Scan barcode
A review by sydn3y3
Teaching a Stone to Talk: Expeditions and Encounters by Annie Dillard
reflective
medium-paced
4.0
I love Dillard’s writing, but only in nonfiction forms. I tried to read a novel of hers and couldn’t do it, but i could read her ramblings about nature and life forever. I don’t think I’ll ever find anything that will top Pilgrim at Tinker Creek, but Teaching A Stone To Talk was still lovely. Some fave moments below:
The mind wants to live forever, or to learn a very good reason why not. The mind wants the world to return its love, or its awareness; the mind wants to know all the world, and all eternity, and God. The mind’s sidekick, however, will settle for two eggs over easy. The dear, stupid body is as easily satisfied as a spaniel.
What is the difference between a cathedral and a physics lab? Are they not both saying: Hello?
That is why I take walks: to keep an eye on things.
if all these passions of mine be overturned, then what will become of me? then what am i now?
this is a whole passage, forgive me: god does not demand that we give up our personal dignity, that we throw in our lot with random people, that we lose ourselves and turn from all that is not him. god needs nothing, asks nothing, and demands nothing, like the stars. it is a life with god which demands these things.
experience has taught the race that if knowledge of god is the end, then these habits of life are not the means but the condition in which the means operates. you do not have to do these things; not at all. god does not, i regret to report, give a hoot. you do not have to do these things—unless you want to know god. they work on you, not on him.
you do not have to sit outside in the dark. if, however, you want to look at the stars, you will find that darkness is necessary. but the stars neither require nor demand it.
The mind wants to live forever, or to learn a very good reason why not. The mind wants the world to return its love, or its awareness; the mind wants to know all the world, and all eternity, and God. The mind’s sidekick, however, will settle for two eggs over easy. The dear, stupid body is as easily satisfied as a spaniel.
What is the difference between a cathedral and a physics lab? Are they not both saying: Hello?
That is why I take walks: to keep an eye on things.
if all these passions of mine be overturned, then what will become of me? then what am i now?
this is a whole passage, forgive me: god does not demand that we give up our personal dignity, that we throw in our lot with random people, that we lose ourselves and turn from all that is not him. god needs nothing, asks nothing, and demands nothing, like the stars. it is a life with god which demands these things.
experience has taught the race that if knowledge of god is the end, then these habits of life are not the means but the condition in which the means operates. you do not have to do these things; not at all. god does not, i regret to report, give a hoot. you do not have to do these things—unless you want to know god. they work on you, not on him.
you do not have to sit outside in the dark. if, however, you want to look at the stars, you will find that darkness is necessary. but the stars neither require nor demand it.