Saturday, August 27, 2005

 

Vita Brevis

Ralph Waldo Emerson, To J.W.:
Life is too short to waste
In critic peep or cynic bark,
Quarrel or reprimand:
'T will soon be dark;
Up! mind thine own aim, and
God speed the mark!
Emerson's phrase cynic bark is pregnant with meaning. Dogs bark, and cynic comes from Greek kynikós (κυνικός, dog-like), itself from kýon (κύων, dog).

# posted by Michael Gilleland @ 1:45 PM


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