“The human heart may find here and there a resting-place short of the highest height of affection, but we seldom stop in the steep, downward slope of hatred.” Honore de Balzac “Old Goriot”

“…their cold, hard faces were worn like coins that have been withdrawn from circulation, but there were greedy teeth behind the withered lips.” From “Old Goriot”

It is important for Epicureans to be not only tolerant, but to be seen to be tolerant of the views of others.  American religious fundamentalists are attacking Epicureans as godless, without values or ethics .   These attacks can only get worse this year in election year, since these people have clear political ambitions that are …

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Good! The British have just shown what they think of the craven “Labour” Government in Britain by comprehensively throwing out large numbers of time-servers and sychophants. The results of the (local) elections are as much about the Iraq and Afghan wars as about the childish incompetence of the national government (average age of Cabinet Ministers …

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Freedom: without freedom one cannot make one’s own choices.  Even in the free West most people live imprisoned in their own minds by convention, religion, ignorance and laziness (look at the current Democratic elections!!).  One must dare to think for oneself, be autonomous, listen to others, be brave enough to change one’s mind given better …

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