Ivo Andríc: I listen carefully to all these discussions, both those between you two and other educated people in this town; also I read the newspapers and reviews. But the more I listen to you, the more I am convinced that the greater part of these spoken or written discussions have no connection with life at all and its real demands and problems. For life, real life, I look at from very close indeed; I see its influence on others and I feel it on myself. It may be that I am mistaken and that I do not know how to express myself well, but I often think that technical progress and the relative pe... tinyroofnail.micro.blog

@tinyroofnail Conservatory of the spirit: I like that.

@restlesslens Yes, exactly what you said. I’ve only read this one

@dwalbert It’s funny you mention that line. I’ve read the quote several times now, and each time I read “conservatory of the spirit” I momentarily forget that he doesn’t mean it in a good way, but more of a docetic, pie in the sky kind of way. But I do like the phrase

@tinyroofnail referring to its denizens as “hothouse flowers of the intellect” would be more obviously disparaging.