Commonplace Journals

A Plan for Collecting Great Quotes

A practice and habit of great minds is to collect the best of what other great minds have said and done so that they might make use of their wisdom. A commonplace journal is a great tool for gathering together the wisdom of history and literature into one place. If you are unfamiliar with the concept of commonplacing, here is what you need to know:

1. Get yourself a nice journal. Pick a great one that is beautiful, sturdy, and has plenty of room.

2. As you are reading (or in some cases listening) take note of the wisdom you read and hear and write it into your commonplace journal.

3. Use your commonplace journal as a source of inspiration for your own writing projects, for pieces to memorize for the good of your soul, for arranging them into public speaking opportunities, etc.

4. Write down the quote (verbatim), write down the source, and why you value the information (e.g. “This was beautifully said and I want to remember it”, or “This is a great definition of justice!”, etc).

That is pretty much the whole idea. Not too complicated.

Even so, I have found that some people desire (or need) more structure in order to make this a fruitful exercise for them. Such being the case I have developed a system for commonplacing which I have personally found very fruitful and I am now seeing it bear fruit in my classroom as well.

Having taught commonplacing to 7th-12th grade for a number of years now I have noted that some students, when lacking more specific guidelines, don’t know what to look for. This leaves some of them simply writing things like, “Bombur was immensely fat and heavy.” (The Hobbit, pg. 12) While I too find this funny (and actually I have no problem with this being an entry in their journal) these aren’t the kind of entries I would count for their grade. So I have started teaching students to look for one of three things for the purpose of commonplacing. 1. A Great Idea, 2. A Virtue, or 3. One of the corresponding Vices (in short they look for a G.I.V.V.). By finding examples of these in their books students are sure to locate commonplace worthy selections. It also allows them to organize their journal by category.

So what is a Great Idea, and what of the Virtues and Vices? Allow me to treat the topic of virtue first.

Virtues and Vices

Aristotle describes virtue as excellent qualities gained by habitual practice. They are considered excellent because they aid in human happiness and flourishing. Roughly we may divide virtual into two camps, Moral and Intellectual. Aristotle teaches in his Nicomachean Ethics that virtues are found in the mean between two corresponding vices. The following is a list of the seven great moral virtues. The first four are known as Cardinal virtues and the latter three are known as the Theological virtues. Taking our cue from Aristotle of virtue being a mean between two corresponding vices I have placed the virtue in the middle with vices of deficiency on the left and vices of excess on the right. Eventually I hope to put a hyper-link on each of these virtues which will take you to an further exposition of said virtue and its corresponding vices.

When reading a book (or listening to a lecture) you can look for examples of these and note them. When I see an example of one of these in something I am reading I usually write the word in the margin and underline it. This allows me to go back over the chapter when I am done reading and find it again easily and put it in my commonplace journal.

The Great Ideas

“Great Ideas” are “universal themes” found in many stories, works of philosophy, and even in historical events. You can see them in literature, of course, but also in plays, television, and movies. The greatest of stories often interact meaningfully with several of these themes/ideas in the same story. Some of the above virtues and vices are also important as “Great Ideas” in stories. Below are some examples of Great Ideas with a short description. I am still refining these descriptions and welcome your feedback. This list is by no means exhaustive and the description may not fully encompass all possible examples of a particular Idea. What might you add?

Light vs. Darkness: The use of the actual terms “light” and “darkness” or the use of the atmosphere of light and darkness in the story, typically used to emphasize good versus evil.

Eucatastrophe: Going through a terrible trial but coming out on the other side better and/or stronger for having gone through it and being able to give thanks for the difficulty.

Home: The longing for home when away on a journey, the need to protect it from invaders, and the way in which characters identify with their place of origin (think of how the Shire shapes Sam, how the mines shape Gimli the dwarf, and how the woods shape Legolas the elf). In some cases it’s found as a longing for a place one has never been to but to which one knows he or she belongs.

Appearance vs. Reality: Things are not always what they seem. What is the original impression of something? What is actually the case?

Redemption: Having fallen from a higher status, usually through an immoral action, but now having earned or been granted back a good reputation or status.

Coming of Age: Reaching a moment in life where expectations, responsibilities, and/or privileges suddenly and permanently change.

Forgiveness: Characterized by the need for forgiveness or the need to give it to others. Likewise examples of actually being or giving forgiveness.

Vengeance: The driving need to see punishment dealt against a person, people group, or entity, which the character perceives as having wronged them or those they care for.

Perseverance: Refusing to quit even in the midst of great difficulty and/or danger.

Friendship: The connecting of two or more people by the bonds of love for one another but not characterized by sexual intimacy. Typically a friendship is forged by a shared love for something, a shared purpose, or a shared mission.

Family: Defined by the bonds of blood relation, typically, but sometimes friends can become true family. Family are those to whom you have an obligation to support, fight for, protect, and serve because of their relationship to you. It does not always entail the enjoyment of one another although ideally it is present.

Community: A broader idea which may encompass a larger group and include friends, family, and sometimes even enemies. Nonetheless it is a place or group to which a person belongs and it is meaningful in shaping that person’s character and values.

Compassion: Having sympathy towards people who are suffering or in great difficulty, leading to a desire to provide relief. This is most vibrantly seen when it is shown towards those who are considered enemies.

Mortality vs. Immortality: Awareness and appreciation of the vibrancy of life. The looming reality of death. The quest for everlasting life. The loss of loved ones. Religious beliefs concerning life and death.

Purpose / Meaning: Wrestling with why an individual or the whole race of man is here. What gives meaning to a life? What robs a life of meaning? How can one acquire purpose and be fulfilled?

Being/Having a Guide: Everyone needs guidance and there are many examples of guides that lead the way or of opportunities to guide others.

God / Religion: References to God or religion outside of particularly religious texts where they are more normally expected. References to God or religious beliefs in Moby Dick, Great Expectations, or even Harry Potter, for instance, should draw our attention.

Wilderness vs. Civilization: Man imposing order on nature, creating cities, and communities. Sometimes characterized as wilderness equating danger but civilization providing safety. Other times wilderness might be seen as simplicity and beauty whereas civilization is conflated with technology, being overcrowded, and exhibiting industrial ugliness.

Adoption: Coming to belong to, or be accepted by, a family or community to which a person (or people) had once been alien.

Truth: A clear expression of reality or a character’s coming to see things the way they really are.

Goodness: An example of a person or people conforming to how things ought to be. Conforming to moral truth.

Beauty: An example of something visually or audibly conforming with true standards of beauty.

Temptation: An opportunity to do what is wrong for personal gain or even for the good of others. Often temptation preys on natural or even good desires but it offers an unjust outlet.

Peace: A sense of calm and assurance.

Myth: An explanation for why things are the way they are today. Myths are often factually or historically incorrect but that is not essential to their nature. Some myths are true.

Fate/Destiny: A sense of something larger and beyond the immediate character and their surroundings which is guiding them to a definite and predetermined outcome.

Freedom: Escaping from bondage, whether physically, spiritually, or emotionally. Experiencing the sense of control over ones own choices, actions, and/or future.

Creation: The making of something new, the imposition of a personal will on non-personal matter to form it into something different. A reflection of the Creator in our sub-creating.

Destruction: The rejection of and/or tearing down of people, institutions, objects, or creation itself.

Battle of Wits: Usually in the form of a duel between two opponents either for the sake of a prize/treasure or in defense of one’s honor and reputation.