| [Malinowski]
took a personal interest in each of his pupils; he talked over with them
not only their academic problems but their own human problems as well...
And if a crisis arose - because one could argue fiercely with him at times
- he had the most disarming way of suddenly putting aside all emotion,
and spreading the whole thing out on the table, as it were, for analysis
of his own motives as well as those of the other person... Whether
it was at an acedemic gathering or at a party - and he loved parties -
he stood out, by his appearance, his manner, his clear intelligence
and his brilliance of conversation... Perhaps as a reflex of his keen scientific
penetration he had a great emotional sensitivity. Sometimes this
took on almost a melancholic form... [and aroused] in him the feeling
that he was fighting against Fate itself, which
in giving him the cup of success to drink, had filled it with a bitter
draught. At such times he needed friendship badly, and all the comfort
his friends could give.
Raymond Firth: Man and Culture, p.9 and s.12 |