WRIGHT: That he is an individual, his self-hood precious and
inviolate, yet he must live in harmony with other
individuals whose right to life and welfare is as certain as
his own. Approach the study of society from any direction
you will, that problem is at the heart of it, and must be a
thousand generations from now, because it must be met anew
with every infant born. We think, here, that the most
rewarding answer is in the old virtues of self-knowledge,
charity, honesty, forbearance, patience. Now, those are all
words that demand definition and multiple definition; on
that basis we have our children study them, search the depth
and height of them, in the not so simple problems of
childhood through the tougher ones of adolescence and
maturity. We make them understand that lip service will not
do: if one is to make himself honest he must eat honesty
with breakfast, sweat with it in the sun, laugh and play and
suffer with it and lie down with it at night until it's near
as the oxygen in his blood. Yes, we aim high. Cruelly high,
would you say? We don't think so. Perfection is a cold spot
on top of a mountain, and nobody ever climbed there. We have
trouble and fun and arguments; sometimes the garden weeds
grow until tomorrow or the day after, but we sleep well.
DOROTHY: Speaking of perfection and goodness and things and
stuff--I know it was Paul who put those violin strings by
Nan's bed, but which one of you supplied them?
SLADE: Well, he told me--
DOROTHY: Will it be all right if I reach over this daughter
of mine and kiss you?
SLADE: They did brief us, back on Earth, that we must
respect local customs--
MIJOK: And perhaps even another drink could do him no harm.
PAKRIAA: He's pied.
ELIS: I would not say that. Speaking as Governor, I say that
the local wine industry deserves every encouragement it can
get--and has, ever since Samis' favorite kink had kittens in
the bottom of the vest bat.
SAMIS: Correction.
MIJOK: Best vat. Speaking as Lieutenant Governor. Just
elected--did it myself.
MUSON: The toastmistress has been quiet lately.
NISANA: Who, me?
PAUL: By acclamation, yes.
NISANA: Le'me think. We did drink to the children--those in
bed and those who ought to be--
HELEN: 'Ception.
DOROTHY: Great big woman. You weigh a ton, sweet stuff, 'n'
so do your eyelids, they do.
NISANA: And we drank to the olifants. No no--I am too
happy--my mind is a lake without a breeze. You propose the
toast, Pakriaa.
SALLY: Matter of fact I'm already sort of whooliollicky--I
think--
DOROTHY: Hey--maybe it's not just the wine. Paul--Doc--it
must be almost thirteen hours--
PAUL: Yes--yes, almost. Maybe you'd better--
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