Proust Questionnaire - seems a pretty good way to come back to LJ after 3 years!
The Proust Questionnaire has its origins in a parlor game popularized (though not devised) by Marcel Proust, the French essayist and novelist, who believed that, in answering these questions, an individual reveals his or her true nature. Here is the basic Proust Questionnaire.
1.What is your idea of perfect happiness? Where I am now, with a few minor enhancements, mostly of the material variety.
2.What is your greatest fear? Losing my mind before I die.
3.What is the trait you most deplore in yourself? That I can't be less critical of others.
4.What is the trait you most deplore in others? Inefficiency.
5.Which living person do you most admire? A difficult question! I am not really into celebrities (though was a bit star-struck upon getting to meet Polly Russell and Jeremy Paxman last year...) so it would have to be someone I knew personally - and I know many admirable people.
6.What is your greatest extravagance? In general, books. Specifically I made an extravagant art purchase recently for the first time ever, with a view to both short-term enjoyment and long-term investment.
7.What is your current state of mind? Relaxed and mildly philosophical.
8.What do you consider the most overrated virtue? As the concept of 'virtue' is subjective, I'm going to go with two more definitive existing lists to help me decide - i.e. Aristotle's virtues, and Biblical virtues. The former consist of prudence, justice, fortitude and temperance. The latter: chastity, temperance, charity, diligence, patience, kindness, and humility. I'm going to have to say that chastity is perhaps the most over-rated, perhaps followed by patience.
9.On what occasion do you lie? To protect others who deserve it..
10.What do you most dislike about your appearance? As ever, my poor skin condition. Some things never change!
11.Which living person do you most despise? It's a predictable response, but Donald Trump is the first that springs to mind.
12.What is the quality you most like in a man? Intellect.
13.What is the quality you most like in a woman? Intellect.
14.Which words or phrases do you most overuse? 'Arguably' and 'However'!
15.What or who is the greatest love of your life? I'd be in trouble if I didn't say my husband, wouldn't I?
16.When and where were you happiest? Probably here, now.
17.Which talent would you most like to have? Piano-playing. Or possibly greater physical grace and speed.
18.If you could change one thing about yourself, what would it be? My poor skin condition.
19.What do you consider your greatest achievement? My driving licence.
20.If you were to die and come back as a person or a thing, what would it be? A tortoise. I think it would be a pretty good life. Or if I could have the chance to come back as an even better version of myself, that would be advantageous too perhaps.
21.Where would you most like to live? Savennières.
22.What is your most treasured possession? Sounds sad, but my USB stick with all of my writings and lesson plans since basically ever on it. If it were lost/damaged I think I'd actually be sick. (Anyone got any good solutions for fast reliable backup just in case?!)
23.What do you regard as the lowest depth of misery? Loneliness.
24.What is your favorite occupation? Reading.
25.What is your most marked characteristic? You'd have to ask others that. Though they might say glitter.
26.What do you most value in your friends? Intellect.
27.Who are your favorite writers? Iris Murdoch, Thomas Hardy, George Eliot, Sebastian Faulks, Ian McEwan, Matthew Arnold, DH Lawrence, Sylvia Plath. And I have probably forgotten some.
28.Who is your hero of fiction? Scarlett O'Hara, possibly.
29.Which historical figure do you most identify with? A very difficult one, but possibly Rosa Parks (even though it's arrogant to say so, and others would cry cultural appropriation as well!).
30.Who are your heroes in real life? See 5
31.What are your favorite names? As I am currently expecting a baby, this would be giving too much away. It's enough that we've found out the sex without blowing the surprise of the name!
32.What is it that you most dislike? See 4
33.What is your greatest regret? The avoidable loss of 2 friends.
34.How would you like to die? Peacefully, in my sleep, when very old, with all marbles intact.
35.What is your motto? Go big, or go home!