Orestes Brownson Still Speaks to Us Today

A reader writes:

In my own darker moments, I often fall into a real pessimism about our culture. Not that I think it’s entirely unjustified, but sometimes a little historical perspective helps. Yes, things are bad. But things have always been bad to a certain degree.

“I wish it need not have happened in my time,” said Frodo.

“So do I,” said Gandalf, “and so do all who live to see such times. But that is not for them to decide. All we have to decide is what to do with the time that is given us.”