<img attachment="william_hazlitt.webp" align="right"><bq author="William Hazlitt" date="1823" source="Lapham's Quarterly">To think ill of mankind, and not wish ill to them, is perhaps the highest wisdom and virtue.</bq> <hr> <n>I had a lovely discussion with a dear Slovakian friend just this past weekend. We agreed that we seem to think well of individuals but that people in groups are nearly always detestable and that mankind is doomed. We further agreed that, although we are very likely unwittingly sometimes part of the problem, there is nevertheless nothing for it but to continue to try to drag each and every one of us, kicking and screaming, into what we consider to be the light. I only learned today that, at least according to William Hazlitt, this makes us not only wise, but virtuous.</n>