And then I already began somewhat to understand the course of the world, but I was silent.
(General Misunderstanding among all Men.)
5. I also observe and hear that they talked among themselves in various languages, so that they mostly did not understand or answer each other, or they answered on something different from what had been said, each one differently. Wherever a large crowd gathered, almost all spoke, each one listening to himself and none to the others, although they plucked at one another to attract attention. But it happened not thus; rather was there brawling and scuffling. And I exclaim: "In the name of God, are we then in Babel? Here each one sings his own song.[1] Could there be greater confusion?"
(They occupy Themselves with Useless Matters.)
6. Hardly anyone there was idle; all were employed in some kind of work; but these works—and this I never should have believed—were nothing but childish games, and at least were useless exertion. Some, indeed, collected sweepings and divided them amongst themselves; some hurried here and there with timber and stones, or dragged them up with a windlass, and then again dropped them; some dug up earth, and conveyed or carried it from place to place; the others
- ↑ A proverbial expression in Bohemian.
