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		<title>Lessing, Gotthold -- The Education of the Human Race [Die Erziehung des Menschengeschlechts] (1780)</title>
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		<pubDate>Tue, 02 Jul 2024 19:58:16 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>Dave</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Lessing, Gotthold]]></category>
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		<description><![CDATA[§ 94. But why should every individual not have been present more than once in this world? § 95. Is this hypothesis so ridiculous just because it is the oldest one? Because the human understanding hit up on it at once, before it was distracted and weakened by the sophistry of the schools? § 98. [&#8230;]]]></description>
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			<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p><span class="tab">§ 94. But why should every individual not have been present more than once in this world?<br />
<span class="tab">§ 95. Is this hypothesis so ridiculous just because it is the oldest one? Because the human understanding hit up on it at once, before it was distracted and weakened by the sophistry of the schools?<br />
<span class="tab">§ 98. Why should I not come back as often as I am able to acquire new knowledge and new accomplishments? Do I take away so much on one occasion that it may not be worth the trouble coming back?<br />
<span class="tab">§ 100. Or am I not to return because too much time would be lost in so doing? &#8212; Lost? &#8212; And what exactly do I have to lose? Is not the whole of eternity mine?</p>
<p><em><span class="tab">[§ 94. Aber warum könnte jeder einzelne Mensch auch nicht mehr als einmal auf dieser Welt vorhanden gewesen seyn?<br />
<span class="tab">§ 95. Ist diese Hypothese darum so lächerlich, weil sie die älteste ist? weil der menschliche Verstand, ehe ihn die Sophisterey der Schule zerstreut und geschwächt hatte, sogleich darauf verfiel?<br />
<span class="tab">§ 98. Warum sollte ich nicht so oft wiederkommen, als ich neue Kenntnisse, neue Fertigkeiten zu erlangen geschickt bin? Bringe ich auf Einmal so viel weg, daß es der Mühe wieder zu kommen etwa nicht lohnet?<br />
<span class="tab">§ 100. Oder, weil so zu viel Zeit für mich verloren gehen würde?—Verloren? —Und was habe ich denn zu versäumen? Ist nicht die ganze Ewigkeit mein?]</span></span></span></span></em></span></span></span></span></p>
<br><b>Gotthold Lessing</b> (1729–1781) German playwright, philosopher, dramaturg, writer<br><i>The Education of the Human Race [Die Erziehung des Menschengeschlechts]</i> (1780) 
						<br><br><span class="cite">
						

(<a href="https://www.gutenberg.org/cache/epub/9160/pg9160-images.html#:~:text=beyde%20%C3%BCberhohlet%20haben%3F%22-,%C2%A7.%2094.,-Das%20wohl%20nun">Source (German)</a>). Other translations:<br><br>

<blockquote><span class="tab">§ 94. But why should not every individual man have existed more than once upon this World?<br>
<span class="tab">§ 95. Is this hypothesis so laughable merely because it is the oldest? Because the human understanding, before the sophistries of the Schools had dissipated and debilitated it, lighted upon it at once?<br>
<span class="tab">§ 98. Why should I not come back as often as I am capable of acquiring fresh knowledge, fresh expertness? Do I bring away so much from once, that there is nothing to repay the trouble of coming back?<br>
<span class="tab">§ 100. Or is it a reason against the hypothesis that so much time would have been lost to me? Lost? -- And how much then should I miss? -- Is not a whole Eternity mine?<br>
[tr. <a href="https://archive.org/details/educationofthehu00lessuoft/page/n95/mode/2up?q=%22But+why+mould%22">Robertson</a> (1862)]</blockquote><br>

<blockquote><span class="tab">§ 94. But why could not each individual man Have been existent on this earth more than once?<br>
<span class="tab">§ 95. Is this hypothesis therefore so absurd because it is the oldest, because the human understanding, ere enfeebled and scattered by sophistry, immediately hit upon it?<br>
<span class="tab">§ 98. Why may I not return as often as I am fit to acquire new knowledge, new skill? Do I bring away so much <i>at once</i> that there is not wherewith to recompense the burden of return?<br>
<span class="tab">§ 100. Or is it because too much time would thus for me be lost? Lost? And what have I to lose? Is not mine a whole eternity?<br>
[tr. <a href="https://archive.org/details/cu31924030605160/page/n63/mode/2up?q=%22But+why+could+not+each+individual%22">Haney</a> (1908)]</blockquote><br>

