make himself useful to all different sorts of people?
I find this quite a nice trait in myself, for it requires a certain courage.
My
dignity is in no way injured—on the contrary, I pride myself on being able to
solve all manner of life problems without trembling in the face of difficulties
that might scare most people off. I am useful, and this certainty is enough to
satisfy my pride. I wish to be of service.”
“And so why did you not continue in the nursing profession?” the man
asked.
“I don’t have time to stick to a single profession,” Simon replied,
“and it would never occur to me to repose, as many do, upon one type of
profession as if it were a mattress with springs. No, I wouldn’t succeed at that
even if I lived to be a thousand. I’d rather go and join the army.”
“Be careful that’s not what happens.”
“There are other escape routes as well. The army remark is just a
casual expression I’ve gotten in the habit of using to conclude my speeches.
There are so many ways out for a young man like myself. In the summertime, I
can
go find a farmer and work in the fields to help bring in the harvest on time:
He’ll welcome me and be grateful for my strength. He’ll feed me and feed me
well, they really cook out in the country, and when I leave him again, he’ll
press a few banknotes into my hand, and his young daughter, a
fresh-faced lovely girl, will smile at me in parting in such a way
that she will occupy my thoughts for a long time as I continue on my road. What
harm is there in being on the road, even if it’s raining or snowing, as long
you
have healthy limbs and remain free from cares? You, squeezed into your corner
there, cannot even imagine how glorious it is to ramble down country roads. If
they’re dusty, then dusty is just how they are, no need to trouble your head
about it. Afterwards you find yourself a cozy cool spot at the edge of the
forest and as you lie there your eyes enjoy the most splendid view, and your
senses repose in the most natural way, and your thoughts wander as taste and
pleasure fancy. You’ll no doubt counter that another person can do just the same
thing—you yourself, for example, when you’re on vacation. But vacations, what
are they? The thought of them makes me laugh. I wish to have nothing to do with
vacations. One might even say I hate them. Whatever you do, just don’t set me
up
with a position involving vacations. This wouldn’t appeal to me at all—in fact
I
think I’d die if I were given vacations. As far as I’m concerned I wish to do
battle with life, fighting until I keel over: I wish to taste neither freedom
nor comfort, I hate freedom if it’s hurled at my feet the way you throw a dog
a
bone. That’s vacation for you. If you might happen to think you see standing
before you a man with a hankering for a vacation, you are very much mistaken,
but I have every reason to suspect this is just what you think of me, alas.”
“Here’s a temporary post at a lawyer’s office that needs filling for
approximately one month. Would that suit you?”
“Most certainly, sir.”
With this, Simon landed in the lawyer’s office. He earned a pretty
penny there and was perfectly content. Never had the world appeared lovelier
to
him than during this lawyer episode. He made some pleasant acquaintances,
spent the day writing in an easy, effortless manner, checked over
calculations, took dictation—at which he was particularly
skillful—and to his own surprise behaved in such a charming way that his
superior took a lively interest in him; he drank his daily cup of tea in the
afternoon, and while he was writing, daydreamed out the breezy bright window.
Daydreaming without neglecting his duties—he was supremely skilled at this. “I
am earning so much money,” he thought to himself, “that I could have a young
woman.” The moon often shone in
I find this quite a nice trait in myself, for it requires a certain courage.
My
dignity is in no way injured—on the contrary, I pride myself on being able to
solve all manner of life problems without trembling in the face of difficulties
that might scare most people off. I am useful, and this certainty is enough to
satisfy my pride. I wish to be of service.”
“And so why did you not continue in the nursing profession?” the man
asked.
“I don’t have time to stick to a single profession,” Simon replied,
“and it would never occur to me to repose, as many do, upon one type of
profession as if it were a mattress with springs. No, I wouldn’t succeed at that
even if I lived to be a thousand. I’d rather go and join the army.”
“Be careful that’s not what happens.”
“There are other escape routes as well. The army remark is just a
casual expression I’ve gotten in the habit of using to conclude my speeches.
There are so many ways out for a young man like myself. In the summertime, I
can
go find a farmer and work in the fields to help bring in the harvest on time:
He’ll welcome me and be grateful for my strength. He’ll feed me and feed me
well, they really cook out in the country, and when I leave him again, he’ll
press a few banknotes into my hand, and his young daughter, a
fresh-faced lovely girl, will smile at me in parting in such a way
that she will occupy my thoughts for a long time as I continue on my road. What
harm is there in being on the road, even if it’s raining or snowing, as long
you
have healthy limbs and remain free from cares? You, squeezed into your corner
there, cannot even imagine how glorious it is to ramble down country roads. If
they’re dusty, then dusty is just how they are, no need to trouble your head
about it. Afterwards you find yourself a cozy cool spot at the edge of the
forest and as you lie there your eyes enjoy the most splendid view, and your
senses repose in the most natural way, and your thoughts wander as taste and
pleasure fancy. You’ll no doubt counter that another person can do just the same
thing—you yourself, for example, when you’re on vacation. But vacations, what
are they? The thought of them makes me laugh. I wish to have nothing to do with
vacations. One might even say I hate them. Whatever you do, just don’t set me
up
with a position involving vacations. This wouldn’t appeal to me at all—in fact
I
think I’d die if I were given vacations. As far as I’m concerned I wish to do
battle with life, fighting until I keel over: I wish to taste neither freedom
nor comfort, I hate freedom if it’s hurled at my feet the way you throw a dog
a
bone. That’s vacation for you. If you might happen to think you see standing
before you a man with a hankering for a vacation, you are very much mistaken,
but I have every reason to suspect this is just what you think of me, alas.”
“Here’s a temporary post at a lawyer’s office that needs filling for
approximately one month. Would that suit you?”
“Most certainly, sir.”
With this, Simon landed in the lawyer’s office. He earned a pretty
penny there and was perfectly content. Never had the world appeared lovelier
to
him than during this lawyer episode. He made some pleasant acquaintances,
spent the day writing in an easy, effortless manner, checked over
calculations, took dictation—at which he was particularly
skillful—and to his own surprise behaved in such a charming way that his
superior took a lively interest in him; he drank his daily cup of tea in the
afternoon, and while he was writing, daydreamed out the breezy bright window.
Daydreaming without neglecting his duties—he was supremely skilled at this. “I
am earning so much money,” he thought to himself, “that I could have a young
woman.” The moon often shone in
Similar Books
