fatal conceit

Fatalism is a conceit.

hollow hearts, empty heads

[written of those who live murmuring complaints]

Winds none the loner
Tho no bounds beleague
Their lullen choir
Singing sullen siege
. . . . .

with whom i am

I am not sure whether I am a crow or an eagle, but when I am in excellent company I know I am a dove.

recount with caution

Exercise care in admitting your faults and mistakes. Such off-hand or deliberate confessions will be remembered and quoted to your detriment. There are many who, in not admitting their own shortcomings, protect their image by recounting yours.

join the future now

Regret is not meant to arrest time, but to join the future in correction now.

a eulogy in his own words

'The world has changed. There are few occupations that exist in this day requiring men of the old order. Few jobs still require the raw muscular strength and fear-facing grit that manhood is capable. Sinews of muscle, grunts, and sweat have given way to imperceptible breathing, légèreté on levers, buttons and keyboards, and soothing wisps of refrigerated air.

Firefighters are a remnant of that old order which few want to, or are able to, emulate. These men fight with pike axes, plaster hooks, halagan tools, ladders, hoses, pipes and water against one of the most destructive forces in nature.

But these men aren't defined by their occupation. Their life-risking deeds define their occupation. I know this from observing these men. I know it from experience. I was once one of them.'
. . . . .

that breed of family

There is that breed of family that hymns the eternal truths, piously salutes the Creator of all each sabbath, yet will make one of their own look good at the expense of others, endorse one of their own to the detriment of others, and protect one of their own from a justice they themselves would pursue against others.

friendship

Friendship: the acceptance of another as our self, and seeking his interest as if our own.

beneath words

The old man answered the young man, 'Something that sounds absurd - because it's unfamiliar - may give the lie to what's accepted. Associations hidden by common usage of language can be discovered.'

The old man took pencil and paper and wrote, 'a cause from a cause that comes from an effect.' After writing a list of prepositions beneath the words 'from', he instructed the young man, 'Now make substitutions for each 'from' in any combination. My point will be evident.'

bookends

When you achieve your goal you achieve your decision.

everything in sequence

Can't sharpen the blade when you're still forging the steel.

life finds

I have found that life finds.

the least attractive side of evil

You can always identify the least attractive side of evil ~ it believes doing good is a loss.

arts of conversation

So many skilled in the art of mortal conversation but so few in the eternal one.

blend in uniqueness

We are all unconnected but want to be touched, to have the benefit of connection without the loss of individuality, without the loss of identity. If we would only realize, man and woman, that there is no more loss of that uniqueness we feel is our's than there is loss in the colors in the rainbow. Each is distinguished from the other in their connections, while each is joined in a pleasant blend.

in the white

There are those who, in leading a tidy life, see everything in black and white. With such a convenient vision of life, these comfortably see themselves in the white.

payment

Our debts are paid with our loves and wishes.

boldness in restraint

Boldness in restraint is as great as boldness in action. Restraint is a measure of discipline of will and volition without disfiguring integrity of need, means, and intent.

Bold acts have far fewer opportunities to be performed where risk and loss are at their greatest, but restraint is not performed as often as all its frequent opportunities.

"nirvana"

I see that I see
I hear that I hear
I speak that I speak
I am that I am ~
This is that it is
So I am

your test

One man's trials are another man's test.

Insight your test is what you do in the face of another's trials

innocence's avenger

He said, 'Never with evil intent harm Innocence. Innocence has an avenger who will come. He will be more singular, his attention more focused, his sense of purpose more keen than yours. He will hunt you for retribution better than you hunted for mischief.'
. . . . .

destiny's double helix

I have thought on this a long time and think there are two destinies in each person's life: the one that is given & one that is chosen. We can ask Heaven to change the one given, and we can change the one we chose.

tomorrows today

Tomorrows are lived today.