Monday, March 16, 2009

Joseph Roth - Meditations III

One feels for Tunda, that wayward soul, that victim of History. And yet, his words emerge from behind the sadness, and speak to us today:

"'Do you think you could manage to tell me precisely what constitutes this culture which you claim to defend, even though it is in no way threatened from outside?'

'Religion...'

'Morality...'

'Art...'

'The European idea...'

'You want,' said Tunda, 'to uphold a European community, but you must first establish it.'" (116-17)

Ahead of his time - Roth meets Weil

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