To Fr. Gerald Leonard SVD
And with thanks to Chris Arena, John Berlyne, John Bierer, Jennifer Brehl, Charles N. Brown, Beth Dieckhoff, J. R. Dunn, Ken Estes, Ben Fenwick, Russell Galen, Patricia Geary, Tom Gilchrist, Lisa Goldstein, Anne Guerand, Varnum Honey, Fiona Kelleghan, Barry Levin, Marion Mazauric, Andreas Misera, Ross Pavlac, David Perry, Serena Powers, Ramiz Rafeedie, Jacques Sadoul, Sunila Sen-Gupta, Claire Spencer, Tom and Cheryl Wagner, and Eric Woolery-
– and especially to Jennifer Brehl and Peter Schneider and Serena Powers, for that long discussion about Kim Philby, over dinner at the White House in Anaheim.
Birthdays? yes, in a general way;
For the most if not for the best of men:
You were born (I suppose) on a certain day:
So was I: or perhaps in the night: what then?
Only this: or at least, if more,
You must know, not think it, and learn, not speak:
There is truth to be found on the unknown shore,
And many will find what few would seek.
– J. K. Stephen, inaccurately quoted
in a letter from St. John Philby
to his son, Kim Philby,
March 15, 1932
Where wast thou when I laid the foundations of the earth?
Declare, if thou hast understanding.
– Job 38:4