+ we do not know what our conviction in reality turns upon (stanley cavell)

+ a way towards, or away from, the world

+ "When a town celebrates the busk," says he, "having previously provided themselves with new clothes, new pots, pans, and other household utensils and furniture, they collect all their worn out clothes and other despicable things, sweep and cleanse their houses, squares, and the whole town of their filth, which with all the remaining grain and other old provisions they cast together into one common heap, and consume it with fire. After having taken medicine, and fasted for three days, all the fire in the town is extinguished. During this fast they abstain from the gratification of every appetite and passion whatever. A general amnesty is proclaimed; all malefactors may return to their town." (thoreau)

+ i shun father and mother and wife and brother, when my genius calls me. i would write on the lintels of the door-post, whim. i hope it is somewhat better than whim at last, but we cannot spend the day in explanation. (emerson)

+ my hands are full, holding mirrors, counting fingers, making calculations.

+ naming seems to be a strange connection of a word with an object. -- and such a strange connection really obtains, particularly when a philosopher tries to fathom the relation between name and what is named by staring at an object in front of him and repeating a name, or even the word 'this' innumerable times. for philosophical problems arise when language goes on holiday. and then we may indeed imagine naming to be some remarkable mental act, as it were the baptism of an object. (wittgenstein)

+ hear this, you foolish and senseless people, who have eyes but do not see, who have ears but do not hear (jeremiah)