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On Writers Not Finishing Things.

27-Dec-11

“But I now leave my cetological System standing thus unfinished, even as the great Cathedral of Cologne was left, with the crane still standing upon the top of the uncompleted tower. For small erections may be finished by their first architects; grand ones, true ones, ever leave the copestone to posterity. God keep me from ever completing anything. This whole book is but a draught — nay, but the draught of a draught. Oh, Time, Strength, Cash, and Patience!” – Melville, Moby Dick.

Comments closed — Trackbacks closed This entry (permalink) was posted on Tuesday, December 27, 2011, at 5:21 pm by jbkuhner. Filed in Essays on Literature, Felicitous Phrasing and tagged , , , , , .

3 Comments

  1. PB

    So good. “Oh, Time, Strength, Cash, and Patience!”—my new motto.

    Posted on 27-Dec-11 at 8:28 pm | Permalink
  2. jbkuhner

    Put it on your coat of arms – TEMPUS FORTITUDO NUMMI PATIENTIA. Sounds pretty official to me.

    Posted on 27-Dec-11 at 9:20 pm | Permalink
  3. jfq

    melville’s tenacity prayer. later — mocked, destitute — how could he believe otherwise and live?

    speaking of cathedrals, achievement im/permanence… here’s orson welles:

    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ksmjh8LL2zA

    gotta love: 1) no interior shots! 2) it sounds like he’s falling asleep at the end.

    Posted on 30-Dec-11 at 12:36 am | Permalink