[lit-ideas] persons & humans

Robert wrote:

> Wasn't the same true in Britain (and for all I know, Boston) until not
> too long ago. 'Madame, there is a _person_ here to see you,' i.e.,
> someone from the lower orders.

And/or someone you'd rather not be around. E.g. Coleridge's "person
from Porlock" and what about in French, eg: "Guard! Cet individu
m'importune. Remove him from my orbit, if you please."

>'A characteristic remark that Wittgenstein would make when referring to
>someone who was notably generous or kind was "He is a _human
>being_!"âthus implying that most people fail even to be human.'

>âNorman Malcom, Ludwig Wittgenstein: a Memoir, p. 61

Arabic does that too.

MN



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