Tale is the appropriate word here. This work of literature is very short. The story is related by a great follower to his master after a successful voyage.
The follower recounts the story of a previous shipwreck and how he alone survived after washing ashore on an island. The island had everything the shipwrecked sailor needed to survive. However as he started to explore the island he is confronted by a giant snake. The snake tells him how long he will stay on the island and that he will return home in safety. The snake also sends him off with great riches when he leaves the island.
There were two parts of this tale that stuck out. First the eyes of the snake were made of lapis lazuli. This is the third piece of ancient literature I have read recently and all three included lapis lazuli. I don’t recall ever hearing about lapis lazuli prior to this. How could I forget about something with a name like lapis lazuli? It was clearly something valuable in the past and desired as a status of wealth. And yet today I don’t hear any mention of it.
The second part of the tale that stood out to me was when the snake related the tragedy of losing his family. He ends by saying “you will embrace your children, You will kiss your wife, you will see your house. It is more beautiful than anything.” Surviving tragedy and being able to return home to your family is the most beautiful thing.
Overall this is a very quick read, but there is still a valuable lesson that can be learned.
William Wilberforce has been called an agitator for his commitment to ending the slave trade. One of his well known speeches on the subject was given on May 12, 1789.
Cardinal Richelieu has been hailed as a great statesman and as a subversive authoritarian. Depending on who you talk to he was a man needed to strengthen the monarchy in France, or he was a tyrant seeking personal power. Next week I will have a book review that may shed more light on Cardinal Richelieu.
When Lenin was working on his major writing projects he would often pace across the room formulating the ideas that he would write down by saying them out loud. Once he had the idea for what he wanted to write he would often repeat the idea to Nadezhda Krupskaya, who would provide feedback. Once this process was complete he would then write the ideas down.
Here is an AI rendering of what that might have looked like when he was drafting What is to be Done.
This month this community will focus on political subversion. What is subversion? When is it justified? What is the interplay between subversion and agitation? These are some of the topics to be discussed this month.
“You get used to the despot’s shortcomings, when they are not great vices, and the change of an autocratic ruler leads to involuntary fear.”
Sergei Trubetskoi
