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Surveys Quotes
Surveys
by
Richard French0 ratings, 0.00 average rating, 0 reviews
Surveys Quotes
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“Harriet had lost count of the times she’d read a note Eben Pulsifer had sent her: “I so much enjoyed the time we spent together. You sparkled with brilliance, the best company I’ve had for months. As unlikely as it seems, I believe we can form a friendship.”
She asked herself what she knew about him. They were the same age; he was divorced. Very ambitious, he wanted to be president of the university, but that was a second choice, after other avenues closed to him. It didn’t seem that he was so crude that he wanted her friendship to secure her vote. Did he actually like her? Did she like him?
She called Pulsifer: “I’ve read your note. Thanks. It’s flattering. If we keep on seeing each other, either I’ll have to resign from the search committee – or you’ll have to stop dreaming of being president of the school.”
“How about if I set you up for the job instead? ” Pulsifer asked.
“Don’t think about it. That’s the poorest joke I’ve heard in months.”
“Thank you,” Pulsifer said. “I needed to know what you think. Everyone wants what’s best. But not everyone sees all the problems. Russian missiles in Cuba, tests of nuclear weapons. Sensitive people are frightened, especially young ones. Why bother to do our best if the world is about to get blown up? Why don’t we worship idols? That might do some good. Or live for a good time?”
“It sounds like you’re running for essayist-at-large,” Harriet said.
Pulsifer’s voice deepened. “What happens if weapons fall into irresponsible hands? We need to develop a new kind of person – smart, flexible, sturdy – who can live with the fears that run through mass society and help others overcome them.”
“How do you propose to build this new kind of person?”
“I’m not sure yet,” Pulsifer admitted.
“A president knows how to do things not just point to problems.”
They talked on, hardly aware of undercurrents in their conversation. They’d had a brief romance as undergraduates, then went separate ways. Old feelings revived, potentially deeper, but new romance seemed unlikely, so different were they from one another. “What do you say to dinner tonight?” Pulsifer asked.
“I was thinking about seeing Macbeth again.”
“Let’s do both,” Pulsifer offered.
Maybe he really does want a friend, Harriet thought. Like a sophomore all at sea.”
― Surveys
She asked herself what she knew about him. They were the same age; he was divorced. Very ambitious, he wanted to be president of the university, but that was a second choice, after other avenues closed to him. It didn’t seem that he was so crude that he wanted her friendship to secure her vote. Did he actually like her? Did she like him?
She called Pulsifer: “I’ve read your note. Thanks. It’s flattering. If we keep on seeing each other, either I’ll have to resign from the search committee – or you’ll have to stop dreaming of being president of the school.”
“How about if I set you up for the job instead? ” Pulsifer asked.
“Don’t think about it. That’s the poorest joke I’ve heard in months.”
“Thank you,” Pulsifer said. “I needed to know what you think. Everyone wants what’s best. But not everyone sees all the problems. Russian missiles in Cuba, tests of nuclear weapons. Sensitive people are frightened, especially young ones. Why bother to do our best if the world is about to get blown up? Why don’t we worship idols? That might do some good. Or live for a good time?”
“It sounds like you’re running for essayist-at-large,” Harriet said.
Pulsifer’s voice deepened. “What happens if weapons fall into irresponsible hands? We need to develop a new kind of person – smart, flexible, sturdy – who can live with the fears that run through mass society and help others overcome them.”
“How do you propose to build this new kind of person?”
“I’m not sure yet,” Pulsifer admitted.
“A president knows how to do things not just point to problems.”
They talked on, hardly aware of undercurrents in their conversation. They’d had a brief romance as undergraduates, then went separate ways. Old feelings revived, potentially deeper, but new romance seemed unlikely, so different were they from one another. “What do you say to dinner tonight?” Pulsifer asked.
“I was thinking about seeing Macbeth again.”
“Let’s do both,” Pulsifer offered.
Maybe he really does want a friend, Harriet thought. Like a sophomore all at sea.”
― Surveys
