Reading this, I thought, "The physician goes from house to plague stricken house, carrying the disease he cures. So strategic philanthropists will save Capitalism." The question smart philanthropists ask is, "Am I getting better?" What if we began by asking, "What must I do to be saved?" Or shriven? Or, "Am I totally lost?" Or, "Are we in rats' alley where the dead men lost their bones?" Or,"Can this madness be cured before we all die of it and take the planet with us?" The language of commerce is Usura set to banquet. When Oscar Wilde suggested that "all art is quite useless," it was against businesslike vulgarity that he was speaking. Now we hold such earnestness, Smart. Are you getting more earnest, Mr. Gradgrind? Yes, Sir, I think so, Sir. How much more earnest, you ask, Mr. Gradgrind? 11% year over year is my best estimate, Sir. I mean with a sampling error of 2%, Sir. You are getting better. Now if you will excuse me, I am supposed to be at the Circus, Sir. They have elephants you know.
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