How often one's mind is shaped by events
and by those about us. As they ultimately
must impress us as part of our experiences,
we must accept or reject these attitudes to
form a mind set that becomes our own.
One of my favorite professors was one
Dr. Livingston, a professor from
Macalester College, who taught Humanities.
He reminded me of Wally Peepers. He had
survived WWII and earned his doctorate
through the G.I. Bill, married, had a son
and a daughter. And became my friend.
He included Tolstoy's War and Peace in his
curriculum. In Tolstoy's book, the Russian
General Kutusov made a great statement
at the battle of Smolensk, "The battle has
already been decided. It is like a river that
runs downhill. I can only move it slightly
to the right or left. But its outcome will
not be changed by me."
Dr. Livingston lost his wife, his son, and
his daughter. Because he believed life
was simple and not complex and was
teaching this philosophy to his students,
he lost his professorship
He eventually hung himself from a
tree in his own backyard. I can never
forget him
Note: Smolensk was abandoned contrary
to the wishes of the Emperor and of the
whole people. But Smolensk was burned
by its own inhabitants-who had been misled
by their governor. And these ruined
inhabitants, setting an example to other
Russians, went to Moscow thinking only of
their own losses but kindling hatred of
the foe. Napoleon advanced farther and we
retired, thus arriving at the very result
which caused his destruction.
There is an old cliche that states:
"Genius is 10% inspiration
and 90% perspiration."
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