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		<title>Borges, Jorge Luis -- Quoted in “The Talk of the Town” column, The New Yorker (1986-07-07)</title>
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		<pubDate>Mon, 13 Nov 2023 16:48:30 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>Dave</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Borges, Jorge Luis]]></category>
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		<description><![CDATA[When writers die they become books, which is, after all, not too bad an incarnation. This is the earliest reference I could find (which I&#8217;ve not been able to confirm) to this frequently attributed quotation.]]></description>
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			<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p>When writers die they become books, which is, after all, not too bad an incarnation. </p>
<br><b>Jorge Luis Borges</b> (1899–1986) Argentine writer<br>Quoted in “The Talk of the Town” column, <i>The New Yorker</i> (1986-07-07) 
						<br><br><span class="cite">
						

This is the earliest reference I could find (which I've not been able to confirm) to this frequently attributed quotation.						</span>
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		<title>Virgil -- The Aeneid [Ænē̆is], Book  6, l. 748ff (6.748-751) [Anchises] (29-19 BC) [tr. Taylor (1907), st. 99, l. 883ff]</title>
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		<pubDate>Wed, 28 Dec 2022 21:14:09 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>Dave</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Virgil]]></category>
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		<description><![CDATA[These, when a thousand rolling years are o&#8217;er, Called by the God, to Lethe&#8217;s waves repair; There, reft of memory, to yearn once more For mortal bodies and the upper air. [Has omnis, ubi mille rotam volvere per annos, Lethaeum ad fluvium deus evocat agmine magno, Scilicet immemores supera et convexa revisant Bursus et incipiant [&#8230;]]]></description>
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			<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p>These, when a thousand rolling years are o&#8217;er,<br />
Called by the God, to Lethe&#8217;s waves repair;<br />
There, reft of memory, to yearn once more<br />
For mortal bodies and the upper air.</p>
<p><em>[Has omnis, ubi mille rotam volvere per annos,<br />
Lethaeum ad fluvium deus evocat agmine magno,<br />
Scilicet immemores supera et convexa revisant<br />
Bursus et incipiant in corpora velle reverti.]</em></p>
<br><b>Virgil</b> (70–19 BC) Roman poet [b. Publius Vergilius Maro; also Vergil]<br><i>The Aeneid [Ænē̆is]</i>, Book  6, l. 748ff (6.748-751) [Anchises] (29-19 BC) [tr. Taylor (1907), st. 99, l. 883ff] 
						<br><br><span class="cite">
						

On the reincarnation of most souls, other than those punished in Tartarus or rewarded in Elysium.<br><br> 

(<a href="http://www.perseus.tufts.edu/hopper/text?doc=Perseus%3Atext%3A1999.02.0054%3Abook%3D6%3Acard%3D724#:~:text=At%20last%2C%20when%20the%20millennial%20aeon%20strikes%2C%0AGod%20calls%20them%20forth%20to%20yon%20Lethaean%20stream%2C%0AIn%20numerous%20host%2C%20that%20thence%2C%20oblivious%20all%2C%0AThey%20may%20behold%20once%20more%20the%20vaulted%20sky%2C%0AAnd%20willingly%20to%20shapes%20of%20flesh%20return.">Source (Latin)</a>). Other translations:<br><br>



<blockquote>When thousand yeares have fil'd their period,<br>
All these God calls in troups to Lethe's flood,<br>
To th end that they forgetfull of what's past,<br>
May reascend, and bodies take at last.<br>
[tr. <a href="https://quod.lib.umich.edu/e/eebo2/A65106.0001.001/1:6.6?rgn=div2;view=fulltext#:~:text=When%20thousand%20yeares,take%20at%20last.">Ogilby</a> (1649)]</blockquote>




<blockquote>But, when a thousand rolling years are past,<br>
(So long their punishments and penance last,)<br>
Whole droves of minds are, by the driving god,<br>
Compell'd to drink the deep Lethaean flood,<br>
In large forgetful draughts to steep the cares<br>
Of their past labors, and their irksome years,<br>
That, unrememb'ring of its former pain,<br>
The soul may suffer mortal flesh again.<br>
[tr. <a href="https://en.wikisource.org/wiki/Aeneid_(Dryden)/Book_VI#:~:text=But%2C%20when%20a,mortal%20flesh%20again.">Dryden</a> (1697)]</blockquote><br>

