Thinkers and Lovers

Clausewitz and his wife loved each other dearly. They shared everything, she said. Thoughts and all.

Today I picked up my copy of John Stuart Mill's On Liberty.

He includes a dedication:

"To the beloved and deplored memory of her who was the inspirer, and in part author, of all that is best in my writings – the friend and wife whose exalted sense of truth and right was my strongest incitement, and whose approbation was my chief reward – I dedicate this volume. Like all that I have written for many years, it belongs as much to her as to me; but the work as it stands has had, in a very insufficient degree, the inestimable advantage of her revision; some of the most important portions having been reserved for more careful re-examination, which they ar enow never destined to receive. Were I but capable of interpreting to the world one half the great thoughts and noble feelings which are buried in her grave, I should be the medium of a greater benefit to it, than is ever likely to arise from anything that I can write, unprompted and unassisted by her all but unrivalled wisdom."

This dedication causes me great sadness and tremendous emotion.

To think!

To love!

I now intend to read Mr. Mill's work.

Not only is he a famous and respected philosopher, but he was clearly a lover. He was clearly someone who felt powerful things for those around him.