In January 1939, E.B. White wrote:

I was sorry to hear the other day that a certain writer, appalled by the cruel events of the world, had pledged himself never to write anything that wasn’t constructive and significant and liberty-loving. I have an idea that this, in it’s own way, is bad news.

All word-mongers, […]

The Protestant Reformation began 500 years ago.

Henry David Thoreau was born 200 years ago.

Historians will ask about this day, and this year.

They will ask, “What were they thinking?”

They will ask, “What did they do about it?”

For what it’s worth, I will have a record of both.