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Post by Tamrin on Dec 26, 2013 9:20:32 GMT 10
Christian, n. One who believes that the New Testament is a divinely inspired book admirably suited to the spiritual needs of his neighbor. One who follows the teachings of Christ so long as they are not inconsistent with a life of sin
Cynic, n. A blackguard whose faulty vision causes him to see things as they are, not as they ought to be
Education, n. That which discloses to the wise and disguises from the foolish their lack of understanding
Faith, n. Belief without evidence in what is told by one who speaks without knowledge, of things without parallel
Ocean, n. A body of water occupying about two-thirds of a world made for man — who has no gills
Pray, v. To ask that the laws of the universe be annulled in behalf of a single petitioner confessedly unworthy
Scriptures, n. The sacred books of our holy religion, as distinguished from the false and profane writings on which all other faiths are based
Ambrose BierceUS journalist and satirist ( The Devil’s Dictionary) ( Last heard from this day 1913) Good-bye — if you hear of my being stood up against a Mexican stone wall and shot to rags please know that I think that a pretty good way to depart this life. It beats old age, disease, or falling down the cellar stars. To be a Gringo in Mexico — ah, that is euthanasia!
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Post by Tamrin on Dec 26, 2013 9:23:03 GMT 10
It is not hardness of heart or evil passions that drive certain individuals to atheism, but rather a scrupulous intellectual honesty
Religious believers of the world, you are free to continue to debate the simple, narrow question that divides you from atheists, but you have no right, in so doing, to treat the Humanists of the world with contempt. You owe them a deep debt of gratitude, for not only have they shed much light on a naturally dark world but they have very probably helped civilize your own specific religion
To those who wish to punish others — or at least to see them punished, if the avengers are too cowardly to take matters in to their own hands — the belief in a fiery, hideous hell appears to be a great source of comfort
There are hundreds of millions who believe the Messiah has come. If he did, then it is unfortun- ately the case that his heroic sacrifice and death have had no effect whatsoever on the very problem his coming might have been expected to address, for history demonstrates, beyond question, that we Christians have been just as dangerous, singly and en masse, as non-Christians
No actual tyrant known to history has ever been guilty of one-hundredth of the crimes, massacres, and other atrocities attributed to the Deity in the Bible
The Bible has been interpreted to justify such evil practices as, for example, slavery, the slaughter of prisoners of war, the sadistic murders of women believed to be witches, capital punishment for hundreds of offenses, polygamy, and cruelty to animals. It has been used to encourage belief in the grossest super- stition and to discourage the free teaching of scientific truths. We must never for- get that both good and evil flow from the Bible. It is therefore not above criticism
Ideas have consequences, and totally erroneous ideas are likely to have destructive consequencesSteve AllenAmerican humorist, writer, composer and general entertainer (Born this day 1921) Without laughter life on our planet would be intolerable. So important is laughter to us that humanity highly rewards members of one of the most unusual professions on earth, those who make a living by inducing laughter in others. This is very strange if you stop to think of it: that otherwise sane and responsible citizens should devote their professional energies to causing others to make sharp, explosive barking-like exhalations [/color]
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Post by Tamrin on Dec 26, 2013 9:24:31 GMT 10
Weird doors open. People fall into things
If you aren't cute, you may as well be clever
Every day we're told that we live in the greatest country on earth. And it's always stated as an undeniable fact: Leos are born between July 23 and August 22, fitted queen-size sheets measure sixty by eighty inches, and America is the greatest country on earth. Having grown up with this in our ears, it's startling to realize that other countries have nationalistic slogans of their own, none of which are 'We're number two!'
