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W.D. Clarke

I was doing a 🧵 every few Chapters on the MuskRat site ( not its most popular 🧵at that), and I'll continue with it here, once in a while...

(III, 16) If only more politicians wrote books (sweating off their excess water), the Balance of Power would be more...balanced I guess

think about it a little. There have always been politicians who wrote novels or plays, like Clemenceau, for instance, or Disraeli; not Bismarck, but Bismarck was a destroyer. And now look at those French lawyers who are at the helm today: enviable! Political profiteers, but with a first-rate diplomatic corps to advise them, to give them guide- lines, and all of them have at one time or another dashed off plays or novels without the slightest embarrassment, at least when they were young, and even today they’re still writing books. Do you think these books are worth anything? I don’t. But I give you my word that last night I was thinking that our own diplomats are missing out on something because they’re not writing books too. And I’ll tell you why: First of all, it’s as true for a diplomat as for an athlete that he has to sweat off his excess water. Secondly, it's good for public security. Do you know what the European balance of power is?”
Nov 08, 2022, 03:51 PM·Public·Web
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W.D. Clarke

The pleasure and satisfaction of a collector
(Vol II, III, 30)

basically means nothing at all to me. And I almost think I could get along without whatever it is in music, art, and literature that sends the cognoscenti into raptures. Hagauer, for instance, is different: he needs all that, if only for his quotations and allusions. He at least has the pleasure and satisfaction Of a collector. so isn't he right when he
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W.D. Clarke

Why, nearly 1100 pages into this 1700-page novel, in which, and most delightfully, nothing has thus far happened, something is about to happen:
(Vol II, III, 32)

"Now, as regards tonight"—the General sighed—"something is brewing. I expect something to happen. " "That's what say every time come to see me," Ulrich protested, smiling. I've been telling you for a long time there's something in the air." Now Ulrich wanted to know what was in the air. "Come out with it, then," he demanded. does the Minister want?' "He doesn't know himself," Stumm answered genially. "His Excellency has a feeling that the time has come. Old Leinsdorf also has a feeling that the time come. The Chief Of the General Staff likewise has a feeling that the time has come. When a lot of people have such a feeling, there may something in it. " "But the time for what?' Ulrich persisted. "Well, we don't need to know that yet," the General instructed him. These are simply reliable indications! " "...tell me, what's this about reliable indications?" "But will we be able to get a cab out there?" Stumm worried. "It's so far out you can hear the animals snoring." "We'll pick one up on the way," Ulrich said firmly. "Now will you please tell me how you have reliable indications that it's time for something to happen?" There's nothing to tell," Stumm replied. "When I say about something that that's the way it is and it can't be otherwise, what I'm really saying is that I can't explain it! At most one might add that ..."
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W.D. Clarke

A great event *was* in the making...
(on to the Postumous Papers)

From the Table of Contents: 34 A great event is in makng. Count Leinsdorf and die Inn River 35 A great event is in the making. Privy Councillor Meseritscher 36 A great event is in the rnüing. Meeting some Old acquaintances 37 A comparison 38 A great event is in the making. But no one has noticed
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W.D. Clarke

"But what does a metaphor Signify?"

Ulrich said, without thinking, tie way one talks into thin air: "You are the moon—" Agathe understood. Ulrich said: "You have flown to the moon and it has gven you back to me again—" Agathe said nothing: moon conversations so consume one's whole heart. Ulrich said: "It's a figure of speech. We were beside ourselves,' We exchanged bodies uithout even touching each other,' are meta- From the Posthumous Papers • 1179 phors too! But what does a metaphor signi$'? A little something true with a good deal of exaggeration. And yet I was about to swear, im- possible as it may be, that the exaggeration was quite small and the reality was becoming quite large!" He said no more. He was thinking: "What reality am I talking about? Is there a second one?"
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