Esprit d'escalier

“Of course it is my opinion, miss,” he said, not a little impatiently. “Whose opinion on earth would it be?

“The salient facts,” and he ticked them off on his fingers, “are approximately these. We are born; we suffer; we die. It is our interpretation of these facts, it is our opinion,“ here he paused for emphasis, “about these facts and the matters surrounding them which makes the interval between them bearable. It is because of our opinions on life that we can live, that we can love, that we can hope, and have courage, if these things are goods and we wish to have them.” Almost as an afterthought he noted, “I wish to have them.

“I do not deny that there are other interpretations which also suit the facts. But I do deny, when you point out that I am speaking my opinion, that you are introducing a counterargument.“

gauche
30 Jun 05