Some Fruits of Solitude By William Penn (1682) Part 27 #329-369 (Government)

Some Fruits of Solitude By William Penn (1682) Part 27 #329-369 (Government)

Bonus: 

Summary: William Penn does Nietzsche.

Commentary: 

331. The first [Rex]  is endanger'd by the Ambition of the Popular, which shakes the Constitution: The other by an ill Administration [Tyrannus], which hazards the Tyrant and his Family.

And they both lead into each other.

I think he read Nietzsche.

342. It is true, that where a Subject is more Popular than the Prince, the Prince is in Danger: But it is as true, that it is his own Fault: For no Body has the like Means, Interest or Reason, to be popular as He.

Penn wants you to stop sucking an use your bully pulpit.

343. It is an unaccountable thing, that some Princes incline rather to be fear'd than lov'd; when they see, that Fear does not oftener secure a Prince against the Dissatisfaction of his People, than Love makes a Subject too many for such a Prince.

He read him, but he disagrees with him.

350. The End of every thing should direct the Means: Now that of Government being the Good of the whole, nothing less should be the Aim of the Prince.

Penn is all about the ends not justifying the means.

A large chunk of this (most of 352-362) deals with the ministers, cabinet posts, etc., which is something you don't see as much government writing about (despite the fact that they probably do more than most chief execs). Basically, pick people who are moral and actually have relevant qualifications, and your government will do well.

 

 

 

  

 

Some Fruits of Solitude By William Penn (1682) Part 26 #322-328 (Popularity and Privacy)

Some Fruits of Solitude By William Penn (1682) Part 26 #322-328 (Popularity and Privacy)

Bonus: My internet is very bad. Imagine a meme about clicking the reject button on the cookie pop up here.

Summary: Don't be a showoff.

Commentary: This is the first one I remember being so effectively paired. Popularity is basically, "don't try to get too much attention" and Privacy is "and here's all the bad things that happen if you do."

Some Fruits of Solitude By William Penn (1682) Part 25 309-321(Ballance)

Some Fruits of Solitude By William Penn (1682) Part 25 309-321(Ballance)

Bonus: 

At one point, I thought Justin Timberlake was Timbaland.

Summary: Stop doing bad things for good reasons.

Commentary: 

310. It is too common an Error, to invert the Order of Things; by making an End of that which is a Means, and a Means of that which is an End.

318. If we are but sure the End is Right, we are too apt to gallop over all Bounds to compass it; not considering that lawful Ends may be very unlawfully attained.
 

The older I get, the less I like "the ends justify the means."

315. It is an old Proverb, Maxima bella ex levissimis causis: The greatest Feuds have had the smallest Beginnings.

Sayre's Law is the root of all evil.

317. It is one of the fatalest Errors of our Lives, when we spoil a good Cause by an ill Management: And it is not impossible but we may mean well in an ill Business; but that will not defend it.

If there was a Classic Guy's law, it would be: The best argument against *cause* is 10 minutes with *cause's people.* Which is kind of a, "Democracy is the worst form of government... except for all the others.” 

But I do find it pretty universally true. I support both gay and gun rights, but if you put me in a room with the NRA and average gay rights group, I would support blindfolding all the NRA members, putting them in a circle, and locking the door.

319. Let us be careful to take just ways to compass just Things; that they may last in their Benefits to us.

Please refrain from ramming through shitty laws to achieve good things. It never works, and they always get overturned or just ignored.

320. There is a troublesome Humor some Men have, that if they may not lead, they will not follow; but had rather a thing were never done, than not done their own way, tho' other ways very desirable.

Some people say "lead, follow, or get out of the way" is supposed to shame you into action. I disagree. "Get out of the way" is a totally valid, and broadly appreciated, option. I don't need you to help me, I just need you to leave me alone so I can get things dune.

 

 

Some Fruits of Solitude By William Penn (1682) Part 24 279-308 (Passion and Personal Cautions)

Some Fruits of Solitude By William Penn (1682) Part 24 279-308 (Passion and Personal Cautions)

Bonus: 

These dudes looks like they're having a great time rocking out.

Summary: Don't be too hot blooded.

Commentary: 

300. Haste makes Work which Caution prevents.

"Haste makes waste" is less work to say. 

Was going to also do "Ballance" today, but liked it enough to give it its own.

Pacing Notes

About a year ago, I said I was going to do the "boulders, pebbles, and sand" approach to divvy up the reading. Having used it for a while, I don't think it's working. With a long work (like Don Quixote) it can take too long to blog nicely every day. I did The Odyssey in chunks, and that works a lot better. On the opposite end, the tiny little snippets ones are also awkward to get through. To that end, I think I'm going to adjust things again. I'll try to keep one "boulder" and one "sand" in the rotation at all times. I'll do the boulder updates occasionally, like once a week. Likewise, the sand really slows everything else down, so I'll try to do it more as a "filler" in a blog than its own thing. Besides that, it's just on to the pebbles.

I haven't slept in over 24 hours.

"The Saga Begins" by Weird Al Yankovic (1999)

 

The bonus is the piece.

Summary: Oh my, my this here Anakin guy
Maybe Vader someday later, now he's just a small fry
He left his home and kissed his mommy goodbye
Sayin', "Soon I'm gonna be a Jedi"
Soon I'm gonna be a Jedi

Commentary: Went to a Weird Al concert this week. Obviously, "The Saga Begins" is a classic.

Al apparently got about 90% of the movie right just from internet rumors.

He has Stormtroopers on stage when he does it live, and they're all from the local 501st Chapter, which would probably be about the coolest thing you could do.

I like to think that Obi-Wan (especially sassy Clone Wars era Obi-Wan) would like Weird Al.

Don Quixote Part 2

More plot!
Less slapstick!
More Sancho!
NO LONGER SORROWFUL FACE!

I think I liked part one better.