Book 3

           1.Notjustthateverydaymoreofourlifeisusedupandlessandlessofitisleft,butthistoo:ifwelivelonger,canwebesureourmindwillstillbeuptounderstandingtheworld—tothecontemplationthataimsatdivineandhumanknowledge?Ifourmindstartstowander,we’llstillgoonbreathing,gooneating,imaginingthings,feelingurgesandsoon.Butgettingthemostoutofourselves,calculatingwhereourdutylies,analyzingwhatwehearandsee,decidingwhetherit’stimetocallitquits—allthethingsyouneedahealthymindfor...allthosearegone.

           Soweneedtohurry.

           Notjustbecausewemovedailyclosertodeathbutalsobecauseourunderstanding—ourgraspoftheworld—maybegonebeforewegetthere.

           2.WeshouldrememberthatevenNature’sinadvertencehasitsowncharm,itsownattractiveness.Thewayloavesofbreadsplitopenontopintheoven;theridgesarejustby-productsofthebaking,andyetpleasing,somehow:theyrouseourappetitewithoutourknowingwhy.

           Orhowripefigsbegintoburst.

           Andolivesonthepointoffalling:theshadowofdecaygivesthemapeculiarbeauty.

           Stalksofwheatbendingundertheirownweight.Thefurrowedbrowofthelion.Flecksoffoamontheboar’smouth.

           Andotherthings.Ifyoulookattheminisolationthere’snothingbeautifulaboutthem,andyetbysupplementingnaturetheyenrichitanddrawusin.