glory
07 Sep 2026 - 08 Sep 2026
- what does this word mean? Not just goodness in some abstract sense, but a kind of radiant power that is also pure goodness.
- That sounds too treacly
- A factor in nobility as "manifesting glory for the good of all". Ah no I had it wrong, it's aspiring to manifest glory. Which is a lot more democratic, anybody can aspire. He says as much "Because nobility is an intention, it is possible for everyone." But never mind that. The point is the goal (glory) not who is allowed access.
- Notes XPrivate
- Meaningness version, but also in basic semantics
- The nobility are definitionally those to whom glory may be attached, the peasantry is by its nature unqualified for things like that.
- OK this offends my democratic sensibilities, but it shouldn't. Equality of rights doesn't imply equality of character. What the equalizing energies of modernism did was to bring down the nobility as a class.
- And yes social class always re-exerts itself ,
- Glory is something that draws us onwards. We aspire to it because that is part of our constitution, assuming we have a noble spirit.
- Gendered? Seems kind of male doesn't it? Not that women don't have every right to it, it's just something that men seek, brag about. Female glory is all the more glorious for its self-effacing aspect.
- Wasn't that the word Humpty Dumpty declared to mean "a nice knockdown argument"?
‘To be sure I was!’ Humpty Dumpty said gaily, as she turned it round for him. ‘I thought it looked a little queer. As I was saying, that seems to be done right—though I haven’t time to look it over thoroughly just now—and that shows that there are three hundred and sixty-four days when you might get un-birthday presents—’ ‘Certainly,’ said Alice. ‘And only one for birthday presents, you know. There’s glory for you!’ ‘I don’t know what you mean by “glory,”’ Alice said. Humpty Dumpty smiled contemptuously. ‘Of course you don’t—till I tell you. I meant “there’s a nice knock-down argument for you!”’ ‘But “glory” doesn’t mean “a nice knock-down argument,”’ Alice objected. ‘When I use a word,’ Humpty Dumpty said in rather a scornful tone, ‘it means just what I choose it to mean—neither more nor less.’ ‘The question is,’ said Alice, ‘whether you can make words mean so many different things.’ ‘The question is,’ said Humpty Dumpty, ‘which is to be master—that’s all.’