Showing posts with label William F. Buckley. Show all posts
Showing posts with label William F. Buckley. Show all posts

Tuesday, March 24, 2009

Thought for the day

Now that I'm not doing something new every day, I'm finally catching up on the knee-high stack of accumulated magazines. An article that struck me in particular was about conservative icon William F. Buckley.

Here's what Bob Colacello wrote about Henry Kissinger's euology:

At St. Patrick’s the faithful responded to Kissinger’s emotion-choked eulogy with sustained applause. “Bill Buckley inspired a political movement that changed American politics,” the former secretary of state intoned. “He founded the National Review that, for over a generation, has shaped American political discussion; he hosted an influential talk show [Firing Line] for 30 years; he wrote an elegant column. Every year, he authored a beautifully written novel; in what passed for his spare time, he produced several nonfiction works and delivered over 50 lectures annually. He was a passionate skier, an accomplished harpsichordist, and a daring sailor. He wrote as Mozart composed, by inspiration; he never needed a second draft … this noble, gentle, and valiant man who was truly touched by the grace of God.”

I agree with Buckley on precisely nothing, but I couldn't help but be impressed. A book a year? A lecture a week? Not to mention beginning an entire movement.

Frankly, I think the guy must have been twins.