Gunnar Heim:
"'There are worse ways to die than in battle for something that matters.'" (p. 111)
Then out spake brave Horatius,
The Captain of the gate:
‘To every man upon this earth
Death cometh soon or late.
And how can man die better
Than facing fearful odds,
For the ashes of his fathers,
And the temples of his Gods,
See also:
Heim again:
"Maybe I was too rough on him, Heim thought. He's sincere....Fout on that. Sincerity is the most overrated virtue in the catalogue." (ibid.)
Who else said this or something like it? Dominic Flandry? Manse Everard? Someone else?
3 comments:
Kaor, Paul!
I know Dominic Flandry and Manse Everard said or thought very similar things. It would be worthwhile project to copy out such comments as I reread the stories.
Ad astra! Sean
"Sincerity is the most overrated virtue in the catalogue"
Possibly relevant is the essay "The Ethics of Belief". (Written in the late 19th century IIRC)
The author gives the example of a shipowner who 'believes' that his ship is seaworthy, and sends it off on a voyage with many passengers. If his belief is not based on a thorough inspection of the ship & the ship was wrecked, would he not be guilty of criminal negligence, no matter how 'sincere' his belief? Would it make a difference in the ship arrives safely? How thoroughly should one examine a belief before one says it is certain enough to base ones actions o it?
Kaor, Jim!
I agree that many things need to be thoroughly examined before they can be accepted with honest sincerity.
All ship owners with their heads screwed on right do have their ships regularly inspected, to be sure they are seaworthy--and carry out all necessary repairs and maintenance.
The TITANIC was honestly built, using the tech then available. What sank it was steaming too fast in iceberg infested waters.
Ad astra! Sean
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