Any caterpillar who tried to “know himself” would never become a butterfly.
-Andre Gide
Whether you’re a gem in the royal court or a stone on the common path, if you accept your part with humility the glory of the universe will be yours.
A hero is no braver than an ordinary man, but he is brave five minutes longer.
-Ralph Waldo Emerson
Any problem, big or small, within a family, always seems to start with bad communication. Someone isn’t listening.
As human beings, our greatness lies not so much in being able to remake the world – that is the myth of the atomic age – as in being able to remake ourselves.
Self-reliance is the only road to true freedom, and being one's own person is its ultimate reward.
-Patricia Sampson
The devotee engages to the best of his ability into the play of life, fulfilling his role on this earth as student, employee, husband, wife, parent, neighbor, and community servant. But at the heart of the devotee is a burning desire for the Lord.
He who loves me is made pure; his heart melts in joy. He rises to transcendental consciousness by the rousing of his higher emotional nature. Tears of joy flow from his eyes, his hair stands on end, his heart melts in love. The bliss in that state is so intense that, forgetful of himself and his surroundings, he sometimes weeps profusely, or laughs, or sings, or dances; such a devotee is a purifying influence upon the whole universe.
In the end, it’s not going to matter how many breaths you took, but how many moments took your breath away.
-Shing Xiong