Results 1 to 10 of 22
Thread: Can you do without the strop?
Threaded View
-
08-27-2006, 01:29 PM #14Originally Posted by xman
One of the things that attracts me to the straight razor is its simplicity and its ability to "get the job done." While it is certainly possible to complicate the straight razor shave and to find luxury in it, complexity and luxury are not the main attractions of the straight razor, for me. I'm looking for the simplest of foundations, from which I will take occassional, enjoyable excursions into complexity and luxury.
All too often, those who seek comfort do not end up finding it. Rather, their standards of comfort gradually become higher and higher, untill finally only on the rare occasions when they have absolutely every element they desire are they able to achieve a temporary semblance of satisfaction.
Gandhi said "The real essence of civilization is not the multiplication of wants but their deliberate and voluntary renunciation." Although I part philosophical company with the Mahatma in many areas, in this one he and I are in agreement.
The paradox is that the epicure seeking comfort is likely to enjoy the experience he seeks much less than the acetic who is used to doing without the luxuries. For the ascetic, anything above the baseline is an enjoyable treat, while for the epicure, anything below his highest expectation is miserable.