The author of “The Name of the Rose” was at the Jerusalem Book Fair when he was asked his opinion about the refusal of Ian McEwan, the British novelist, to boycott the event because of Israel’s treatment of the Palestinians.
“I have so much to say against the Italian government that I have no time to speak about the Israeli government,” Mr Eco said.
Those who are focused on the objects of the senses, become attached to those objects. From attachment comes desire; and from desire comes anger; from anger comes confusion of mind; from confusion of mind comes loss of memory; from loss of memory comes loss of intelligence; and from loss of intelligence comes destruction.
Seek not that things should happen as you wish; but wish the things which happen to be as they are, and you will have a tranquil flow of life.
The child’s character is still so unformed that I cannot say what I think of it. He behaves like a spoiled child, but he does not lack intelligence. We shall have to wait and see what is inside this chrysalis. Perhaps an artist?
A human being is part of the whole, called by us “Universe”, a part limited in time and space. He experiences himself, his thoughts and feelings, as something separated from the rest - a kind of optical delusion of his consciousness. This delusion is a kind of prison for us, restricting us to our personal desires and to affection for a few persons nearest to us. Our task must be to free ourselves from this prison by widening our circle of compassion to embrace all living creatures and the whole of nature in its beauty.
“Life is futile,” says my new therapist, Michaela, “and no one gets out of it alive. There is only love.”
I like low-budget movies and expensive restaurants.