Sri Aurobindo

Letters of Sri Aurobindo

Volume 1

Letter ID: 273

Sri Aurobindo — Roy, Dilip Kumar

September 25, 1932

So far as the photograph of which you speak can be taken as showing the man, it is that of a nature of which the chief character is intensity, but in a very narrow range. There is here no wide range of ideas or feelings; a few ruling ideas, a few persistent and keenly acute feelings. The face of a man whose vital is also intense, but without strength and therefore over sensitive. There may well be a strong idealistic tendency – but there is not likely to be much power to carry out the ideals. This is the character; as for the genius, if there is any, it will depend on other things which may not find positive expression in the outward appearance; for the external man is often the medium of a Power that is beyond him.

I shall keep the book, for a few days – if you don’t need it – just to glance through it; it is too big to read in detail. I know nothing of Lawrence; I shall see if I can pick up something from here.