Hermann Goering (Nazi officer, during his Nuremberg war crimes trial)

"Why of course the people don't want war....That is understood. But, after all, it is the leaders of the country who determine the policy and it is always a simple matter to drag the people along, whether it is a democracy, or a fascist dictatorship, or a parliament, or a communist dictatorship. Voice or no voice, the people can always be brought to the bidding of the leaders. That is easy. All you have to do is tell them they are being attacked, and denounce the peacemakers for lack of patriotism and exposing the country to danger. It works the same in any country."

Self Importance

"Interesting how a person whose identity is determined by title, social station, & posturing is so frustrated by someone whose isn't." ~ Urban Hermit

Animals

"If slaughterhouses had glass walls, everyone would be a vegetarian." ~ Paul McCartney

Note: see the movie Earthlings, aka The Vegan Maker. Narrated by Joaquin Phoenix, this movie uncovers the horrific, filthy, criminal acts performed on animals every minute of every day in order for us to eat and be fashionable.

“When the heart is right ‘for’ and ‘against’ are forgotten.” – Chuang Tzu

“By nature, we do not perceive ourselves or others accurately. We magnify the importance of ourselves and diminish that of others. In the beauty of a clear night, however, we look at the stars and feel ourselves small, unimportant, and at peace. On an objective scale, we sense our insignificance. Somehow the realization comforts us. The return of the illusion hurts us, takes our peace away, allows us to magnify slights, rejections, and humiliations as others challenge the illusion of our self-importance with theirs. It is in our human nature that this be so; it is our task to transcend it.”

- Barry Grosskopf, Hidden In Plain Sight via Blog From A Hermit

Your Path

Your path has its own simple beauty & mystery.

It is never what you think it is.

Yet it is never beyond your ability to intuit the next step.

Stagnation

"Worms will not eat living wood where the vital sap is flowing; rust will not hinder the opening of a gate when the hinges are used each day. Movement gives health and life. Stagnation brings disease and death."

"...I wish to live...

... without hate, whim, jealousy, envy, fear. I wish to be simple, honest, frank, natural, clean in mind and clean in body, unaffected - as ready to say "I do not know", if it be so, and to meet all men on an absolute equality - to face any obstacle and meet every difficulty unabashed and unafraid. ~ Elbert Hubbard