What it immediately put me in mind of was a scene in "Wizard of Earthsea" where (I hope I am remembering this correctly, but don't hold me to it) Ogion is teaching young Sparrowhawk the name of a plant that is growing beside the path. Ogion says you must know this plant in bud and flower, in summer and winter, and so on... (which, IIRC, is the longest speech he ever makes in the book).
Sparrowhawk replies, "Master, what is its use?"
Ogion, "None that I know of..."
What is, after all, the "use" of any of us?
Perhaps, the (or an) answer is that quality has no quantity, which is to say, it has no measure.
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branchandroot
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Date: 2022-12-22 12:12 pm (UTC)What it immediately put me in mind of was a scene in "Wizard of Earthsea" where (I hope I am remembering this correctly, but don't hold me to it) Ogion is teaching young Sparrowhawk the name of a plant that is growing beside the path. Ogion says you must know this plant in bud and flower, in summer and winter, and so on... (which, IIRC, is the longest speech he ever makes in the book).
Sparrowhawk replies, "Master, what is its use?"
Ogion, "None that I know of..."
What is, after all, the "use" of any of us?
Perhaps, the (or an) answer is that quality has no quantity, which is to say, it has no measure.