"
And, lastly, I have a reason which will perhaps seem a far-fetched
one. Travel is essentially a distraction, and I do not want to be
distracted any more. One of the mistakes that people make, in these
Western latitudes, is to be possessed by an inordinate desire to
drown thought. The aim of many men whom I know seems to me to be
occupied in some absolutely definite way, so that they may be as
far as possible unaware of their own existence. Anything to avoid
reflection! A normal Englishman does not care very much what the
work and value of his occupation is, as long as he is occupied; and
I am not at all sure that we came into the world to be occupied.
Christ, in the Gospel story, rebuked the busy Martha for her
bustling anxieties, her elaborate attentions to her guests, and
praised the leisurely Mary for desiring to sit and hear Him talk.
Socrates spent his life in conversation. I do not say that
contemplation is a duty, but I cannot help thinking that we are not
forbidden to scrutinise life, to wonder what it is all about, to
study its problems, to apprehend its beauty and significance.
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