“In What Am I Doing Here? Bruce Chatwin quotes Jünger quoting Stendhal: ‘The art of civilization consists in combining the most delicate pleasures with the constant presence of danger.’ An observation that echoes Élysée’s injunction.

The essential thing is to live one’s life with a brave hand on the tiller, swinging boldly between contrasting worlds. Balancing between danger and pleasure, the frigid Russian winter and the warmth of the stove.

Never settling, always oscillating from one to the other extremity on the spectrum of sensations.”

Sylvain Tesson

 

Thanks, Steve, for the book. I needed this right now.