“The reading of all good books is like conversation with the finest men of past centuries.” — René Descartes
"It makes no difference what men think of war, he said the judge. War endures. As well ask men what they think of stone. War was always here. Before man was, war waited for him. The ultimate trade awaiting its ultimate practitioner. That is the way it was and will be. That way and not some other way."
“What joy and comfort can it give to fully awakened people? Once you accept the truly desperate situation that man is in, you come to see not only that neurosis is normal, but that even psychotic failure represents only a little additional push in the routine stumbling along life’s way. If repression makes an untenable life liveable, self-knowledge can entirely destroy it for some people.”
"Creation- that is the great redemption from suffering, and life's growing light. But that the creator may be, suffering is needed and much change. Indeed, there must be much bitter dying in your life, you creators. To be the child who is newly born, the creator must also want to be the mother who gives birth and the pangs of the birth-giver."
Cal and I discuss and reflect on the books we journeyed through in 2018 along with reading goals for 2019.
"for nature does not give a man virtue: the process of becoming a good man is an art."
Just the other day, I was called upon to help out an acquaintance with her katsaridaphobia (fear of cockroaches) by demolishing the pesky intruder with a book binder. While I thought the matter completely trivial, she was traumatized by the experience – completely paralyzed with fear at this tiny pest. The encounter sparked a conversation... Continue Reading →
Brains and Brawn 