www.artzbox.com                               dragonfly-1 by Nana Lau

Powdered concubine dressed in rich silks -- Feet bound, body soft, lips slack -- Views lotuses through binoculars. A dragonfly alights on her motionless fan.

How do you know when your own life verges on decadence?

Certainly when the force of form becomes more important than the force of substance. When etiquette and morals become more important than understanding and righteousness. When procedure becomes more important than creativity. When gratifying your lust becomes more important than giving to others. When patriotism red governing and enlightened treatment of other nations. When the act of eating becomes more important than considerations of nutrition. When the opera become more important than helping the poor and homeless. When one's own comfort becomes become more important than the suffering of loved ones. When ambition become more important than benevolence. When prestige become more important than charity. When the academy become more important than the streets. When loud expression become more important than listening to others. When outrageousness become more important than than communication. When connoisseurship become more important than simple acts. When style become more important than than function. When books become more important than teachers. When expediency become more important than the elderly.

When you smell these things happening, you are not far from decadence.

decadence
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