Commentary
Is it a sign of age or general disillusionment that I think frequently these days of André Gide’s observation that “Toutes choses sont dites déjà, mais comme personne n’écoute, il faut toujours recommencer”?
In this handout image provided by the White House, President George W. Bush (R) welcomes Professor Leszek Kolakowski (L) and his wife, Tamara, of Oxford, England, in the Oval Office on Nov. 5, 2003. Mr. Kolakowski is the 2003 recipient of the John W. Kluge Prize in Human Sciences. The international honor is awarded by the Library of Congress for lifetime achievement in the humanistic and social sciences. A philosopher, historian and essayist, Professor Kolakowski has written more than 30 books and hundreds of articles on the history of philosophy and the philosophy of religion. Paul Morse/White House via Getty Images
Roger Kimball
Author
Roger Kimball is the editor and publisher of The New Criterion and publisher of Encounter Books. His most recent book is “Where Next? Western Civilization at the Crossroads.”
