In this festive season it is perhaps appropriate that we should relax a little the bonds that tether us to the straight and narrow. A fitting apologia for a bit of indulgence and even overindulgence is found in Seneca, On Tranquility of Mind, XVII, 8-9, tr. Basore:
At times we ought to reach even the point of intoxication, not drowning ourselves in drink, yet succumbing to it; for it washes away troubles, and stirs the mind from its very depths and heals its sorrow just as it does certain ills of the body; and the inventor of wine is not called the Releaser [Liber, Bacchus] on account of the license it gives to the tongue, but because it frees the mind from bondage to cares and emancipates it and gives it new life and makes it bolder in all that it attempts. But, as in freedom, so in wine there is a wholesome moderation.
Sed ut libertatis ita vini salubris moderatio est.
. . .
Yet we ought not to do this often, for fear that the mind may contract an evil habit; nevertheless there are times when it must be drawn into rejoicing and freedom, and gloomy sobriety must be banished for a while.
A Merry -- if belated -- Christmas, Bill.
Jeffery Hodges
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Posted by: Horace Jeffery Hodges | Saturday, December 27, 2008 at 12:17 PM
Hi Jeff,
I hope all is well at your end of the world. All the best for the New Year.
Posted by: Bill Vallicella | Saturday, December 27, 2008 at 12:35 PM
Hi Bill, and a 'merry' Christmas to you too. Sorry I haven't been around for a while.
Posted by: | Sunday, December 28, 2008 at 02:27 AM
Sorry, that was from 'Ockham'.
Posted by: Ockham | Sunday, December 28, 2008 at 02:29 AM
Comments don't seem to be enabled for your Manhattan Shot--so I thought I'd post here.
Going to try it tonight!
Cheers!
Posted by: John Farrell | Sunday, December 28, 2008 at 07:12 AM
Cheers, John. Remember, Straight No Chaser: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yxX0-OaI5j0
Hi Ockham, best wishes for the New Year to you and your family.
Posted by: Bill Vallicella | Sunday, December 28, 2008 at 05:29 PM