Jay Matthews

The function of the erotic is to encourage excellence and to give us the strength to pursue it.

Our respondents unanimously agree that it is important to let problems simmer below the threshold of consciousness for a time.

Like, if you think about this, I just want to lean in for a second and get us to think about like that, which the energy that, um, that is inside of a seed that can crack its seed coat, and roots can go down and these leaves can go up, is the same energy that swells, um, the lilac buds in the spring, and as the same essence, that then turns that... See more

Kropotkin pointed out that Darwin’s own comments regarding the survival value of the social instincts are widely ignored. In The Descent of Man (1871), Darwin described how animal species in which cooperation among individuals replaced competitive struggle were able to secure the best conditions for survival. He implied that, in such cases, the... See more

It feels like there’s something in the heft of what he said and how he said it that he, also, in 1903 when he was writing those letters, was on the cusp of this unimaginable tumult and carnage and transformation of that last century.

Psychological-mindedness (the propensity to take responsibility for one’s problems and to look within oneself for the solutions) is considered by many to be an important criterion for analyzability. Historically, these criteria have operated to exclude many who might otherwise have seemed to be potential beneficiaries of psychoanalytic treatment.... See more

A step-by-step recipe for beauty:

I want people to realize that there is an unprecedented opportunity available to people right now. If you are willing to pay some economic and status costs in the short term you can take advantage of this temporary arbitrage opportunity. Worst case, you can return to your job with a little more energy. Best case? You might stumble upon a way of... See more

Planning is sacred, plans are not