Writing gives you the illusion of control, and then you realize it's just an illusion, that people are going to bring their own stuff into it
I haven't the slightest idea how to change people, but still I keep a long list of prospective candidates just in case I should ever figure it out
I find it ridiculous to assign a gender to an inanimate object incapable of disrobing and making an occasional fool of itself
All of us take pride and pleasure in the fact that we are unique, but I'm afraid that when all is said and done the police are right: it all comes down to fingerprintsDavid SedarisUS humorist, comedian, author and radio contributor (Born this day 1956) Sometimes the sins you haven't committed are all you have left to hold onto
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Post by Tamrin on Dec 26, 2013 9:30:16 GMT 10
It was good to walk into a library again; it smelled like home
When you handle books all day long, every new one is a friend and a temptation
As you know, human history is full of evil deeds, and maybe we ought to think of them with tears, not fascination
There is survival and survival, the historian learns to his grief. The very worst impulses of humankind can survive generations, centuries, even millennia. And the best of our individual efforts can die with us at the end of a single lifetime
As a historian, I have learned that, in fact, not everyone who reaches back into history can survive it. And it is not only reaching back that endangers us; some- times history itself reaches inexorably forward for us with its shadowy claws
The thing that most haunted me that day, however ... was the fact that these things had — apparently — actually occurred ... For all his attention to my historical education, my father had neglected to tell me this: history's terrible moments were real. I understand now, decades later, that he could never have told me. Only history itself can convince you of such a truth. And once you've seen that truth - really seen it — you can't look away
Never before had I known the sudden quiver of understanding that travels from word to brain to heart, the way a new language can move, coil, swim into life under the eyes, the almost savage leap of comprehension, the instantaneous, joyful release of meaning, the way the words shed their printed bodies in a flash of heat and lightElizabeth KostovaUS novelist ( The Historian) (Born this day 1964) The problem is simply finding the right person. Ask Plato. Just make sure she finishes your thoughts and you finish hers. That's all you need
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Post by Tamrin on Dec 26, 2013 9:34:25 GMT 10
We represent a fraternity which believes in justice and truth and honourable action in your community ... men who are endeavouring to be better citizens ... to make a great country greater. This is the only institution in the world where we can meet on the level all sorts of people who want to live rightly
The task of creating a sound international organization is complicated and difficult. Yet, without such organization, the rights of man on earth cannot be protected
It is amazing what you can accomplish if you do not care who gets the credit
No government is perfect. One of the chief virtues of a democracy, however, is that its defects are always visible and under democratic processes can be pointed out and corrected
On the one hand, the Republicans are telling industrial workers that the high cost of food in the cities is due to this government's farm policy. On the other hand, the Republicans are telling the farmers that the high cost of manufactured goods on the farm is due to this government's labor policy. That's plain hokum. It's an old political trick: "If you can't convince 'em, confuse 'em." But this time it won't work
I've said many a time that I think the Un-American Activities Committee in the House of Representatives was the most un-American thing in America!
I never give them hell. I just tell the truth and they think it's hellM.W. Bro. Harry S. Truman33 rd US President and PGM (Missouri) (Died this day 1972) Although I hold the highest civil honour in the world, I have always regarded my rank and title as a Past Grand Master of Masons the greatest honour that had ever come to me
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Post by Tamrin on Dec 27, 2013 9:37:45 GMT 10
Friday’s Quotes:In the beginning was the Word, and theWord was with God, and the Word was God
And the light shineth in darkness; and the darkness comprehended it not
Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God
God is a Spirit: and they that worship him must worship him in spirit and in truth
He that is without sin among you, let him first cast a stone at her
Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends
The night cometh, when no man can workJohn the Evangelist(Feast Day today)
Consummatum est (“It is finished”)
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Post by Tamrin on Dec 27, 2013 9:39:01 GMT 10
But since the world, which thou art to strive against, is not without thee, but within thee, it follows, that it is also to be conquered not without, but within thee
It certainly is the duty of every true Christian, to esteem himself a stranger and pilgrim in this world; and as bound to use earthly blessings, not as means of satisfying lust or gratifying wantonness, but of supplying his absolute wants and necessities
