All Is Number

How frighteningly few are the persons whose death would spoil our appetite and make the world seem empty. — Eric Hoffer, Reflections on the Human Condition We fall in love once, or twice; have one or two real friends; hate one enemy; feel pity for a few unfortunates — and the rest of mankind leaves us perfectly indifferent. — Jules Renard, Journal 1887-1910 The human heart is an exclusive club operating under the name Dunbar’s Number. The bouncer has a clipboard, a bad attitude, and a ruthless sense of capacity. Another way to put it: The heart is generous in theory and protectionist in practice. It cannot afford open borders. Scarcity does not cease to exist when we leave the marketplace. It follows us into the heart. Attention, patience, the ability to worry without being consumed: all are scarce. We may dislike the intrusion of economic language into love, but the underlying fact remains: to care deeply for someone is to spend oneself, and no creature has infinite reserves. We can…