Self & Society: British Lit @Hood College

"No town has any desire to extend its territory, for its citizens consider themselves to be cultivators, not owners, of what they hold." The marginal note on this says... "But today this is the curse of all countries."  page 59 (second sentence of the only full paragraph on the page)

I doubt that such well being could be achieved where there is private property. For when everyone aims to have as much of it as possible, even where there is a great wealth it is divided up among a few, who lave nothing to the rest but poverty. And it generally happens that one class deserves the lot of the other, for the rich tend to be greedy, unscrupulous and useless, while the poor tend to be well behaved, simple and useful-- more useful, by their daily labor, to the community than to themselves" (55). https://www.google.com/search?biw=1164&bih=593&tbm=isch&sa=1&q=private+property&oq=private+pro&gs_l=psy-ab.3.0.0l10.1563642.2073671.0.2076119.13.13.0.0.0.0.97.890.10.11.0....0...1.1.64.psy-ab..2.10.885.0..0i67k1.447.NfDUsn69Tao#imgrc=3zzFkef3Me_NtM:

"... There is no room for philosophy in dealing with kings." (Pg. 52)

“Utopians are very fond of their gardens. These have vines, fruits, herbs, and flowers,!so well kept and flourishing that I had never seen anything so fruitful or elegant.”  (62)

"For as soon as a robber sees that he faces no more penalty for a murder conviction than for the mere guilt of theft, he would not hesitate to kill a man he night otherwise just rob." ( More 40)

"Each family makes its own clothes, which are in the same style throughout the iskand exceot for distinctiond between sexes and between the marrued abd singke." "But women, the weaker sex, take on the lighter tasks, generally working with wool and linen, while yhe men do the heavy lavor." Both quotes from Utopia  page 64  

"That those who blithely  indulge their desires seem better off than those who torment themselves with anxiety in order to publish something meant to bring profit or pleasure to those who all too often receive it with disdain or ingratitude"(More 25). Is he saying that those who follow their dreams and desires are more capable of living in this world as opposed to  those who live in fear and are perhaps are people pleasers ? If yes, I do agree with this statement to a certain extent. I believe the most successful people in this world are the ones who are truly able to get out of their comfort zone and experience new adventures of life . They are living their life for themselves.

"It is curious-- we seem to be completely oblivious of the sound opinions of our ancestors until somebody suggests something better. Ther, oh, how zealously, how religiously we adhere to them! Such proud, ridiculous and obstinate prejudices I have encountered in many places, and once even in England." Utopia page 33

"I must say, extreme justice is an extreme injury: for we ought not to approve of those terrible laws that make the smallest offences capital, nor of that opinion of the Stoics that makes all crimes equal; as if there were no difference to be made between the killing a man and the taking his purse, between which, if we examine things impartially, there is no likeness nor proportion." Image from the European Commission Website: Civil Justice Glossary

"The Gallows" by Deviantart user AniqeAnuk "You need not wonder; for this manner of punishing thieves goes beyond justice and is not in the public interest. it is both too harsh a penalty for theft and an insufficient deterrent. for theft is not so hideous a crime that it should cost someone his life, and no punishment, however great, will deter that man from stealing, who has no other means of getting food."

What makes certain lines from a text jump off the page and fill you with interest and curiosity? Why do some passages carry more meaning and significance than others? For example, Satan in Milton's Paradise Lost tells us: Here at least We shall be free; th' Almighty hath not built Here for his envy, will not drive us hence: Here we may reign secure, and in my choyce To reign is worth ambition though in Hell: Better to reign in Hell, than serve in Heav'n. (Book I, ll. 258-263) This phrase, "better to reign in Hell than serve in Heaven," has caught on - it's almost a proverb. And it's come to represent Satan's character more so than any other line from this massive and miraculous poem. Plus, it just sounds awesome. In short: there's a lot to discuss about this passage, isn't there? Book and tablet photo by Engin_Akyurt on Pixabay.com On days that we don't have paragraphs due, we'll have what I call Quotes and Questions. Yo...

A paragraph is an elusive thing: it seems like something really obvious, something we have known how to write since elementary school. But how do you define a paragraph? How can you tell a good paragraph from a lackluster one? And how do you write the kind of paragraphs that make it easier to communicate your ideas to your reader? Simply put, a paragraph is a group of sentences that develop a single idea. That’s it. The correct length for a paragraph is however many sentences are required to introduce the idea of the paragraph, explain that idea, provide any necessary examples or evidence, explain that evidence, wrap up your idea, and (sometimes) transition into your next idea. However, you have to stick to a single idea! If you can’t write a clear, well-developed paragraph, you can’t write a good paper, a clear memo, a convincing email, or an enticing cover letter. Those who master the paragraph are ready to take on the world! Home Office photo by Free-Photos on Pixabay.com...