Learn Your Own Song

David Galchutt

Don Quixote explains to Sancho that Homer and Virgil did not describe the characters as they were, but as they had to be in order to be an example to the future men of their virtues. Now, Don Quixote himself is anything but a role model. Novel characters don’t ask to be admired for their virtues. They ask to be understood, which is something completely different.

Epic heroes win or, if defeated, retain their greatness until the last breath. Don Quixote has been defeated. And without any greatness. Because suddenly everything becomes clear: human life as such is a defeat. The only thing left before this irreparable defeat that we call life is to try to understand it. This is the reason for being the art of the novel.

~ Milan Kundera

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We find these joys to be self-evident: That all children are created whole, endowed with innate intelligence, with dignity and wonder, worthy of respect. The embodiment of life, liberty and happiness, children are original blessings, here to learn their own song. Every girl and boy is entitled to love, to dream and belong to a loving “village.” And to pursue a life of purpose.

~ Raffi Cavoukian, “A Covenant for Honouring Children”

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If you’re writing, you’re a writer…write like you’re clinging to the edge of a cliff, white knuckles, on your…