Quotes and Wisdom from the Past

“How much more anger and grief do than the things that cause them.”

“For you can’t lose either the past or the future; how could you lose what you don’t have?

“The impediment to action advances action.
What stands in the way becomes the way.”

Sayings and sageful words uttered in past centuries bear poignant relevance for modern communities across the world. Their timeless interpretation a general fit for a multitude of circumstances. Make of them what you will. Thanks to fermincazares for highlighting Marcus Aurelius’ wisdom.

A Moral Dilemma

Moth: “I gave you my life.”

Flame: “I allowed you to kiss me.” ~ Hazrat Inayat Khan

There is always going to be suffering. It’s how you look at your suffering, how you deal with it, that will define you.

~ Mark Twain

We might sit in the privileged sector of the world looking aghast at the human cost of the pandemic. Is our life worth more than a single one of theirs? How can we and how do we deal with the harrowing realities of human tragedy unfolding across India?

Originally posted by backtothedrawingboardproductions.com

Blogger AussieEssays made the point that “many people today only imagine suffering as they have never truly experienced it and instead borrow the suffering of others to validate themselves. They punch holes in the air and scream in the wind as they follow a cause that simply doesn’t impact on their comfortable lives as they tell themselves that they have made a difference when they in reality have done little of any importance.“

Does feeling temporarily shocked and appalled help anyone?

Does paying lip service assist us to process a tragedy on the scale of India’s Covid 19 pandemic and allow us to continue with our daily tasks at work; eating our cheese sandwich and speaking with friends or other mundane activities, so that our conscience runs clear and we might continue functioning productively?

John Fowles has some sobering words for us:

“The human race is unimportant. It is the self that must not be betrayed.”

“I suppose one could say that Hitler didn’t betray his self.”

“You are right. He did not. But millions of Germans did betray their selves. That was the tragedy. Not that one man had the courage to be evil, but that millions had not the courage to be good.”

― John Fowles, The Magus

In the face of tragic circumstances be prepared to:

• Allow feelings of grief and shock
• Examine what can be learnt from the situation to better existence for all
• Think about what each one of us can do with that information
• Be proactive and follow through as your situation allows (ie. don’t be an armchair whiner)

I think Confucious has the final word:

“When it is obvious that the goals cannot be reached, don’t adjust the goals, adjust the action steps”~Confucius

Proverbial Friday – Global Wisdom

I find there to be profound wisdom in proverbs, sayings and quotes and I marvel at the way they are so succinct in communicating messages to the reader. Mostly anonymous, they come to us from past generations and from across cultures. They speak of the experiences of lives lived and lessons learned. Quotes, like proverbs, make us think more deeply about something.

Each Friday, I post a Proverb or Saying and a Quote that I find thought-provoking.

I hope you will too.

Both the proverb and quote this week come from America. The proverb is an interesting old Native American saying –

“Force, no matter how concealed, begets resistance.”

~ Native American Proverb

Again from America, Mark Twain has some humbling words for us.

What do you make of the proverb? Concealed force naturally gets people off side because it borders on trust issues. We trust that our friends are not going to hurt us, or force us against our will, because we do believe they care about us. If we felt they didn’t care, the friendship would wither and die.

We feel insulted if someone forces us to do something we don’t want to do. Sometimes we may dig our heels in and refuse, even if it is the sensible thing to do. We seem to like deciding for ourselves, which points to the intense need for self-respect.

Furthermore, it threatens our independence, choice making and self-control. All these things most people take for granted, and for someone to manipulate and force a course of action invalidates the person’s ability and right to choose for themselves.

Politicians might have sometimes forgotten the message the American Indian proverb is trying to convey.

I invite you to join in the discussion by sharing a comment below. Is force ever justified?

Does it always lead to resistance or compliance?

Proverbial Friday – Something to Ponder About

Proverbial Thursday – Global Wisdom

I find there to be profound wisdom in proverbs, sayings and quotes and I marvel at the way they are so succinct in communicating messages to the reader. Mostly anonymous, they come to us from past generations and from across cultures. They speak of the experiences of lives lived and lessons learned. Quotes, like proverbs, make us think more deeply about something.

Each Thursday, I post a Proverb or Saying and a Quote that I find thought-provoking. 

I hope you think so too.

The proverb this week comes from the little known volcanic island nation of Cape Verde. It is known for its  Creole-Portuguese-African culture, although the appeal and message of the quote appears universal:-

There is no better mirror than an old friend

(Cape Verde proverb)

Reflections, like mirrors, reveal what may hitherto be hidden from view.

The quotes this week comes from Mark Twain – or Samuel Langhorne Clemens as he was also known as.  [1835-1910]

Kindness is a language that the deaf can hear and the blind can see.

and furthermore, he penned this:

Everyone is a moon, and has a dark side which he never shows to anybody.

Is there a hidden meaning behind these words?

Is your old friend, a good  and trusted mirror to you? Has the Selfie become the modern equivalent, reflecting back what one cannot see themselves?

I think some old friends are great sounding boards. They can be someone who knows you best, not just the public persona that you show to the world. If an old friend cannot tell you a truth, then who can?

I would love to hear your thoughts. Join in the discussion.

It gives us Something to Ponder About

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Proverbial Thursday – Global Words to Live By

I find there to be profound wisdom in proverbs, sayings and quotes and I marvel at the way they are so succinct in communicating messages to the reader. Mostly anonymous, they come to us from past generations and from across cultures. They speak of the experiences of lives lived and lessons learned. Quotes, like proverbs, make us think more deeply about something.

Each Thursday, I post a Proverb or Saying and a quote that I find thought-provoking. 

I hope you will too.

Many thanks to TidiousTed who has supplied us with an excellent proverb to mull over and discuss this week.

 “Everyone walks the furthest in their own company” – Icelandic proverb

and from Mark Twain, a gem:

“Principles have no real force except when one is well-fed”

– Mark Twain

I invite you to leave a comment and tell me what you think of the Icelandic proverb and Mark Twain’s quote.

The journey always seems shorter when accompanied by a friend. Particularly so, if one was walking the long lonely roads through the Icelandic mountain passes. Would you agree?

Samuel Langhorne Clemens is better known by his pen name, Mark Twain and was born on November 30, 1835…  Mark Twain traveled many roads during his life and patented a variety of inventions. Despite experiencing poverty during his younger years he became a household name, received a honarary doctorate and advised politicians on copyright law. Perhaps this had a bearing on his quote, that I have selected to showcase, this week. What do you think?

Surely something to ponder about.

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