<blockquote>All these, after they have rolled away a thousand years, are summoned forth by the god in a great body to the river Lethe; to the intent that, losing memory, they may revisit the vaulted realms above, and again become willing to return into bodies.<br>
[tr. <a href="https://www.google.com/books/edition/Works_of_Virgil/GuFCAQAAMAAJ?hl=en&gbpv=1&bsq=%22all%20these%20after%22">Davidson/Buckley</a> (1854)]</blockquote><br>

<blockquote>All these, when centuries ten times told<br>
The wheel of destiny have rolled,<br>
The voice divine from far and wide<br>
Calls up to Lethe's river-side,<br>
That earthward they may pass once more<br>
Remembering not the things before,<br>
And with a blind propension yearn<br>
To fleshly bodies to return.<br>
[tr. <a href="https://en.wikisource.org/wiki/Aeneid_(Conington_1866)/Book_6#:~:text=All%20these%2C%20when%20centuries%20ten%20times%20told%0AThe%20wheel%20of%20destiny%20have%20rolled%2C%0AThe%20voice%20divine%20from%20far%20and%20wide%0ACalls%20up%20to%20Lethe%27s%20river%2Dside%2C%0AThat%20earthward%20they%20may%20pass%20once%20more%0ARemembering%20not%20the%20things%20before%2C%0AAnd%20with%20a%20blind%20propension%20yearn%0ATo%20fleshly%20bodies%20to%20return.">Conington</a> (1866)]</blockquote><br>

<blockquote>All these, when for a thousand years the wheel<br>
Of fate has turned, the Deity calls forth<br>
To Lethe's stream, a mighty multitude;<br>
That they, forgetful of the past, may see<br>
Once more the vaulted sky, and may begin<br>
To wish return into corporeal frames.<br>
[tr. <a href="https://archive.org/details/aeneidvirgiltra00crangoog/page/n213/mode/2up?q=%22all+these+when%22">Cranch</a> (1872), l. 933ff]</blockquote><br>

<blockquote>All these before thee, when the wheel of a thousand years hath come fully round, a God summons in vast train to the river of Lethe, that so they may regain in forgetfulness the slopes of upper earth, and begin to desire to return again into the body.<br>
[tr. <a href="https://www.gutenberg.org/cache/epub/22456/pg22456-images.html#BOOK_SIXTH:~:text=All%20these%20before%20thee%2C%20when%20the%20wheel%20of%20a%20thousand%20years%20hath%20come%20fully%20round%2C%20a%20God%20summons%20in%20vast%20train%20to%20the%20river%20of%20Lethe%2C%20that%20so%20they%20may%20regain%20in%20forgetfulness%20the%20slopes%20of%20upper%20earth%2C%20and%20begin%20to%20desire%20to%20return%20again%20into%20the%20body.">Mackail</a> (1885)]</blockquote><br>

<blockquote>All these who now have turned the wheel for many and many a year<br>
God calleth unto Lethe's flood in mighty company,<br>
That they, remembering nought indeed, the upper air may see<br>
Once more, and long to turn aback to worldly life anew.<br>
[tr. <a href="https://www.gutenberg.org/cache/epub/29358/pg29358-images.html#BOOK_VI:~:text=All%20these%20who,worldly%20life%20anew.">Morris</a> (1900)]</blockquote><br>

<blockquote>At last, when the millennial aeon strikes,<br>
God calls them forth to yon Lethaean stream,<br>
In numerous host, that thence, oblivious all,<br>
They may behold once more the vaulted sky,<br>
And willingly to shapes of flesh return.<br>
[tr. Williams (1910), l. 747ff]</blockquote><br>

<blockquote><span class="tab"><span class="tab"><span class="tab">A thousand years pass over<br>
And the god calls the countless host to Lethe<br>
Where memory is annulled, and souls are willing<br>
Once more to enter into mortal bodies.<br>
[tr. <a href="https://www.gutenberg.org/cache/epub/61596/pg61596-images.html#:~:text=A%20thousand%20years,into%20mortal%20bodies.">Humphries</a> (1951)]</blockquote><br>

