From the Notebooks
It is often repeated that a prophet has no honor in his own village–or family, or neighborhood, or country. If he has no honor there, it's because the people closest to him are acquainted with his ordinariness, and it blocks out the greatness, like dense trees block out a view of the forest. The people closest to him may also know his weaknesses or sins.
I would think it's a good state of affairs, at least for the prophet. After a long day of prophesying–of giving speeches, being interviewed, writing essays–I'd think he'd want to wind down and drink a cold beer with those who don't revere him. All people are ultimately ordinary, and it's no fun–and hardly comfortable–to be deemed otherwise.
__________
Found these entertaining:
