DIY History | Transcribe | World War II Diaries and Letters | Joseph E. Evans letters, 1935-1954 | 1943-12-08 Joseph Evans to Mary Evans Page 2

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Joseph E. Evans letters, 1935-1954

1943-12-08 Joseph Evans to Mary Evans Page 2

Austin Warrens - be sure to take some work under Austin; he will not be there long. My friend Sherman Conrad, who is an utterly charming and fine person, is returning to get his Ph.D. in February. And there will be others. Most of all, do not be afraid of what you are doing, do not seek to justify it - it needs no justification - do not Rationalize, do not think of the future - you cannot predict it - just go ahead and do it; and make it as rich an experience as possible. Live laterally, do not shut yourself off in some hospital room away from the society of your colleagues. Don't worry about money; if you haven't enough, let your father help you: he owes it to you far more than to me; by no means take a job, teaching or otherwise, if you can possibly avoid it. 
And when it is over and you have at least a way of life which is, somehow, life itself, you will be very glad and you will be more at peace than you could ever otherwise have been. Believe me, I shall be furious with a righteous auger and most unutterably disappointed in you if you do not go ahead with this thing. You, John, myself - none of us is complete: we all stopped somewhere along the line: let one of us at least, if only from family pride, be a success according to his lights!
About the dissertation - do whatever is easiest on yourself. If it easier to complete your mss. than to do something critical, then do that, though if you had time it might be fun, and profitable, to do a critical piece; but Foerster can guide you in this better than I. if you do something in criticism, however, Pitcher is a perfect man to work under - but you know that. And please give all these people my kindest regards - it will be a long time, I guess, before I see any of them.

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Austin Warrens - be sure to take some work under Austin; he will not be there long. My friend Sherman Conrad, who is an utterly charming and fine person, is returning to get his Ph.D. in February. And there will be others. Most of all, do not be afraid of what you are doing, do not seek to justify it - it needs no justification - do not Rationalize, do not think of the future - you cannot predict it - just go ahead and do it; and make it as rich an experience as possible. Live laterally, do not shut yourself off in some hospital room away from the society of your colleagues. Don't worry about money; if you haven't enough, let your father help you: he owes it to you far more than to me; by no means take a job, teaching or otherwise, if you can possibly avoid it. And when it is over and you have at least a way of life which is, somehow, life itself, you will be very glad and you will be more at peace than you could ever otherwise have been. Believe me, I shall be furious with a righteous auger and most unutterably disappointed in you if you do not go ahead with this thing. You, John, myself - none of us is complete: we all stopped somewhere along the line: let one of us at least, if only from family pride, be a success according to his lights! About the dissertation - do whatever is easiest on yourself. If it easier to complete your mss. than to do something critical, then do that, though if you had time it might be fun, and profitable, to do a critical piece; but Foerster can guide you in this better than I. if you do something in criticism, however, Pitcher is a perfect man to work under - but you know that. And please give all these people my kindest regards - it will be a long time, I guess, before I see any of them.