“Music calms me. I feel that it forgives me. I am sure that all the poets would forgive me. (I do not speak, of course, of those patriots who compose poems for the state.)”

* ‘My Suicide’ by Swiss anarchist and math teacher Henri Roorda, is a depressed man’s retelling of what he believes to be his mistakes which have led him to considering and ultimately taking his own life. Written in 1925 and given along with his actual ‘end note,’ Roorda offers critiques to both capitalistic and socialistic societies. Roorda speaks of the mundaneness and boredom of life, stating “I had an absolutely false idea of life. I attached too much importance to what is exceptional: enthusiasm, excitement, drunkenness. What occupies almost everything in a person’s life is daily monotonous tasks, hours of waiting, hours in which noth- ing happens. The normal man is he who knows how to vegetate.” It was interesting to read over what a man left over before he took his own life—to be able to critique something as dark as this would leave anybody feeling taciturn. I won’t say it’s good or it’s bad, it just is. One thing that stood out to me is Roorda’s disillusionment with the education system oh his time. He states, “The prospect of taking up my lessons again would depress me less if those who pay me said, “You will give these children the best of your thoughts.” I hardly resemble those civil servants who are proud to be “cogs” in the social machine. I need to be moved by the truths that I teach.” This was a short read, and Mr. Roorda lived a short life. One thing I believe is true, is that no matter what life is always worth living.