This book is a collection of essays and letters written by four prominent writers who explored the theme of the ideal in their works. They examine the tension between the ideal and the practical, and the ways in which the ideal can both inspire and complicate one's life. The book is a great resource for anyone interested in the history of philosophy and literature, as well as the concept of the ideal in Western thought.

This work has been selected by scholars as being culturally important, and is part of the knowledge base of civilization as we know it.

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