For fans of Schopenhauer, and also boxing and beautiful meditations on life (and masculinity, but not exclusively), I'd recommend the Thom Jones story "The Pugilist at Rest." And all his stories, actually, but that one in particular.
Erik, I feel like this one might become one of your favourites - and possibly worth excerpting. Which, actually, I will now do:
"How hollow and unreal a thing is life, how deceitful are its pleasures, what horrible aspects it possesses. Is the world not rather like a hell, as Schopenhauer, that clearheaded seer—who has helped me transform my suffering into an object of understanding—was so quick to point out? They called him a pessimist and dismissed him with a word, but it is peace and self-renewal that I have found in his pages."
It isn’t pessimism to accept life for what it isn’t. However, there is wisdom to be gained from his perspective. So what you can in your youth. Fate and wretched man will do their best to ruin existence. Let time determine when you will lose the good fight, not a lack of passion for experience. Stay young until senility.
For fans of Schopenhauer, and also boxing and beautiful meditations on life (and masculinity, but not exclusively), I'd recommend the Thom Jones story "The Pugilist at Rest." And all his stories, actually, but that one in particular.
Here is the full story, online: https://lithub.com/the-pugilist-at-rest-by-thom-jones/
Erik, I feel like this one might become one of your favourites - and possibly worth excerpting. Which, actually, I will now do:
"How hollow and unreal a thing is life, how deceitful are its pleasures, what horrible aspects it possesses. Is the world not rather like a hell, as Schopenhauer, that clearheaded seer—who has helped me transform my suffering into an object of understanding—was so quick to point out? They called him a pessimist and dismissed him with a word, but it is peace and self-renewal that I have found in his pages."
Integrity vs despair.....the last stage.....the gift.
It isn’t pessimism to accept life for what it isn’t. However, there is wisdom to be gained from his perspective. So what you can in your youth. Fate and wretched man will do their best to ruin existence. Let time determine when you will lose the good fight, not a lack of passion for experience. Stay young until senility.
Face the future now.