Nothing new

I read her some biographical notes on William James from Mathison’s book, and we discussed Pragmatism. She found the meaning of James’ thoughts as almost “childish”, commenting how strange it is that men can devote their lives to explain things that are really self-understood and need not to be talked much about--and become famous with it. She did not think I told her--or James, rather--anything new.
     --From her husband Egon's journal, January 26, 1948