<blockquote>All these souls, when they have finished their thousand-year cycle,<br>
God sends for, and they come in crowds to the river of Lethe,<br>
So that, you see, with memory washed out, they may revisit<br>
The earth above and begin to wish to be born again.<br>
[tr. <a href="https://archive.org/details/aenei00virg/page/150/mode/2up?q=%22all+these+souls%22">Day-Lewis</a> (1952)]</blockquote><br>

<blockquote>But all the rest, when they have passed time's circle<br>
for a millennium, arfe summoned by<br>
the god to Lethe in a great assembly<br>
that, free of memory, they may return<br>
beneath the curve of the upper world, that they<br>
may once again begin to wish for bodies.<br>
[tr. <a href="https://archive.org/details/aeneidofvirgil100virg/page/156/mode/2up?q=%22but+all+the+rest%22">Mandelbaum</a> (1971), l. 988ff]</blockquote><br>

<blockquote><span class="tab"><span class="tab"><span class="tab">These other souls,<br>
When they have turned Time's wheel a thousand years,<br>
The god calls in a crowd to Lethe stream,<br>
There there unmemoried they may see again<br>
The heavens and wish re-entry into bodies.<br>
[tr. <a href="https://archive.org/details/aeneid00virg/page/186/mode/2up?q=%22these+other+souls%22">Fitzgerald</a> (1981), l. 1004ff]</blockquote><br>

<blockquote>All these others whom you see, when they have rolled the wheel for a thousand years, are called out by God to come in great columns to the river of Lethe, so that they may duly go back and see the vault of heaven again remembering nothing, and begin to be willing to return to bodies.<br>
[tr. <a href="https://archive.org/details/aeneidvirg00virg/page/156/mode/2up?q=lethe">West</a> (1990)]</blockquote><br>

<blockquote>All these others the god calls in a great crowd to the river Lethe,<br>
after they have turned the wheel for a thousand years,<br>
so that, truly forgetting, they can revisit the vault above,<br>
and begin with a desire to return to the flesh.<br>
[tr. <a href="https://www.poetryintranslation.com/PITBR/Latin/VirgilAeneidVI.php#anchor_Toc2242939:~:text=All%20these%20others,to%20the%20flesh.">Kline</a> (2002)]</blockquote><br>

<blockquote><span class="tab"><span class="tab"><span class="tab"><span class="tab">All these,<br>
When they have rolled the wheel of time<br>
Through a thousand years, will be called by God<br>
In a great assembly to the river Lethe,<br>
So that they return to the vaulted world<br>
With no memory and may begin again<br>
To desire rebirth in a human body.<br>
[tr. <a href="https://www.google.com/books/edition/The_Essential_Aeneid/y8pgDwAAQBAJ?hl=en&gbpv=1&printsec=frontcover&bsq=%22all%20these%20when%22">Lombardo</a> (2005)]</blockquote><br>

<blockquote>All the rest, once they have turned the wheel of time<br>
for a thousand years: God calls them forth to the Lethe,<br>
great armies of souls, their memories blank so that<br>
they may revisit the overarching world once more<br>
and begin to long to return to bodies yet again.<br>
[tr. <a href="https://www.google.com/books/edition/The_Aeneid/okrFGPoJb6cC?hl=en&gbpv=1&bsq=%22all%20the%20rest%20once%22">Fagles</a> (2006), l. 865ff]</blockquote><br>

<blockquote>When the rest have cycled through a thousand years, the god calls them in clusters to the river Lethe. These forgetful spirits hope for resurrection into bodies. They start to want to see the sky.<br>
[tr. <a href="https://www.google.com/books/edition/The_Aeneid/FioVEAAAQBAJ?hl=en&gbpv=1&printsec=frontcover&bsq=%22rest%20have%20cycled%22">Bartsch</a> (2021)]</blockquote><br>						</span>
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		<title>Renard, Jules -- Journal</title>
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		<pubDate>Sun, 01 Feb 2004 16:00:00 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>Dave</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Renard, Jules]]></category>
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		<description><![CDATA[If I were to begin life again, I should want it as it was. I would only open my eyes a little more.]]></description>
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			<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p>If I were to begin life again, I should want it as it was.  I would only open my eyes a little more.</p>
<br><b>Jules Renard</b> (1864–1910) French writer<br><i>Journal</i> 
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