In real life, unlike in Shakespeare, the sweetness of the rose depends upon the name it bears. Things are not only what they are. They are, in very important respects, what they seem to be.
To any intelligent being, there is no emotion more important than hope. Individually or collectively, we must hope that the future will be better than the past, that our offspring, and theirs after them, will be a bit closer to an ideal society, whatever our perception of that might be…
The meekest of animals will fight bravely when it is backed against a wall, for it has nothing left to lose. A poor man is more deadly than a rich man because he puts less value on his own life.
Guilt resembles a sword with two edges. On the one hand, it cuts for Justice, imposing practical morality upon those who fear it. But there is another side to that weighted emotion. Conscience does not always adhere to rational judgment. Guilt is always a self-imposed burden, but it is not
There is a wide world out there, my friend, full of pain, but filled with joy as well. The former keeps you on the path of growth, and the latter makes the journey tolerable.
It is better, I think, to grab at the stars than to sit flustered because you know you cannot reach them… At least he who reaches will get a good stretch, a good view, and perhaps even a low-hanging apple for his efforts.
Is yours an honest lament?…Most are not, you know. Most self-imposed burdens are founded on misperceptions. We – at least we of sincere character – always judge ourselves by stricter standards than we expect others to abide by. It is a curse, I suppose, or a blessing, depending on how
We must not just be in the world and above the world, but also of the world. To love it for what it is… is the only task. Avoid it and you are lost. Loose yourself in it, and you are free.