Margulis & Sagan on Life
Life did not take over the globe by combat, but by networking.
–Margulis & Sagan
[widow and daughter, respectively, of astronomer Carl Sagan] in Microcosmos
Leo C. Rosten on the Purpose of Life
I think the purpose of life is to be useful, to be responsible, to be honorable, to be compassionate. It is, after all, to matter: to count, to stand for something, to have made some difference that you lived at all.
Leo C. Rosten
Author of The Joys of Yiddish
Are You Prudent with Money?
It is the maxim of every prudent master of a family, never to attempt to make at home what it will cost him more to make than to buy. … What is prudence in the conduct of every private family can scarcely be folly in that of a great kingdom.
Adam Smith, 1723-1790
The Wealth of Nations
Freedom = We Do Not Know What We Are Doing
If we could get to know all the consequences of our actions history would be nothing but an idyllic and constant harmony of free wills, or the infallible unfolding of a rational design. We would then always act rationally, that is, we would not act at all, since we would simply follow a pre-established and sterile pattern. But then we would not be free.
We are free, however, and this means literally that we do not know what we are doing.
Life is a Daring Adventure
Security is mostly a superstition.
It does not exist in nature. Nor do the children of men as a whole experience it.
Avoiding danger is no safer in the long run than outright exposure. Life is either a daring adventure or it is nothing.
Physical and Moral Courage
Physical courage, which despises all danger, will make a man brave in one way; and moral courage, which despises all opinion, will make a man brave in another.
Everyone’s favorite radio station is WII-FM
Everyone’s favorite radio station is WII-FM
What’s
In
It –
For
Me
Broadcast on their frequency and they’ll tune in.
The American Lyric Poet
We never know how high we are,
Till we are called to rise.
And then, if we are
true to plan,
Our statures touch
the skies.
—Emily Dickinson 1830-1886
American Lyric Poet
Resolution Without Reservations
There is great power in a resolution that has no reservations in it — a strong, persistent, tenacious purpose — which burns all bridges behind it and which clears all obstacles from its path and arrives at its goal, no matter how long it may take, no matter what the sacrifice or the cost.
A New Year, A New Model of Winning
I have just read this and I want to share it with all of you as it describes the promise of who we are as human beings trying to discover identities for ourselves.
A few years ago in the Seattle Special Olympics nine people assembled at the start line for the 100m dash. This was an unusual bunch as they were all suffering from mental or physical handicaps. At the sound of the starters gun they all surged forward except one boy who fell on the asphalt, rolled over a few times and started crying.
The other eight up ahead heard the crying and all looked back to see what is happening. Everyone of them turned and ran back to the young boy. A girl with Downs Syndrome bent down and (more…)
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