#awareness

In a world of chance is there a better and a worse? We yield to a stranger's embrace or give ourselves to the waves; for the blink of an eyelid our vigilance relaxes; we are asleep; and when we awake, we have lost the direction of our lives. What are these blinks of an eyelid, against which the only defence is an eternal and inhuman wakefulness? Might they not be the cracks and chinks through which another voice, other voices, speak in our lives? By what right do we close our ears to them? (Susan Barton) ↗

— J.M. Coetzee

#others #philosophy #self-awareness #susan-barton #life

One of the most important accomplishments of the Caucus is raising awareness with law enforcement and communities nationwide on the issues of child safety and Internet safety. ↗

— Nick Lampson

#awareness #caucus #child #communities #enforcement

What makes you think human beings are sentient and aware? There's no evidence for it. Human beings never think for themselves, they find it too uncomfortable. For the most part, members of our species simply repeat what they are told-and become upset if they are exposed to any different view. The characteristic human trait is not awareness but conformity, and the characteristic result is religious warfare. Other animals fight for territory or food; but, uniquely in the animal kingdom, human beings fight for their 'beliefs.' The reason is that beliefs guide behavior which has evolutionary importance among human beings. But at a time when our behavior may well lead us to extinction, I see no reason to assume we have any awareness at all. We are stubborn, self-destructive conformists. Any other view of our species is just a self-congratulatory delusion. Next question. ↗

— Michael Crichton

#humanity #food

Manners are a sensitive awareness of the feelings of others. If you have that awareness, you have good manners, no matter what fork you use. ↗

— Emily Post

#feelings #fork #good #good manners #manners

How to get rid of ego as dictator and turn it into messenger and servant and scout, to be in your service, is the trick. ↗

— Joseph Campbell

#self-awareness #self-control #ego

If there is a single definition of healing it is to enter with mercy and awareness those pains, mental and physical, from which we have withdrawn in judgment and dismay. (48) ↗

— Stephen Levine

#awareness #dismay #healing #judgment #mental-health

If theater is ritual, then dance is too... It's as if the threads connecting us to the rest of the world were washed clean of preconceptions and fears. When you dance, you can enjoy the luxury of being you. ↗

— Paulo Coelho

#ritual #self-awareness #witches

To understand yourself: Is that a discovery or a creation? ↗

— Pascal Mercier

#honesty #illusions #perception #personality #self-awareness

Wisdom tends to grow in proportion to one's awareness of one's ignorance. ↗

— Anthony de Mello

#self-awareness #wisdom #self-awareness

I will no longer wound myself with the thoughts and questions that have surrounded me like thorns: that is a penance You do not ask of me. ↗

— Thomas Merton

#self-awareness