I did not cite him as an authority. I mentioned his name to give him due credit for writing it. Besides, there is nothing in that quote that is contrary to Catholic theology. His statement about the role that Satan plays in civilization is spot-on. If you think otherwise, then say so. I think Flaubert would be in a position to speak about the role that Satan plays in art because Flaubert was an artist, so he ought to know.
I see that one of your preteen pals thinks you've delivered a great comeback. We grown-ups expect a bit more, however—at the very least some indication that you understand the words you've cut and pasted at, for a start, the merely syntactic level.
* The fact that you've both demonstrated and admitted to your ignorance on all matters artistic ought to have shut you up, even if you hadn't given your word that your empty and offensive ramblings were at an end. Thus, these words and actions of yours mark you out as a deceiver and a vulgarian, as well as someone whose lack of humility seems to know no bound.
Are you worried, in accordance with the virtue of charity, about the state of my soul and the pride and sloth that I might be falling in to; or are you just looking to denigrate me for you own sake? If you want to give me a sermon on how out of order I am talking about these things then I will gladly listen; but if you can only bring yourself to utter snide remarks then it seems to me that you ought to leave for your own sake, that you don't end up sinning.
So now you're dictating terms, are you? What an arrogant creature it is! How full of itself! We needn't discuss your pride and sloth any further. Your insistence on drawing attention to them time after time suggests that at least one fictional character has left his mark upon you. I speak of course of Uriah Heep.
The plain facts are these. Genuine Catholic modesty and humility call one to silence in the presence of things about which one's knowledge and understanding are minimal or, as in your case, essentially nonexistent. Having ignorance of or lack of interest in the arts or mathematics or knitting is, sub specie aeternitatis, not a matter of consequence. On the other hand, sanctimoniously blackening these or any other pursuits from motivations of ignorance and resentment and spite, as you have, and—what is even more despicable—slandering those who, like Saint John Bosco, find in the first-mentioned area not simply pleasure both licit and profound but an occasion for experience that refines the mental and emotional faculties in such a way as to make them more worthy of their Creator (cf. the Parable of the Talents) is moronic and contemptible on the secular plane and a genuinely sinful abuse of whatever limited mental abilities you yourself have been graced with.
In your proud and bold comments you have declared that an effective Satanic equivalence links TV, the Beatles, Beethoven, Flaubert, Mozart, and heaven alone knows who and what else. What is most astonishing about this is that your inability to manifest even a normal adolescent's level of the discriminatory faculty hasn't been enough to shame you into silence! What will it take, I wonder?
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*Don't forget, incidentally, that the kind of cutting and pasting of thirdhand rubbish that is evidently your principal skill is about as closely related to an authentic mental ability as a bout of flatulence is. Just about as endearing, too.
Topic: What is your favorite piece of classical music? (Read 15104 times)