A few years ago I was invited to speak at the Library of Congress in Washington. The entrance hall to the Library is famous for its murals, which present an unambiguous message to any politician who wanders in from Congress over the lawn. On the day that I visited, there was a memorial service taking place in the Congress buildings for a well-known African American politician. A line of mourners made their way in to pay their respects. There is always something particularly moving about people lined up to say goodbye in this way. In this case, I read in the papers that the politician in question had been the victim of disparagement. His response to this had been extremely dignified—always the best response to hurtful words.

library of congress

The frescoes here proclaim

Good government and the truth,

And the dangers of those things

That impede the proper living

Of the democratic life;

Anarchy sits with broken wheels,

Hewn building stones upended;

Idle youths and their corrupters

Occupy benches from which

Sorrowing industry and learning

Have been told to go;

There is no ambiguity here:

The visitor is cautioned and is left

In no doubt about what libraries,

And this particular one indeed

Mean; the message is spelled out

In words as well; there is no excuse

For missing it, and should you

Drop your eyes to the floor

And keep them low, it is inscribed

There as well, in marble and in brass.

Knowledge and the word

Are our foundation, and our sword.

Every day, twelve thousand items

Are received, and listed,

Filed away in boxes, put in store,

While librarians in droves

Prepare the patient shelves for more.

Knowledge and the word

Are our foundation, and our sword.

From the window at the front

Around the Congress building

Can be seen a line of mourners;

They shuffle forward, as those

Who pay respects to fallen heroes

Always shuffle, in silence;

A much-loved black congressman,

With a deep voice and a parish

Of suffering lies in state;

He endured the insults

Of an unkind opponent,

But answered to these slights:

Come down and see me, come

And see us, see how people live.