GENIUS AND MORALS
Sir-In the talk on Rachel in the "Famous Women of the Theatre" series, we were bidden, I think, to overlook the moral lapses and to remember her early gutter environment (the exact words escape me). Humility seems to me our only attitude in regard to genius. It seems an impertinende to apply to such a world figure the standards and measures appropriate to the average schoolgirl. So reference to early "gutter" influences is ag unseemly as if the story of the Nativity were likewise embellished with deprecating and genteel comments on early stable-boy influences or stable and manger environment. These great souls who come, and come so seldom, to be a light in our darkness, seem to consume experience with a blazing urgency quite unknown and unnecessary to the neat majority of us. It’s not for us to moralise neatly on a tiny patch of a life too great for us to comprehend. Apart from good taste, which would compel us to step very warily and softly indeed, in laying down laws for the greatest of mortals to follow, there is also a scientific reason for holding back from saying "What can you expect my dear, with the home she came from!" It is suspected that the abnormality of mind called genius is in some cases related to and dependent on other abnormalities, quite distinct from degeneracy. A most unsuitable subject for’a mothers’ meeting, of course, or the sewing guild, but we don’t all go there to-day.
FARMER'S WIFE
(Stoke).
Permanent link to this item
Hononga pūmau ki tēnei tūemi
https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/periodicals/NZLIST19440204.2.8.6
Bibliographic details
Ngā taipitopito pukapuka
New Zealand Listener, Volume 10, Issue 241, 4 February 1944, Page 3
Word count
Tapeke kupu
253GENIUS AND MORALS New Zealand Listener, Volume 10, Issue 241, 4 February 1944, Page 3
Using this item
Te whakamahi i tēnei tūemi
Material in this publication is protected by copyright.
Are Media Limited has granted permission to the National Library of New Zealand Te Puna Mātauranga o Aotearoa to develop and maintain this content online. You can search, browse, print and download for research and personal study only. Permission must be obtained from Are Media Limited for any other use.
Copyright in the work University Entrance by Janet Frame (credited as J.F., 22 March 1946, page 18), is owned by the Janet Frame Literary Trust. The National Library has been granted permission to digitise this article and make it available online as part of this digitised version of the New Zealand Listener. You can search, browse, and print this article for research and personal study only. Permission must be obtained from the Janet Frame Literary Trust for any other use.
Copyright in the Denis Glover serial Hot Water Sailor published in 1959 is owned by Pia Glover. The National Library has been granted permission to digitise this serial and make it available online as part of this digitised version of the Listener. You can search, browse, and print this serial for research and personal study only. Permission must be obtained from Pia Glover for any other use.
Log in