“’The best thing for being sad,’ replied Merlin, beginning to puff and blow, ‘is to learn something. That’s the only thing that never fails. You may grow old and trembling in your anatomies, you may lie awake at night listening to the disorder of your veins, you may miss your only love, you may see the world about you devastated by evil lunatics, or know your honour trampled in the sewers of baser minds. There is only one thing for it then — to learn. Learn why the world wags and what wags it. That is the only thing which the mind can never exhaust, never alienate, never be tortured by, never fear or distrust, and never dream of regretting. Learning is the only thing for you. Look what a lot of things there are to learn.’”
–T.H. White, The Once and Future King
Love this Christian. Thanks for sharing.
Thanks David. I liked it too and am fascinated by the idea of learning something new as an anodyne for the blues.
Wonderful post, Christian.
Thank you Kristin. I really liked the concept embodied in the quote.
Very good. It rings true – gets the mind engaged in something other than self.
I agree. The concept of learning something as a corrective for depression is fascinating.
[...] Fahey @ The Upside with another fantastic share (up the LEARN in LEAD.LEARN.LIVE alley) called: Learn Something: “’The best thing for being sad,’ replied Merlin, beginning to puff and blow, ‘is to learn [...]
Thanks for the plug, David!