#fusion

I am somewhat of a meliorist. That is to say, I act as an optimist because I find I cannot act at all, as a pessimist. One often feels helpless in the face of the confusion of these times, such a mass of apparently uncontrollable events and experiences to live through, attempt to understand, and if at all possible, give order to; but one must not withdraw from the task if he has some small things to offer - he does so at the risk of diminishing his humanity. ↗

— Bernard Malamud

#experience #humanity #meliorist #optimist #pessimist

In these days of faith-cures, and hypnotism, and telepathy, and subliminalities – why, the simple old world grows very confusing. But rarely, very rarely novel. ↗

— Walter de La Mare

#novelty #progress #faith

I try to stay in a constant state of confusion just because of the expression it leaves on my face. ↗

— Johnny Depp

#humor #humor

Before I came here, I was confused about this subject. Having listened to your lecture, I am still confused -- but on a higher level. ↗

— Enrico Fermi

#humor #humor

The things other people have put into my head, at any rate, do not fit together nicely, are often useless and ugly, are out of proportion with one another, are out of proportion with life as it really is outside my head. ↗

— Kurt Vonnegut

#reality #thoughts #life

Looking out over the courtyard at the dirty walls, he realized he had no idea whether it was hysteria or love. ↗

— Milan Kundera

#hysteria #love #love

Always a trade. Always a compromise. Until there wasn't anything left to bargain with, because neither one us had any clue what to do. ↗

— Steph Campbell

#confusion #love #love

My earlier poems were sadder than my poems are today, perhaps because I wrote them in confusion or when I was unhappy. But I am not a melancholy person, quite the contrary, no one enjoys laughing more than I do. ↗

— Anne Stevenson

#because #confusion #contrary #earlier #enjoys

Yes, Kālāmas, it is proper that your have doubt, that you have perplexity, for a doubt has arisen in a matter which is doubtful. Now, look you Kālāmas, do not be led by reports, or traditions, or hearsay. Be not led by the authority of religious texts, not by the delight in speculative opinions, nor by seeming possibilities, not by the idea: 'this is our teacher'. But, O Kālāmas, when you know for yourself that certain things are unwholesome, and wrong, and bad, then give them up... And when you know for yourself that certain things are wholesome and good, then accept them and follow them. ↗

— Gautama Buddha

#confusion #doubt #good-judgment #nonconformity #questioning

I don't know what he means by that, but I nod and smile at him. You'd be surprised at how far that response can get you in a conversation where you are completely confused. ↗

— Jodi Picoult

#conversation #smiling #conversation