Not P but Moby-Dick (10)

[Ian Livingston]

You are correct, Mike. It is a sort of prayer, if you will: God, please
never let me complete anything [so that others may continue the work]. It
is an aspiration to be part of something greater than oneself.

On Sat, Sep 16, 2023 at 1:51 PM Mike Jing <gravitys.rainbow.cn at gmail.com>
wrote:

> The following excerpt is from Chapter 32:
>
> For small erections may be finished by their first architects; grand ones,
> true ones, ever leave the copestone to posterity. God keep me from ever
> completing anything. This whole book is but a draught—nay, but the draught
> of a draught. Oh, Time, Strength, Cash, and Patience!
>
> The previous translations treated "God keep me from ever completing
> anything" as a statement, i.e. "God never allows me to finish anything."
> That doesn't seem right, does it?
> --
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>