“All of existence is pestiferous, my own self most of all.” So wrote the Danish philosopher Søren Kierkegaard in his journal, a week after his 26th birthday. We may not envy Kierkegaard his gloom but it certainly did his reputation for profundity no harm. It is as though there is a law that states what is deep must also be dark…
Latest FT Weekend Magazine Column (30/31 August)