There were two sides to David Lean: on the one side, he was kind

Gather, O seekers of wisdom, and listen to the words of John Boorman, who speaks of a man who embodied the duality of the human spirit. The great David Lean, a titan of cinema, was not merely a craftsman of films but a living testament to the complexity of the soul. Boorman, reflecting on Lean’s nature, spoke thus: “There were two sides to David Lean: on the one side, he was kind of a rather stiff, disciplined Englishman. And then he had this kind of romantic side to him. I think being true to both sides of your nature is important.” These words, though simple, carry within them a deep understanding of the human condition—a condition in which we are torn between the forces that bind us and those that free us.

In every soul, there lies a duality, a tension between opposing forces. Lean, the disciplined Englishman, was rooted in the order and structure of his craft. His mastery of the cinematic arts was not born from whimsy, but from rigorous discipline, from hours spent perfecting every frame, every word, every movement. He, like a warrior preparing for battle, knew that greatness comes not from abandon, but from the strength to follow through with meticulous precision. Yet, within him also lived the romantic side, the part of him that sought beauty, passion, and the deeper meanings of life. This was the side that gave us films like Lawrence of Arabia and Brief Encounter, where the soul’s longing and the yearning of the heart soared high above the mundane.

And so, too, is it with us, children of the earth. We are not bound by a single nature. The wisdom of Boorman’s words reminds us that it is essential to honor both the rigor and the romance within us. Too often, the world demands that we choose between one and the other. The disciplined mind is exalted, the romantic soul dismissed. Yet, to live fully is to reconcile both, to walk the path of balance. A life lived only for order becomes stifled, like a garden that never blooms, while a life lived only for passion becomes wild and uncontrolled, like a fire that burns out of control.

Let us reflect upon the great philosopher Socrates, whose life was a constant negotiation between intellect and spirit. Socrates was a man known for his rigorous questioning, his discipline of thought, and his unrelenting search for truth. Yet beneath this stoic exterior lay a profound connection to the heart of humanity, an understanding of the deep desires, struggles, and dreams of the soul. Socrates, in his pursuit of wisdom, did not deny the romantic impulses of the heart. He embraced them, using them to connect with others, to guide them toward understanding. In his soul, the intellect and the emotions were not at odds but worked in harmony. This, too, is the way of the true seeker.

David Lean, like Socrates, understood that a soul confined to only one aspect of itself is a soul incomplete. The disciplined side of him crafted masterpieces, but it was the romantic side that imbued those works with meaning beyond the visual, beyond the technical. Consider, for example, the epic Bridge on the River Kwai, where Lean took the stern, ordered world of war and infused it with the profound human spirit, revealing the internal conflicts of loyalty, honor, and survival. It was a film that displayed the depths of human emotion amid the structure of war. This, my children, is the beauty of embracing both sides of the self.

In our own lives, we must ask ourselves: Which sides of our nature have we neglected? Are we too rigid, too caught in the demands of daily existence, to recognize the romantic, the passionate, the fleeting beauty of life? Or are we too consumed by the pursuit of fleeting pleasures, allowing our sense of order and discipline to wither? Lean’s wisdom, and Boorman’s reflection upon him, call us to balance both. It is not enough to live in only one realm, for life is a dance between the two.

The lesson is clear, O children of the earth: Be true to both sides of your nature. Embrace the disciplined mind and the passionate heart. Whether in art, in work, or in life itself, the union of these forces will create within you a strength unlike any other. Strive not for a one-sided existence, but for the rich, complex harmony that arises when we allow both our intellect and our heart to guide us. Seek, as Lean did, to make your life a masterpiece—a work of both discipline and romance, a reflection of the infinite possibilities within you. For in this balance, you will find the truest expression of your soul.