“In South America, I heard the 8th Symphony of Beethoven. And the young conductor thought, Beethoven must be heroic. But this is piece which shouldn't be heroic. And this was such a misunderstanding, such a deep misunderstanding.” AmericaYoungPiecesHeardSouthHeroicMisunderstandingSymphonyConductorSouth America Author:Kurt Masur
“The mythical America?that marvellous, heroic, sentimental landwas an object of faith. It challenged you to make the believer's leap over the rude facts at your feet.” FactsAmericaFeetObjectsBelieverLeapHeroicRudeSentimentalMarvellous Author:Jonathan Raban
“In America we have only the bourgeoisie, and the love of the heroic is one of the few counterpoises available to us. In us the contempt for the heroic is only an extension of the perversion of the democratic principle that denies greatness and wants everyone to feel comfortable in his skin without having to suffer unpleasant comparisons. Students have not the slightest notion of what an achievement it is to free oneself from public guidance and find resources for guidance within oneself.” WantFeelsAmericaSufferingPrinciplesStudentsGreatnessAchievementComfortableResourcesSkinsDemocraticNotionOneselfAvailableDenyGuidanceComparisonContemptHeroicExtensionsBourgeoisiePerversion Book:Closing of the American Mind Source: Closing of the American Mind