John Wynberg
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johnwynberg.bsky.social
John Wynberg
@johnwynberg.bsky.social
Literature | Cinema | Art | Music | Philosophy | Psychoanalysis | English | Spanish | German | French
“[…] to know nothing is nothing, not to want to know anything likewise, but to be beyond knowing anything, to know you are beyond knowing anything, that is when peace enters in, to the soul of the incurious seeker.”

Samuel Beckett, Molloy, 1955.
February 4, 2026 at 8:53 PM
And yet, certain of them, less privileged, frailer, impelled no doubt by an excess of awkward zeal, by an unhealthy need of perfection, overplay their roles... are more childlike than nature itself. Too good to be true...” [4/4]

Nathalie Sarraute, "Fools Say", 1976. [Tr. Maria Jolas]
February 4, 2026 at 7:17 PM
Or in any case, if they aren't, they are so gifted, they have been acquiring ever since birth such an admirable technique, that you can watch them day in and day out without thinking for a single second that they "are not," but "feign to be." [3/4]
February 4, 2026 at 7:16 PM
Ordinarily, children arouse no suspicions. They are, quite evidently, real children. [2/4]
February 4, 2026 at 7:16 PM
Pourtant certains d'entre eux, plus désavantagés, plus fragiles, pousses sans doute par un excès de zèle maladroit, par un besoin malsain de perfectionnisme, forcent leur ligne… plus enfants que nature. Trop beaux pour être vrais... » [4/4]

Nathalie Sarraute, « disent les imbéciles », 1976.
February 4, 2026 at 7:12 PM
Ou en tout cas, s’ils ne le sont pas, ils possèdent de tels dons, ils ont acquis dès leur pas jeune âge une si admirable technique qu'on peut les observer a longueur de journée sans penser un seul instant qu'ils ne « sont » pas, mais qu'ils « font ». [3/4]
February 4, 2026 at 7:12 PM
Les enfants, eux, n'éveillent d'ordinaire aucun soupçon. Ils sont, c'est évident, de vrais enfants. [1/4]
February 4, 2026 at 7:12 PM
“If you are really sincere, if you believe in such perfect equality, if you feel you're like just anybody... on the same level as... forgive us... just any fool, how do you manage to survive, my poor friend?”

Nathalie Sarraute, "Fools Say", 1976. [Tr. Maria Jolas]
February 4, 2026 at 6:53 PM
their wildest ramblings... and God knows they don't deprive themselves of this pleasure... they know perfectly that nothing will incite you to withdraw their privileges once these have been granted for all time…” [3/3]

Nathalie Sarraute, "Fools Say", 1976. [Tr. Maria Jolas]
February 4, 2026 at 6:47 PM
Necessarily, since thanks to you "the most intelligent" are in no danger. Nothing can keep them from freely circulating and succeeding in having accepted, whatever they want, whatever comes into their heads... They can allow themselves with impunity to indulge their every fantasy, [2/3]
February 4, 2026 at 6:47 PM
impunément se laisser aller à toutes leurs fantaisies, à leurs plus extravagantes divagations... et Dieu sait qu'ils ne s'en privent pas... ils savent bien que rien ne vous incitera a leur retirer leurs privilèges octroyés une fois pour toutes... » [3/3]

Nathalie Sarraute, « disent les imbéciles »
February 4, 2026 at 6:45 PM
osiez l'examiner, comme « les sottises les plus énormes ». Forcément, puisque grâce à vous « les plus intelligents » ne courent aucun danger. Rien ne peut les empêcher de répandre sans contrôle et de faire accepter tout ce que bon leur semble, tout ce qui leur passe par la tête... Ils peuvent [2/3]
February 4, 2026 at 6:45 PM