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"Know thyself", γνῶθι σεαυτόν (gnōthi seauton).
Whether an Ancient Greek aphorism or a piece of advice such as you might find in a Christmas cracker or inside a Fortune cookie, this idea has always held some appeal.
Lawrence Durrell believed that Greece could offer you "the discovery of yourself".
All good advice, provided you know where to start looking.
Hello Mr.Potts!
ReplyDeleteI've a confession to make. Having bought your "Corfu Blues" years ago (the fact it had the word "blues" in the title was reason enough for me!) and then having mislaid it, I found it this year and starting reading it. What a revelation! I have certainly found a few parts of myself in your book, and continue to do so (I'm taking my time reading it...) A wonderful book!
Best Wishes for the New Year!
A fan (The name is Peter, we also once shared a stage at Ambelonas in Triklino and I see you are a fellow user of the Corfiot bicycle lanes...)
Hi Petros
ReplyDeleteThank you for your encouraging comment! It makes all the difference to get some feedback.
Kali chronia! Let's catch up in Corfu in May. Maybe we should do another gig! There are some photos from Triklino on some of my YouTube songs at MrHighway49. Maybe you are in one of them. Or on the "Music" pages of www.interpotts.com.
Jim
It was WS's genius to slip a thing so right yet so unattainable into that catalogue of homespun wisdom from old Polonius and yet before he died Laertes did observe his dad's advice. The finest example of this late self-discovery I've read is Richard Hillary's reaction to the dying woman's remark "I see they got you too." It conflates self knowledge with Hillary's late realisation of why the war he was in needed to be fought.
ReplyDeletehttp://www.wwnorton.com/college/english/nael/20century/topic_2/lastenem.htm
Kali Chronia to you too! I know what you mean about the feedback...I am a fairly keen blogger but it often feels as if I am writing at the digital equivalent of a brick wall...haha! I would very much like to meet up. I've just been looking at your list of live music seen and I am green with envy...
ReplyDeleteIt would be very nice to meet when you come back. let's keep in touch.
Regards
Peter (Raul's friend by the way...)
Simon
ReplyDeleteIs this the Shakespeare quote you had in mind? Hamlet Act 1, scene 3, 78–82
Polonius:
This above all: to thine own self be true,
And it must follow, as the night the day,
Thou canst not then be false to any man.
Farewell, my blessing season this in thee!
Laertes:
Most humbly do I take my leave, my lord.
I was admiring WS's genius in adding that sublime advice to the end of a clichéd list of do's and don'ts.
ReplyDelete