John commented on The Little Virtues by Natalia Ginzburg
The Little Virtues
The little virtues - thrift, caution, shrewdness, tact, a desire for success - are contrasted with the great ones - generosity and an indifference to money, courage and a contempt for danger, frankness and a love of truth, love for one's neighbour and self-denial, a desire to be and to know. I believe there can be problems caused by not teaching children the importance of choices - that looking towards, and having some control over the future can be a good thing. Similarly frankness (or rudeness depending on viewpoint) comes naturally to some children, and that tact has to be learnt (and hence taught) as part of learning that others have feeling too, which should be considered.
I agree on the importance, for the fortunate, of a vocation, bur for the majority the most they can hope for is employment. Not everyone can be a writer, or …
The Little Virtues
The little virtues - thrift, caution, shrewdness, tact, a desire for success - are contrasted with the great ones - generosity and an indifference to money, courage and a contempt for danger, frankness and a love of truth, love for one's neighbour and self-denial, a desire to be and to know. I believe there can be problems caused by not teaching children the importance of choices - that looking towards, and having some control over the future can be a good thing. Similarly frankness (or rudeness depending on viewpoint) comes naturally to some children, and that tact has to be learnt (and hence taught) as part of learning that others have feeling too, which should be considered.
I agree on the importance, for the fortunate, of a vocation, bur for the majority the most they can hope for is employment. Not everyone can be a writer, or a historian.