Yet, so far from laboring to know the forbidden tree of worldly pleasures and its various fruits, man gives himself up to a careless and thoughtless state of life, and yields to the lust of the flesh, not considering that this lust is really the forbidden tree
Whatever man uses without the fear of God, whatever he applies to the mere gratifying of his flesh, cannot fail to operate as a poison to the soul, however pleasant and salutary it may appear to be to the body
In short, all things that please the natural man in this world, are, to a true Christian, only so many crosses and temptations, allure- ments of sin and snares of death, that continually exercise his virtue
Consider then, O man! whether there can be anything more wretched and poor, more naked and miserable, than man when he dies, if he be not clothed with Christ's righteousness, and enriched in his God
For even these are no less bestowed on him of pure grace, than are righteousness and salvation themselvesJohann Arndt, German Lutheran theologian (Born this day 1555) This truth is a remedy against spiritual pride, namely, that none should account himself better before God than others, though perhaps adorned with greater gifts, and endowments
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Post by Tamrin on Dec 27, 2013 9:39:49 GMT 10
Nature uses as little as possible of anything
The diversity of the phenomena of nature is so great, and the treasures hidden in the heavens so rich, precisely in order that the human mind shall never be lacking in fresh nourishment
Planets move in ellipses with the Sun at one focus
I demonstrate by means of philosophy that the earth is round, and is inhabited on all sides; that it is insignificantly small, and is borne through the stars
But who shall dwell in these worlds if they be inhabited? ... Are we or they Lords of the World? ... And how are all things made for man?
So long as the mother, Ignorance, lives, it is not safe for Science, the offspring, to divulge the hidden cause of things
I much prefer the sharpest criticism of a single intelligent man to the thoughtless approval of the massesJohann KeplerGerman astronomer (elliptical orbits) (Born this day 1571) Truth is the daughter of time, and I feel no shame in being her midwife
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Post by Tamrin on Dec 27, 2013 9:40:43 GMT 10
In 1792, my Sister told me, I was growing out of my senses
I shall omit former particulars, and begin with informing the Reader, that, in 1792, I was strangely visited, by day and night, concerning what was coming upon the whole earth
Another night I dreamed I heard heavenly music sounding in my ears, and a flock of sheep was gathering round it. When the music ceased, the sheep leaped for joy, and ran together, shaking their heads; and one shook his head almost off, and seemed to have nothing but ears
In this manner, I continued with Satan for ten days. His answer and blasphemy were too shocking to pen; till I was worn out with rage and malice against him, I could not bear myself
My faith grew strong, and I sent a letter (as I was ordered) to the Rev. Dignitary of the Cathedral of Exeter. I was assured, before I sent it, he would not answer it
New-Year's Day arriving, and the ministers, to whom I wrote, remaining silent, I consider their silence as evidence, that they cannot prove what I said not to be from the Lord, and have therefore published as I was directed
If they can prove that I am wrong by that time, I will give it up to their wisdom, but not after to any one's judgment, till I see the end of another year; for the Lord will begin with a new century; and I will see what he will do, before I will hearken to any man's judgmentJoanna SouthcottEnglish psychotic and self-proclaimed prophetess (Died this day 1814) I am the fool, and must be the sufferer, if it be not of God
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Post by Tamrin on Dec 27, 2013 9:41:24 GMT 10
Did you ever observe to whom the accidents happen? Chance favors only the prepared mind
The universe is asymmetric and I am persuaded that life, as it is known to us, is a direct result of the asymmetry of the universe or of its indirect consequences
There does not exist a category of science to which one can give the name applied science. There are science and the applications of science, bound together as the fruit of the tree which bears it
Science knows no country, because knowledge belongs to humanity, and is the torch which illuminates the world. Science is the highest personification of the nation because that nation will remain the first which carries the furthest the works of thought and intelligence
Do not let yourself be tainted with a barren skepticism
Let me tell you the secret that has led me to my goal. My strength lies solely in my tenacity
Whether our efforts are, or not, favored by life, let us be able to say, when we come near the great goal, "I have done what I could”Louis PasteurFrench bacteriologist (pasteurization) (Born this day 1822) When I approach a child, he inspires in me two sentiments; tenderness for what he is, and respect for what he may become
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