Mickey Z

Cool Observer

Posted by Mickey Z on 03/18 at 05:33 AM

I hear that, all too clearly. Though maybe not in the way you’re intending for people too… Cher left back for down south the other night, but not before clarifying that she’s not really in love with me and we shouldn’t see each other anymore… I got home from work just now, sick with the disgust that I can’t find a decent job in the daytime, that everyone I know who does proofreading work is really an actor or poet of some sort, and I certainly don’t produce enough writing to justify such a dead-end career, to use the term loosely… it all calls to mind Orwell’s quote from ‘84, that if you want to see the future, picture a boot stamping on a human face-- forever. Better yet, read his ‘Keep the Aspidistra Flying’, to see another half-educated despairing writer’s life-- but no, it ends on too hopeful a note. So better yet, go to Miller’s hero, Knut Hamsun, for ‘Hunger’. Now there’s some beautiful hopelessness for you, oh man yes, telling it like it is, ohhh, so much weight lifted from shoulders…

Um, maybe Miller’s line will be easier to interpret after more sleep. Those books didn’t come with a money-back guarantee, did they? I guess that’s not funny.

Posted by James on from NYC 03/18 at 09:40 AM

Proofreading in the United States would send any capable mind into a state of hopelessness.

Posted by Lee Hall on from 03/18 at 12:15 PM

I dunno. By coincidence, I found this Miller quote just as I turned 40. and it was liberating. He’s not, I feel, advocating apathy or discounting any chance for “progress” (whatever that means to each of us). I think he was removing some of the illusions inbred in us (especially Americans).

Posted by Mickey Z. on from 03/18 at 12:41 PM

Yes, I guess I do know what you both mean-- not to wait and hope for a specific overly dramtic event to strike us like lightning and immediately vastly improve our lives… wait patiently through smaller such positive steps even if they feel disappointing along the way. Although that wasn’t the lesson I was getting as I attempted to read Tropic of Cancer. That was just hard to get through for some reason.

Posted by James on from NYC 03/18 at 01:29 PM

I read the quote your way Mickey. I guess the word in it that really sticks out is “extrinsic,” which in this case I take to mean “outside of the self.” Looking for happiness or change outside of ourselves is always a letdown. The real change and happiness comes from within; cliche’ and Hallmark Cards as that sounds, it is nonetheless true. Outside forces do exist, but can only affect us based upon our internal reactions to them. We CHOOSE to react with anger or happiness or whatever to the outside stimuli, but it is still an inside game. At some point individuals can begin to recognize the difference between being an actor and being a reactor, waiting for things to happen TO ourselves and making things happen FOR ourselves. This in essence was the burden that was lifted from Miller’s shoulders, and left him free to create life from the inside out, rather than from the outside in.

Posted by Rev Joe on from 03/18 at 01:41 PM

Well said, Rev...as for Miller’s books, the one I recommend most is “Air Conditioned Nightmare.”

Posted by Mickey Z. on from 03/18 at 02:49 PM

Great quote and so timely! On the other hand all great quotes are ..

Posted by Helga Fremlin on from Melbourne, Australia 03/18 at 05:01 PM

Henry has found the essential truth that Zen Masters and sages have been laying out for a few centuries now - that all of this is sort of a dream despite the grit in our mouths when we pick ourselves up off the ground from the latest blow… and that just seeing this essential nothing behind everything is entirely liberating. Or as Richard Farina said, “Nothing is as important as nothing.” Or something like that…

Posted by John Eden on from Georgia 03/18 at 05:57 PM

Not too long ago, I read “Positively 4th Street.” Farina is a sadly forgotten 1960s figure.

Posted by Mickey Z. on from 03/18 at 08:14 PM

Great quote, and equally great portrait, but I wouldn’t give up on extrinsic events just yet. That’s what happened in the early 70’s and spawned all kinds of kookiness that eschewed old fashioned political grunt work. We’re still winning some:http://www.coalitionagainstgenocide.org/press/victory.pr.php

Posted by sk on from 03/19 at 10:44 AM

Thanks, SK. You’re right. “Extrinsic” doesn’t necessarily mean good or bad...but overdependence on “extrinsic” is usually a dead end.

Ol’ Henry might be happy to see his words sparking all this (or maybe not).

Posted by Mickey Z. on from 03/19 at 10:50 AM

And winning some more: They Say Tomato, Students Say Justice
Under pressure from a spirited coalition of farmworkers and student activists, fast food giant Taco Bell finally agrees to improve their “sweatshops in the field.”: http://www.commondreams.org/views05/0318-30.htm

Posted by Tony Christini on from Morgantown WV 03/19 at 07:25 PM

Thanks, Mickey-- hoping that some hope will come into our lives whether for relationships or better jobs or what is ok, I guess, but yeah I can see what you mean about ovedependence on extrinsic events. I think Miller would be glad to see all this sparked here, rather than in letters in the New Yorker or someplace like that. There was a Bukowski article in I think it was last month’s New Yorker, try to go check it out…

Posted by James on from NYC 03/20 at 06:56 PM

Yeah, Richard’s lost to this generation. I can’t find a copy of “Little Nothing Poems” anywhere - it was in the post-humous book _Long Time Coming.._ but can’t find that anymore. Amazon has _Down So Long_ but that’s all.

Posted by John Eden on from Georgia 03/20 at 07:32 PM

John, if you are still trying to find a copy of “Long Time Coming and Long Time Gone”, you should go to abebooks.com, a website which sells books by 1000’s of different used book dealers. I already checked for you, and there are 80 used copies available starting at $4.95! The price you pay depends on condition, edition and what different dealers are trying to get, but there are 25 different dealers selling this book for less than $25. These are set prices, not auctions so you don’t have to deal with any of that ebay-type nonsense. It’s just like going into a used book store. Good luck.

Posted by Glen Thrasher on from Atlanta, GA 03/21 at 05:41 PM

Thanks Glen! I’ll do that.

Posted by John Eden on from Georgia 03/22 at 01:40 PM

I read this site , and found this quote. So ,I was filled with complicated emotions.
Inspite of anti-war attitudes of Mr.Mickey=Z’s site (
I agree your attitude! ), miller’s words lead us to “ Inside the whale “ .....A peculiar combination , but interesting.

Posted by yuhske satow on from Japan 07/12 at 11:03 AM