"Holiness," the patriarch used to be called "Ecumenical," although he was
not in relations with any planet but the earth; Prince Vladimir was called
"the lord of the world," though he ruled only a small strip of ground,
princes are called "serene" and "illustrious," though a Swedish match
is a thousand times brighter than they are--and so on. In using these
expressions we do not lie or exaggerate, but simply express our delight,
just as a mother does not lie when she calls her child "my golden one." It
is the feeling of beauty that speaks in us, and beauty cannot endure what
is commonplace and trivial; it induces us to make comparisons which Volodya
may, with his intellect, pull to pieces, but which he will understand with
his heart. For instance, it is usual to compare black eyes with the night,
blue with the azure of the sky, curls with waves, etc., and even the Bible
likes these comparisons; for instance, "Thy womb is more spacious than
heaven," or "The Sun of righteousness arises," "The rock of faith," etc.
The feeling of beauty in man knows no limits or bounds. This is why a
Russian prince may be called "the lord of the world"; and my friend Volodya
may have the same name, for names are given to people, not for their
merits, but in honour and commemoration of remarkable men of the past....
If your young scholar does not agree with me, I have one more argument
which will be sure to appeal to him: in exalting people even to God we do
not sin against love, but, on the contrary, we express it. One must not
humiliate people--that is the chief thing. Better say to man "My angel"
than hurl "Fool" at his head--though men are more like fools than they are
like angels.




TO HIS SISTER.