GURDJIEFF, G.I. – Life is real only then, when I am - Integral Book

views with different people I had to see—was nobody else than thatman who, on account of fortuitous circumstances, arising partly fromthe catastrophe which happened to me and partly from theconsequences of that abnormality at the basis of family life, crystallizedin the life of contemporary people, especially in you Americans, whichconsists in the fact that the leading role in the household belongs to thewoman, afterwards became your chief leader; I speak, as you yourselfsurely have already guessed, of Mister Orage.All the following, which led to the sad results that are the object ofour talk of today, arose in the following succes-siveness:When, at the end of my first visit to America, after a rathersuccessful realization of all my plans, I was ready to go back to Europewith the intention, as I said then, to return in six months for the purposeof already opening permanent branches of the Institute in some of yourbig cities, and, several days before my departure, I was discussingaloud, together with the people who came with me, who could be lefthere for the continuation of what had been begun as well as variousother preparations for my next intended arrival, Mr. Orage, beingpresent as well, unexpectedly offered his services and with greatexcitement began to affirm his able-ness to do it brilliantly.As I found him quite suitable for the necessary preparations, chieflyon account of his proven knowledge of the English language, of which Ihad been convinced already here in New York, as well as on account ofhis smart appearance which, as might be easily understood, has a greatimportance in all business relations, especially among you Americans, Iaccepted his offer and began to explain to him at once certain details ofthe required preparations.As I learned afterwards, the real cause of his offer and his