The Great Quotes thread

[Ron Mauer Sr]

Everyone makes me happy.
Some when they arrive.
Others when they leave.

author unknown

[starsha]

“And the day came when the risk to remain tight in a bud was more painful than the risk it took to blossom.” -- Anais Nin

&

“Life shrinks or expands in proportion to one's courage.” -- Anais Nin

[ViralSpiral]

You may be disappointed if you fail, but you are doomed if you don't try.
Beverly Sills

[Lisab]

People plan, God laughs....anon

[Newlyn]

I have never begun any important adventure, for which I felt adequately prepared." ~ Sheldon Kopp

Go on with your journey in courage and trust!

[Gaia]

When we least expect it, life sets us a challenge to test our courage and willingness to change; at such a moment, there is no point in pretending that nothing has happened or in saying that we are not ready. The challenge will not wait. Life does not look back. A week is more than enough time for us to decide whether or not to accept our destiny.

Paulo Coelho

[crosby]

Wednesday October 5, 2011

"All tyranny needs to gain a foothold is for people of good conscience to remain silent."
-Thomas Jefferson, American president (1743-1826)

"A state of war only serves as an excuse for domestic tyranny."
-Aleksandr Solzhenitsyn, Russian author (1918-2008)

[Ineffable Hitchhiker]

[Ruby L.]

My country is the world, and my religion is to do good.

-- Thomas Paine

[starsha]

"There is nothing "bad" or "good", there is no "positive" or "negative" (putting aside batteries); there is what is and labels are a way to "cope" - to like or dislike something does not make it "bad" or "good" - "it is what it is". " -- King Anthony

[benevolentcrow]

Good to be back...

[ViralSpiral]

Glad to have you back!



"I am warning you, one day we will start praying for the defeat of the ANC government. You are disgraceful". Bishop Tutu on the ANC's refusal to grant the Dalai Lama a visa for his 80th birthday celebration.


Happy Birthday Bishop Tutu!

[crosby]

benevolentcrow welcome back........ we've all missed you!

Friday October 7, 2011

"Each day is a little life: every waking and rising a little birth, every fresh morning a little youth, every going to rest and sleep a little death."
-Arthur Schopenhauer, German philosopher (1788-1860)

to my daughter annie on her 21st birthday celebration:

Be patient toward all that is unsolved in your heart and try to love the questions themselves like locked rooms and like books that are written in a very foreign tongue. Do not now seek the answers, which cannot be given you because you would not be able to live them. And the point is, to live everything. Live the questions now. Perhaps you will find them gradually, without noticing it, and live along some distant day into the answer."
Rainer Maria Rilke

[benevolentcrow]

“Here's to the crazy ones ~ the misfits, the rebels, the troublemakers ~ the round pegs in the square holes ~ the ones who see things differently -- they're not fond of rules. You can quote them, disagree with them, glorify or vilify them ~ but the only thing you can't do is ignore them ~ because they change things ~ they push the human race forward ~ and while some may see them as the crazy ones ~ we see genius ~ because the ones who are crazy enough to think that they can change the world ~ are the ones who do” ~ Steve Jobs

"Remembering that you are going to die is the best way I know to avoid the trap of thinking you have something to lose. You are already naked. There is no reason not to follow your heart. Stay hungry. Stay foolish." -Steve Jobs

[starsha]

[starsha]

"Really, Hagrid, if you are holding out for universal popularity, I'm afraid you will be in this cabin for a very long time". -- Dumbledore

[Gaia]

The truth is on the march and nothing will stop it.

La vérité est en marche, et rien ne l'arrêtera.

Emile Zola. Extrait de L'Affaire Dreyfus.

[starsha]

Maybe

Once upon the time there was an old farmer who had worked his crops for many years. One day his horse ran away. Upon hearing the news, his neighbors came to visit. “Such bad luck,” they said sympathetically.

“Maybe,” the farmer replied.

The next morning the horse returned, bringing with it three other wild horses. “How wonderful,” the neighbors exclaimed.

“Maybe,” replied the old man.

The following day, his son tried to ride one of the untamed horses, was thrown, and broke his leg. The neighbors again came to offer their sympathy on his misfortune.

“Maybe,” answered the farmer.

The day after, military officials came to the village to draft young men into the army. Seeing that the son’s leg was broken, they passed him by. The neighbors congratulated the farmer on how well things had turned out.

“Maybe,” said the farmer.

-- Zen Parable

[starsha]

Sorry this one is long, but i just read it this morning and had to share.

Here's the challenge: when opinions differ about things that feel like they really matter (because they effect our lives & the lives of our children) can we keep our hearts open to each other? How we are with each other when we do not agree is where the spiritual rubber hits the road (so to speak! :-) Can I listen, really listen & bring a genuine curiosity to why the other reacts or thinks or feels differently than I do? Can I speak in away that helps the other hear- without hyperbole or derision, with deep respect for them as another human being?

It's about having the courage to participate where we can & are called (which maybe on the street with others, in solitary prayer, &/or in conversation & meditation with others) without putting anyone out of our hearts, without forgetting that there is no "them" and "us"- it's all just us, muddling along, trying to figure it out, sometimes behaving badly (usually out of fear) and sometimes shining so brightly it takes my breath away.

It's about expanding our ability to be the peace- feel it, feed it, embody it within- wherever we are.

-- Oriah Mountain Dreamer

[Lisab]

"What's your name"? Coraline asked the cat. "Look I'm Coraline. Okay?" "Cats dont have names" it said. "No?" said Coraline. "No" said the cat. "Now you people have names. Thats because you dont know who you are. We know who we are so we dont need names". Neil Gaiman, Coraline

I would like to see anyone, prophet, king or God, convince a thousand cats to do the same thing at the same time.. Neil Gaiman