tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2508563923634392703.post8854172361236968003..comments2023-12-28T13:11:06.666+00:00Comments on Pics and Poems: What the World Needs NowDave Kinghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08430484174826768488noreply@blogger.comBlogger30125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2508563923634392703.post-12955646036603656882008-12-03T10:44:00.000+00:002008-12-03T10:44:00.000+00:00JaniceAs a blast from the past for me, too, whenev...Janice<BR/><BR/>As a blast from the past for me, too, whenever I am reminded of him and what he meant to me - and still does, though, alas, intermittently.Dave Kinghttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08430484174826768488noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2508563923634392703.post-80321855659909189652008-12-02T02:09:00.000+00:002008-12-02T02:09:00.000+00:00A truly remarkable man in many ways - a beacon of ...A truly remarkable man in many ways - a beacon of light so to speak for me personally. Thank you for this reminder of a great mind.Janice Thomsonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02506920585319893814noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2508563923634392703.post-11107824439719246782008-12-01T11:22:00.000+00:002008-12-01T11:22:00.000+00:00ArtI must admit that I have not read a lot by him ...<B>Art</B><BR/><BR/>I must admit that I have not read a lot by him on Goethe, but as to those on Bach, I agree absolutely.<BR/><BR/><BR/><B>Willow</B><BR/><BR/>Very pleased to hear that you got something from it. Just as pleased for you to add my name to your blogroll. Thanks for thatDave Kinghttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08430484174826768488noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2508563923634392703.post-59320640775036662742008-11-30T20:38:00.000+00:002008-11-30T20:38:00.000+00:00I adore Albert Schweitzer and thoroughly enjoyed t...I adore Albert Schweitzer and thoroughly enjoyed this post, as well as your blog! Mind if I add you to my blogroll?Tess Kincaidhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04889725786678984293noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2508563923634392703.post-56724082432723396622008-11-30T14:58:00.000+00:002008-11-30T14:58:00.000+00:00Schweitzer's books on Back, and on Goethe, remain ...Schweitzer's books on Back, and on Goethe, remain timely. His insights are timeless.Art Durkeehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07463180236975988432noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2508563923634392703.post-4961954775147748232008-11-30T09:18:00.000+00:002008-11-30T09:18:00.000+00:00LucasWelcome and many thanks for the comment. Schw...Lucas<BR/><BR/>Welcome and many thanks for the comment. Schweitzer's musings on Bach do sound fascinating. One of the things to come out of writing the post and comments I have received since - has been the re-discovering of aspects I had forgotten.Dave Kinghttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08430484174826768488noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2508563923634392703.post-7011568989607036032008-11-30T04:41:00.000+00:002008-11-30T04:41:00.000+00:00Many thanks for this marvellous quotation. It does...Many thanks for this marvellous quotation. It does indeed come as a timely reminder of the need to take a step forward in the direction of reverence for all life, not just for the world, also for the day to day moments of our movements within it. <BR/>It is also a rem on another level: I have a book in which Albert Schweitzer declares Bach and the age of Bach as an example in history when Passion, Reason,Science and Art worked together in unison. I now cannot find the book (although it is the middle of the night - not a good time to look for things). It has been a very good time to read this post.Lucashttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07642126053527835870noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2508563923634392703.post-45336079516221855472008-11-29T11:01:00.000+00:002008-11-29T11:01:00.000+00:00MaekitsoAbsolutely - some would say it is the leap...<B>Maekitso</B><BR/>Absolutely - some would say it is the leap of faith, I guess.<BR/><BR/><B>Dick</B><BR/>A good comparison. I had been searching in my mind for one, but did not think of him. Thanks for that.Dave Kinghttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08430484174826768488noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2508563923634392703.post-31403170539030789312008-11-29T09:41:00.000+00:002008-11-29T09:41:00.000+00:00A fascinating account of a figure well-remembered ...A fascinating account of a figure well-remembered from childhood. In my youth he had the same kind of vigorous grand-old-man status as was accorded to Bertrand Russell.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2508563923634392703.post-26928769804481738382008-11-29T09:22:00.000+00:002008-11-29T09:22:00.000+00:00This is clearly an inspired write, Dave. I'll be f...This is clearly an inspired write, Dave. I'll be following that link to more Schweitzer for sure. He may be on to something with the 'will-to-live', but I think there is a bit of a leap to the ethical conclusion. That's just me being a trouble-maker though. Cheers.