Basically, I think that most people either make too much money or not enough money. The jobs that are essential and important pay too little, and those that are essentially managerial pay far too much. Michael Dirda basicallyessentialessentially share on social
Throughout the European Middle Ages and Renaissance, Latin was the language of learning and international communication. But in the early modern period, it was gradually displaced by French. By the eighteenth century, all the world - or at least all of Europe - aspired to be Parisian. Michael Dirda ageaspirecentury share on social
When I come to visit my mom - every two or three months - I generally spend five or six hours with her each day. She's always immensely glad to see me, her eldest child, her only son. Michael Dirda childdayeldest Change image and share on social
While Napoleon believed his fortunes to be governed by destiny, his real genius lay in self-control and martial daring coupled with an indomitable will to power. Michael Dirda believecontrolcouple Change image and share on social
Back in the 1950s and '60s, J. M. Barrie's 'Peter Pan' - starring Mary Martin and Cyril Ritchard - was regularly aired on network television during the Christmas season. I must have seen it four or five times and remember, in particular, Ritchard's gloriously camp interpretation of Captain Hook. Michael Dirda 1950s60sair share on social
Any man's death diminishes us, but when an artist passes away, we lose not just an island but an entire archipelago. Michael Dirda archipelagoartistdeath Change image and share on social
I've been slightly obsessed with paper and notebooks. Among my most precious possessions is a small light-blue, breviary-sized volume - four-and-a-half inches wide, seven inches tall - made by a company called Denbigh. Michael Dirda bluebreviarycall share on social
At the age of 14, I ran away from home for four days and hitchhiked around western Pennsylvania and southern Ohio. Michael Dirda agedayhitchhike Change image and share on social
I don't like gross monetary inequities. I firmly believe that the wrong people and the wrong professions are being rewarded, and rewarded absurdly, and that the hardest work the obscenely rich do is ensuring that they preserve their privileges, status symbols, and bloated bank accounts. Michael Dirda absurdlyaccountbank share on social
It's a sad commentary on our time - to use a phrase much favored by my late father - that people increasingly celebrate Christmas Day by going to the movies. Michael Dirda celebratechristmascommentary Change image and share on social