#kin

The generation that followed did not have the same concerns; none of its members attempted to follow the example of the past generation. There was no longer anyone with the noble determination to get to know the great men of the world, or if there were some individuals consumed with this curiosity, they were few in number. From then on, there remained only vulgar minds given over to hatred, envy and discord, who took an interest only in things which did not concern them, gossip, slander, calumny of one's neighbors, all those things which are the source of the worst of our troubles. ↗

— Cheikh Anta Diop

#men

Know then thyself, presume not God to scan, The proper study of mankind is Man. Placed on this isthmus of a middle state, A being darkly wise and rudely great: With too much knowledge for the Sceptic side, With too much weakness for the Stoic's pride, He hangs between, in doubt to act or rest; In doubt to deem himself a God or Beast; In doubt his mind or body to prefer; Born but to die, and reas'ning but to err; Alike in ignorance, his reason such, Whether he thinks too little or too much; Chaos of thought and passion, all confused; Still by himself abused or disabused; Created half to rise, and half to fall; Great lord of all things, yet a prey to all; Sole judge of truth, in endless error hurl'd; The glory, jest, and riddle of the world! ↗

— Alexander Pope

#enlightenment #error #fallibility #humanity #humility

He shook his head, examining the wound again. “It's not frostbitten,“ he muttered. “It'll blister, but you should be fine. You might only lose a couple fingers.“ I glanced at him sharply, but he was smirking. For a moment, I was speechless. Good God, the Ice Prince was making jokes now; the world must be ending. ↗

— Julie Kagawa

#meghan #king

A joker is a little fool who is different from everyone else. He's not a club, diamond, heart, or spade. He's not an eight or a nine, a king or a jack. He is an outsider. He is placed in the same pack as the other cards, but he doesn't belong there. Therefore, he can be removed without anybody missing him. ↗

— Jostein Gaarder

#joker #loneliness #stranger #king

She was the third beer. Not the first one, which the throat receives with almost tearful gratitude; nor the second, that confirms and extends the pleasure of the first. But the third, the one you drink because it's there, because it can't hurt, and because what difference does it make? ↗

— Toni Morrison

#relationships #women #pleasure

If the entire world sought to make itself worthy of happiness rather than make itself happy, then the entire world would be happy. ↗

— Criss Jami

#happiness #happy #inconsiderate #peace #problem

That's not fair," I said. "Georgina," he said simply. "We're in Hell. ↗

— Richelle Mead

#roman #roman

You can't make decisions based on fear and the possibility of what might happen. ↗

— Michelle Obama

#decisions #fear #decisions

Then tell me Mark, how can I do it? How do I watch her life fade everyday but not hurt? How do I continue to breath, when I know she takes one less breath everyday? Why Mark, Why is this happening to someone so precious? ↗

— D. Love

#hurting-heart #love #life

Sincere compliments cost nothing and can accomplish so much. In ANY relationship, they are the applause that refreshes. ↗

— Steve Goodier

#encouragement #kindness #relationships #life