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2508563923634392703.post-82377630677513338212008-11-29T08:53:00.000+00:002008-11-29T08:53:00.000+00:00LucyWhat an inspired idea, to have a reading from ...<B>Lucy</B><BR/><BR/>What an inspired idea, to have a reading from him at your wedding! Widh I'd thought of that!<BR/><BR/><B>McGuire</B><BR/><BR/>I do agree: it seems to be wall-to-wall fundies these days. A splash of cold water in the face puts it exactly, I think<BR/><BR/><B>Tommaso</B><BR/><BR/>That is a fascinating tale. Many thanks for the tip. I will surely look him up.<BR/><BR/><B>Conda</B><BR/><BR/>Couldn't agree more. He seems to be regarded in some quarters as old hat, but if anything he is even more needed now than he was in his day.Dave Kinghttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08430484174826768488noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2508563923634392703.post-24911308041479361962008-11-29T08:45:00.000+00:002008-11-29T08:45:00.000+00:00HopeOkay, please disregard my last reply. I can on...Hope<BR/><BR/>Okay, please disregard my last reply. I can only attribute it to another senior moment. I have no idea now what I was thinking of! Apologies and thanks.Dave Kinghttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08430484174826768488noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2508563923634392703.post-25882854219815860302008-11-28T22:02:00.000+00:002008-11-28T22:02:00.000+00:00This is a wonderful post for us in the U.S. who ha...This is a wonderful post for us in the U.S. who have been practicing gratitude the last couple of days--Schweitzer is a fascinating man--who has much to teach the modern world. He is much needed now.<BR/><BR/>Thanks for the post, Dave!Conda Douglashttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12972790965426924941noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2508563923634392703.post-37634883457615305812008-11-28T19:04:00.000+00:002008-11-28T19:04:00.000+00:00Dear Dave, I always come late with my comment.I ha...Dear Dave, I always come late with my comment.<BR/>I have in my study a pencil drawing which is an original portrait of Albert Shweitzer made by a Dutch Jew who lived in New York and wrote marvellous books on Buddhism, Venice and other subjects his name was Frederick Frank. I met him in Venice in my wife's bookshop in the '80's and in a bar one evening we became friends, he needed a typewriter and lent him mine. You can find information and photo of him on the internet, one of his heroes was Albert Shweitzer.Tommaso Gervasuttihttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17137499390434949734noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2508563923634392703.post-8668664893204918332008-11-28T17:54:00.000+00:002008-11-28T17:54:00.000+00:00Never heard of him until now. Nice discovery. I'm ...Never heard of him until now. Nice discovery. I'm quite taken by him. His spirituality and his 'secularism'. We seem to be dominated today by Christian Fundies and Athiest Fundies. Albert Schweitzer is quite a welcome rationalist, like a splash of cold water to the face.<BR/><BR/>Glad I disocvered him through you.McGuirehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03095242258892600138noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2508563923634392703.post-78731125428721551312008-11-28T17:26:00.000+00:002008-11-28T17:26:00.000+00:00It's wonderfully clear his writing isn't it?I know...It's wonderfully clear his writing isn't it?<BR/><BR/>I know a little of him, from schooldays, and in fact we read a short passage by him at our wedding, which we'd found in an anthology, which was very much about respect, respecting one another's integrity and privacy of body and mind. Again, it was lovely lucid stuff...<BR/><BR/>Very passioanately written, Dave.Lucyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09764296105901909328noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2508563923634392703.post-29126092770109858092008-11-28T14:12:00.000+00:002008-11-28T14:12:00.000+00:00RachelThere's a lot to get into, a fascinating man...Rachel<BR/><BR/>There's a lot to get into, a fascinating man.Dave Kinghttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08430484174826768488noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2508563923634392703.post-42788616311377219102008-11-28T13:40:00.000+00:002008-11-28T13:40:00.000+00:00You've made me want to learn more about him, Dave....You've made me want to learn more about him, Dave. A message well passed on!<BR/>xRachel Foxhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11803852725693518924noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2508563923634392703.post-59742039591219355432008-11-28T11:07:00.000+00:002008-11-28T11:07:00.000+00:00Femin SusanWelcome aboard and thanks for taking th...Femin Susan<BR/><BR/>Welcome aboard and thanks for taking the time out to comment. Hope to see much more of you.<BR/><BR/>Hope<BR/><BR/>Thanks for that, though I wonder if the relationship between respect and reverence is not the other way around. (Subject for some gry debate, maybe!)