FIGURE on the left: the covers of the Foxfire Books original edition (1972, 1973, 1975; slightly worn out; left column) and recent reprints (2004; right column).

More is not always better. Worse yet, more is not generally (normally, usually, commonly, ordinarily, frequently, habitually) better. And it is hard for me to concede to the ‘the bigger, the better’ & ‘more of everything’ present American attitude. There is an optimum size for practically everything, and there is beauty and elegance in the simplicity of everything.

The figure on the left illustrates how a new cover design (the right column) for the reprints of the honored Foxfire Books has blemished my enjoyment of the books. ‘New’ is not a synonym for ‘better’ or ‘improved’.

Appearances to the mind are of four kinds: Things either are what they appear to be; or they neither are, nor appear to be; or they are, and do not appear to be; or they are not, and yet appear to be. Rightly to aim in all these cases is the wise man’s task.

Epictetus (ca.55-ca.135):The Discourses of Epictetus (translated by P.E. Matheson), Heritage Press, New York, 1968.