“He who pays the piper calls the tune” is a familiar proverb. Wiktionary tells us it means that “The person paying for something is the one who gets to say how it should be done.” It’s difficult if not impossible to argue against its wisdom. What’s the alternative? I suppose it would be something like,
READ MORE“The ordinary acceptation of words in their relation to things was changed as men thought fit,” Thucydides records in his History of the Peloponnesian War. Those lines, written some 2,400 years ago, carry remarkable relevance for today as we witness contemporary society commit the same error of the Corcyreans that Thucydides commented on. And it’s a
READ MOREBy now you may have seen the video of a children’s choir singing the national anthem in the U.S. Capitol rotunda. The children are seemingly well-trained, and their training is made ever more beautiful by the acoustics of their surroundings. What’s unique about this video, however, is not their singing, but the fact that the
READ MORENo event in human history has fascinated filmmakers so much as the Second World War. One estimate suggests that as of 2014, there have been over 1,300 movies made about World War II, and that number has only grown since then, with two more entries arriving in theaters this year: Sisu, the brutal story of
READ MOREDemography nerds assiduously follow the data popping up about fast-ageing societies, their loss of dynamism and prospects of population collapse. With each successive generation significantly smaller than the last, we know where we’re headed. While population collapse is an environmentalist’s dream, it is an unfolding nightmare for humanity at large. The world’s economic engine, the
READ MOREIn the Christian circles I hang out in, Chick-fil-A is a bit of an icon. Whether it’s grabbing a bite to eat or even working there, Chick-fil-A is wound into the social fabric. Known for being closed on Sundays and the founder’s strong Christian faith—not to mention the popularity of its food, clean restaurants, and
READ MOREWilliam Shakespeare’s play Hamlet is considered by some to be the single greatest story ever written. Hamlet has it all: ghosts, sword fights, suicide, revenge, lust, murder, philosophy, faith, manipulation, and a climactic bloodbath worthy of a Tarantino film. It’s a masterpiece of both high art and sensationalism, the only play I’ve seen performed live three times. Not
READ MOREFriday Comic: Dog’s Best Friend. Credit: OwenComics (store). Twitter: @owenbroadcast. Instagram: @owenbroadcast. ITO Save this article to favorites
READ MOREAt Intellectual Takeout, we strive to offer not only commentary on current events but also tangible advice for engaging with our increasingly chaotic world. That’s why we’re proud to present this ongoing series of literature recommendations. Previously, we’ve featured books for young men, and we’re excited to publish a part two with 10 more selections.
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