11th of April, 2003 POST·MERIDIEM 03:29

“It is a profoundly erroneous truism, repeated by all copy-books and by eminent people when they are making speeches, that we should cultivate the habit of thinking of what we are doing. The precise opposite is the case. Civilization advances by extending the number of important operations which we can perform without thinking about them. Operations of thought are like cavalry charges in a battle—they are strictly limited in number, they require fresh horses, and must only be made at decisive moments.”

(Alfred North Whitehead) Cf. it’s easier to be really successful in business in the US, where you can get by with English, than Europe, where to do it properly you need at least English, German, French and preferably a few more.

Henry Rollins was excellent in Vicar Street last night. If you get the chance to see him, do.