Thus civilization is created, step by step, in a province at the edge of the Roman Empire, or in a rural county of California:

First we plant a vineyard, for wines are the very foundation of an agreeable life: "Civilization Follows the Vine". We take pains to perfect our winemaking as much as we can. The Exquisite applies very much to winemaking: a fine wine is truly worth ten times as much as an ordinary wine.

Next we establish gardens and orchards, so that our fine wines may be paired with excellent cuisine. It's all about fresh local ingredients appropriate to the season, enhanced with spices and herbs. That was the obvious choice in Roman times, but not so in the modern world when we have so much to relearn (perhaps from Michael Pollan's Botany of Desire or The Omnivore's Dilemma).

With the basic needs for nutrition thus cared for, it is time to create a community of like-minded souls to live together. Essential to this community are manners: a Golden-Rule world of treating one another with consideration and respect. The climb from barbarism to civilization is marked by "Sir", "Please", "May I", "Thank you kindly", and suchlike. And we should not hesitate to answer the ill-mannered lout sharply- but forgive him promptly if he reforms.

Now is the time for architecture, to create a handsome and enduring place to live... and especially a cellar to preserve and protect the best of the wines, and a kitchen where it will be a pleasure to create good meals. We should build carefully and well, "for our great-grandchildren", avoiding fads and cheap materials, heeding the classic texts (A Pattern Language, or Palladio's Four Books on Architecture).

One room, at least, in the house is to become a library, to house books and other written materials, and whatever other media and devices (DVD's, Internet connections, atlases, etc.) are suited to connecting with the wisdom of the world. It's a good place to spend some time shedding light on our ignorance and steering away from our mental follies.

Of course there is music- from CD's or FM stations, or from the voices or instruments of the habitants- to enliven the aural environment. Here in the 21st Century, there are cable stations that will provide commercial-free music, of dozens of different sorts, 24 hours a day!

From the best talents of the neighborhood, or the world, the household is to find works of art to adorn walls and floors- perhaps to augment the beauty and grace of the environment, or perhaps to challenge sensibilities which may have become too comfortable and insular.

The sum of all these stimulating and civilizing influences, we must hope, will be a mastery of the art of conversation. This art requires not just competence but a certain etiquette, as expressed by Russell Baker: "Both parties listen attentively to one another; neither tries to promote himself by pleasing the other; both enjoy an intellectual workout; neither spoils the peaceable air by making a speech or letting disagreement flare into anger; they do not make tedious attempts to be witty."

All these bits of the Exquisite, practiced diligently and lovingly, can culminate in a philosophy of life which can express itself thus: