
by - David Starr Jordan
To John Maxson Stillman In Token of Good Cheer
The Philosophy of Despair
A meditative journey unfolds through lyrical prose that wrestles with the paradox of despair and the quiet dignity of human purpose. The narrator’s voice moves from the hush of a darkening sky and whispering palms to a heartfelt call for love expressed through service, inviting listeners to contemplate how each fleeting day holds a role in a larger, unknowable tapestry.
Interwoven with fragments of ancient poetry and folk song, the work paints a picture of sorrow that is oddly sweet, suggesting that the deepest aches can also be sources of profound delight. By juxtaposing scientific certainty with the boundless mystery of existence, the text encourages a gentle, reflective stance—one that embraces the limits of knowledge while finding meaning in compassionate action. Listeners will be drawn into a thoughtful, almost musical contemplation of life’s unanswered riddles, feeling both the weight of melancholy and the lift of hopeful resolve.
Language
en
Duration
~39 minutes (37K characters)
Publisher of text edition
Project Gutenberg
Credits
Produced by David A. Schwan. HTML version by Al Haines.
Release date
2003-12-01
Rights
Public domain in the USA.

1851–1931
A pioneering fish scientist and influential university leader, he helped shape American higher education in the late 19th and early 20th centuries. His legacy is notable both for his major work in ichthyology and for the controversies surrounding his support of eugenics.
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by David Starr Jordan

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by Order of the Eastern Star. General Grand Chapter