giveth great confidence towards God.
The greater and more complete thy knowledge, the more severely shalt thou be judged, unless thou hast lived holily. Therefore be not lifted up by any skill or knowledge that thou hast; but rather fear concerning the knowledge which is given to thee. If it seemeth to thee that thou knowest many things, and understandest them well, know also that there are many more things which thou knowest not. “Be not high-minded,” but rather confess thine ignorance. Why desirest thou to lift thyself above another, when there are found many more learned and more skilled in the Scripture than thou? If thou wilt know and learn anything with profit, love to be thyself unknown and to be counted for nothing.
That is the highest and most profitable lesson, when a man truly knoweth and judgeth lowly of himself. To account nothing of one’s self, and to think always kindly and highly of others, this is great and perfect wisdom. Even shouldest thou see thy neighbor sin openly or grievously, yet thou oughtest not to reckon thyself better than he, for thou knowest not how long thou shalt keep thine integrity. All of us are weak and frail; hold thou no man more frail than thyself.
I’m not the only one who wants to get back to a website.
Finished 2025: Pet Sematary by Stephen King 📚
Disappointing. I never felt an emotional connection to any of these characters. Part 1 is a drag. Part 2 is actually quite good.. until it isn’t. “Monkey’s Paw” and echoes of Lovecraft. The gibbering madness works until the “gotcha” that feels cheap.
Finished 2025: The Last Kind Words Saloon: A Novel by Larry McMurtry 📚
It’s entertaining in parts and a quick read, but it leaves an empty feeling, unsatisfying.
Ted Gioia channels Wendell Berry: 9 Rules for New Technology
Paul Kingsnorth discovers Frederick Buechner’s Godric: Prose and Principalities
JBJ argues against tariffs in 1998.
Do we as Christians believe in “nationalism”? No, we don’t. We believe in the international, catholic, universal community of the Church. We also should believe in international, catholic, universal free markets and free trade. There is no Christian justification for using the power of the state to prevent “foreigners” from selling their wares wherever they wish. -James B. Jordan
Cory Doctorow argues that maybe tariffs are sometimes quite good, but not the current ones.
Trump is doing mirror-world tariffs: tariffs without industrial policy, tariffs without social safety nets, tariffs without retraining, tariffs without any strategic underpinning. -Cory Doctorow
I don’t know what I think about tariffs. I’m still thinking about it, I guess, and I’m okay not having a solid opinion on this and so many other things.
I don’t think too many people had an opinion on tariffs last year. Now, everyone is expected to have an opinion on tariffs. I suspect that most people didn’t even know what a tariff was last year. Despite all the talk at present, I suspect that most people still don’t know what a tariff is.
I love this. I am in favor of local business, physical media, and a caring community that knows and loves one another.
Finished 2025: Suite for Barbara Loden by Nathalie Léger 📚
A lovely piece of writing. Nathalie Léger achieves a beautiful meditation on Wanda and on Barbara Loden that won’t fail to impress itself upon anyone who has seen the film. This is what good film writing can be.
Finished 2025: Cassi and the House of Memories: A Graphic Novel by Dean Stuart 📚
Not sure about the whole changing memories aspect, but the core story of a girl connecting to her grandfather with dementia is quite good. Some of the best art/layouts I’ve seen in a “graphic novel” marketed at kids.
Currently reading: Les Miserables by Victor Hugo 📚