Danger Blog! posts an excerpt from a profile of Stephen Fry:
One of Fry's heroes is acting legend James Cagney.I didn't realize interiority was a specifically American phenomenon. Or that temperment is a willed philosophy. Posted by nchicha at February 26, 2004 01:38 AM"When he was in his late 80s he was learning a seventh language, he was reading Russian and French literature, sailing his yacht, building things. It was this amazing list.
"Cagney was asked how he could retain such an interest in life. His answer was, 'I guess it's because I never give a second's thought to myself.'
"That's a wonderful lesson and really so un-American. Most Americans think the key to happiness is thinking about yourself."
He's not talking about interiority, i.e. reflectiveness, introversion. He's referring to being self-centered.
Posted by: on February 26, 2004 11:22 AMI realized, after I wrote the post, that "interiority" wasn't the right word choice. But never giving "a second's thought" to oneself can be interpreted several ways: as selflessness, for ex., or a lack of reflectiveness.
Posted by: Nathalie Chicha on February 26, 2004 04:32 PM
kind of like blogging »