<BR/><BR/>Sorlil<BR/><BR/>You confirm what I had thought: he's dropped off the radar - but he'll repay time taken to make his acquaintance, I am sure.<BR/><BR/>Weaver of Grass,<BR/><BR/>I think you have put it exactly: he was a real presence. There is a lot oc cynicism... I wonder if that is because today's heroes tend towards the trivial.<BR/><BR/>Art<BR/><BR/>Thanks for the steer. No, I have not read Franck. I will certainly look him up. Yes, it is fascinating the way these thin gs conspire.<BR/><BR/>Anairam<BR/><BR/>You put your finger on the nub of the problem which has too often been used to marginalise his work: what do you do about the life that would destroy yours, germs, for example?<BR/><BR/>Dots<BR/><BR/>I totally agree with your thoughts, but again: if you follow Schweitzer's thought to its logical conclusion, what about the virus? That, too, is life - and all life damages some other life-form, does it not?Dave Kinghttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08430484174826768488noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2508563923634392703.post-59979169599261705512008-11-28T00:06:00.000+00:002008-11-28T00:06:00.000+00:00Brilliant thoughts.. thanks for sharing.. couldn't...Brilliant thoughts.. thanks for sharing.. couldn't help reading the comments.. and will take the liberty of commenting on Anairam's... nothing is ever enough, if you start measuring... see this life is not enough for all one wants to do... the trick is in making most of your life and making a difference in other's lives.. helping, sympathy for others never comes with a quota... I don't think there is limit to helping others.. it is a continuous process... just as you live your life, help whoever you can in living their's... (my thoughts totally)Dotshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13237109888870178115noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2508563923634392703.post-89820342281278039732008-11-27T23:26:00.000+00:002008-11-27T23:26:00.000+00:00We learnt about Schweitzer at school, but I have n...We learnt about Schweitzer at school, but I have never read anything of his, so I really appreciated the quote you have posted here, Dave. Wise words. Regarding his two-fold definition of being an ethical person: I have always found it easier to measure myself (if that is the correct expression) in terms of the "shrinking from injury" bit, but I find it incredibly hard to judge how I am doing on the bit about "to help all life which [one] is able to assist". When have I helped enough? How much should I feel comfortable about having when so many around me have nothing? I am by no means rich, but I have a house and a 2nd hand car and some money in the bank. I live in a society where the gap between haves and have-nots is HUGE. How much should I help? And give? Of time and money?I live in a semi-permanent state of guilt...Anairamhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08626269831496499230noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2508563923634392703.post-75358336906606044092008-11-27T23:24:00.000+00:002008-11-27T23:24:00.000+00:00This comment has been removed by the author.Anairamhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08626269831496499230noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2508563923634392703.post-64661991933403214082008-11-27T15:46:00.000+00:002008-11-27T15:46:00.000+00:00Interesting synchronicity. I was just re-reading F...Interesting synchronicity. I was just re-reading Frederick Franck's book "To Be Human Against All Odds." Franck worked as a doctor under Schweitzer for a few years, before going on to become a man of similar stature, and one of my own heroes. Both of them are heroes to me, actually. If you've never encountered Franck's memoirs of Schweitzer in his writings, I recommend them. The older man was a hero to Franck, one of three he discusses in "To Be Human" with awe and reverence.<BR/><BR/>I like how the Universe conspires to throw these things together.Art Durkeehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07463180236975988432noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2508563923634392703.post-57727834520431286322008-11-27T14:41:00.000+00:002008-11-27T14:41:00.000+00:00I remember him well, Dave - we are about the same ...I remember him well, Dave - we are about the same age and he was a very real presence during our childhood and adolescence wasn't he? Somehow those heroes don't seem to be around any more - there are so many virtual heroes for young people that they don't seem bothered with the real ones - there seems to be a cynicism around which wasn't there when we were young (can you hear the violins playing?)The Weaver of Grasshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13947971556343746883noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2508563923634392703.post-8103076656432451302008-11-27T14:23:00.000+00:002008-11-27T14:23:00.000+00:00Very interesting, dave. I'm afraid I've never hear...Very interesting, dave. I'm afraid I've never heard of him but will certainly look him up now!Marion McCreadyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04657757253873577465noreply@blogger.com