2007/10/08 Amsterdam
Laurent Tailhade
The gesture
On the plane to Amsterdam I came across this quote by the French poet Laurent Tailhade in an article by Luc Sante in the New York Review of Books: “Qu'importent quelques vagues humanités si le geste est beau?"
("Of what importance are a few vague people if the gesture is beautiful?")
Tailhade was defending some anarchists, but with this statement one could defend wars in Iraq and Afghanistan, terrorist attacks and kidnappings.
Maybe we should stop spreading democracy, and instead start focusing on spreading beauty.
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16 comments 
how was your flight? and how does it feel to be back in amsterdam again?
good luck at pauw & witteman, I'll be watching.
And I really think we have to focusing on spreading beauty . and love of course.
good luck at pauw & witteman, I'll be watching.
And I really think we have to focusing on spreading beauty . and love of course.
Spreading beauty is what I like best. That's why I do the Academy of Arts.
The world needs to be a prettier place to live in. Pretty things (books, art, nice design) make people happy. Happy people do not want war (mostly).
The world needs to be a prettier place to live in. Pretty things (books, art, nice design) make people happy. Happy people do not want war (mostly).
Je ne suis pas linguiste, mais je traduirai le mot 'humanité' autrement.
It seems Amsterdam and the summer of love is not yet forgotten. Somehow this rejoices my heart.
there's a beautifull quote about love from Antoine de Saint-Exupery :
It is only with the heart that one can see rightly, what is essential is invisible to the eye.
It is only with the heart that one can see rightly, what is essential is invisible to the eye.
Amanda
Quoting from “The little Prince” is unquestionably spreading beauty!!!Beauty is not love. And beauty doesn´t always make everybody happy.
Humanité = humanity (?)
Manon
It’s kinda clear you’re in a “glass is half empty” state of mind recently (which of course is fine by me), but as the old adage goes: Beauty lies is in the eyes of the beholder. Arnon suggested one can find it in wars or terrorist attacks and Amanda finds it in love. Nobody argues it will necessarily and in all times make you happy.Ilanit
Arnon didn´t suggest anything like that. He just suggested to spread beauty instead of democracy.Since beauty is in the eye of the beholder, the spreading of it will probably lead to the loss of even more "vague humanités" than the spreading of democracy. On the other hand: probably everybody is in favor of beauty (as long as one doesn't define it any further), so there is consensus and no need to fight battles over it: love, peace , happpiness and beauty as democratic rights for everybody...
Indeed it is a very interesting article by Luc Santé. It was a long time ago since I have read something about those times of the French anarchists, ‘La bande à Bonnot’ and not to forget the murder of Jean Jaurès. I will save it.
Pjötr
Luc S is original from the French speaking part of Belgium, he should be trusted when it comes to translating French into English.Maybe he meant "human waves"?
But I think nothing can beat beauty.
But I think nothing can beat beauty.
Misguided theories
"Dr. Mengele, we are told, sometimes relaxed to the strains of "Tristan und Isolde" after performing his experiments." So much for your theory! http://www.therestisnoise.com/2004/05/theodor_adorno.htmlMr. Al
I think you misunderstoond both Laurent Tailhade and my footnote completely.For some people reading is difficult.
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