Editing George Gurdjieff (section)

==World War II==
Although the flat at 6 Rue des Colonels-Renard was very small, he continued to teach groups of pupils there throughout the war. Visitors have described his pantry or 'inner sanctum' as being stocked with an extraordinary collection of eastern delicacies and the suppers he held with elaborate toasts with vodka and cognac to "idiots".<ref>{{cite book|title=J. G. and E. Bennett ''Idiots in Paris'' |id={{ASIN|0877287244|country=uk}} }}</ref> Having cut a physically impressive figure for many years, he was now paunchy. His teaching was now conveyed more directly through personal interaction with his pupils, who were encouraged to study the ideas he had expressed in ''Beelzebub's Tales''.{{cn|date=March 2025}}

His personal business enterprises (including intermittently dealing in oriental rugs and carpets for much of his life, among other activities) enabled him to offer charitable relief to neighbours who had been affected by the difficult circumstances of the war, and it also brought him to the attention of the authorities, leading to a night in the cells.{{cn|date=March 2025}}