The ability to express the right idea at the right time is a rare and precious one. And one not likely to be exhibited on this Substack, except by accident. But maybe some thoughts are wasted on the moment. Or would have been if we’d thought of them in time. In any case, L’esprit de l’escalier is the result of ruminations after the moment has passed. Covid, Brexit, the fall of Rome. My hope is that there is life in these thoughts yet.

After all, plus ça change… For all the talk of how our times are fast-moving and ever-changing, the 21st century so far has been marked by intellectual stasis. In particular, certain assumptions linger from the past, especially the long shadow of the post-Second World War period. The Baby Boomers begat Gen X, begat the millennials, Gens Y and Z, and - at least in a certain light - the family resemblances are more striking than the superficial differences. Perhaps there is nothing new under the sun. Perhaps it is the yearning for novelty itself that keeps us in thrall to superficial developments. So, L’esprit de l’escalier is unashamedly untimely. Let’s see what happens.

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