". . . several things dovetailed in my mind, & all at once it struck me, what quality went to form a Man of Achievement especially in Literature & which Shakespeare possessed so enormously--I mean Negative Capability, that is when a man is capable of being in uncertainties, Mysteries and doubts, without any irritable reaching after fact & reason--"
--John Keats in a letter to his brothers George and Tom, December, 1817
Negative Capability
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Now I finally know what Shakespeare has and I don't ;)
ReplyDeleteTruly, though, this has always been a struggle for me.