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It may be recalled that I once opened up a book-blogging slot for the memoirs of Casanova. I quickly grew cold on it and let it fall off to the side. However, one night I had finished a fun novel and was not yet exhausted to sleep, but had no other new book at hand. In my desperation, I thought of some of the books I had let drop, and I decided to give Casanova another try.
These memoirs struck me as fun again. I am not inclined to put it back into my schedule, but will leave it for such odd times as that one restless night. Though, since I started book-blogging it, I thought I would continue to capture the quotes of what most fascinates or amuses me, albeit very irregularly. In the excerpt below, Casanova speaks of going off to college.
_ _ _
When Dr. Gozzi granted me the privilege of going out alone, he gave me an opportunity for the discovery of several truths which, until then, were not only unknown to me, but the very existence of which I had never suspected. On my first appearance, the boldest scholars got hold of me and sounded my depth. Finding that I was a thorough freshman, they undertook my education, and with that worthy purpose in view they allowed me to fall blindly into every trap. They taught me gambling, won the little I possessed, and then they made me play upon trust, and put me up to dishonest practices in order to procure the means of paying my gambling debts; but I acquired at the same time the sad experience of sorrow!
Yet these hard lessons proved useful, for they taught me to mistrust the impudent sycophants who openly flatter their dupes, and never to rely upon the offers made by fawning flatterers. They taught me likewise how to behave in the company of duellists, the society of whom ought to be avoided, unless we make up our mind to be constantly in the very teeth of danger. I was not caught in the snares of professional lewd women, because not one of them was in my eyes as pretty as Bettina, but I did not resist so well the desire for that species of vain glory which is the reward of holding life at a cheap price.
-- Casanova, “The Memoirs”
_ _ _
What vain glory he is talking about we will cover next and soon.
These memoirs struck me as fun again. I am not inclined to put it back into my schedule, but will leave it for such odd times as that one restless night. Though, since I started book-blogging it, I thought I would continue to capture the quotes of what most fascinates or amuses me, albeit very irregularly. In the excerpt below, Casanova speaks of going off to college.
_ _ _
When Dr. Gozzi granted me the privilege of going out alone, he gave me an opportunity for the discovery of several truths which, until then, were not only unknown to me, but the very existence of which I had never suspected. On my first appearance, the boldest scholars got hold of me and sounded my depth. Finding that I was a thorough freshman, they undertook my education, and with that worthy purpose in view they allowed me to fall blindly into every trap. They taught me gambling, won the little I possessed, and then they made me play upon trust, and put me up to dishonest practices in order to procure the means of paying my gambling debts; but I acquired at the same time the sad experience of sorrow!
Yet these hard lessons proved useful, for they taught me to mistrust the impudent sycophants who openly flatter their dupes, and never to rely upon the offers made by fawning flatterers. They taught me likewise how to behave in the company of duellists, the society of whom ought to be avoided, unless we make up our mind to be constantly in the very teeth of danger. I was not caught in the snares of professional lewd women, because not one of them was in my eyes as pretty as Bettina, but I did not resist so well the desire for that species of vain glory which is the reward of holding life at a cheap price.
-- Casanova, “The Memoirs”
_ _ _
What vain glory he is talking about we will cover next and soon.
