#ma

IRS is very poorly equipped to make a distinction between what is a religion and what is not. ↗

— Lawrence Wright

#distinction #equipped #irs #make #poorly

There are three kinds of fighters: the aggressive fighter who charges in blindly trying to get the upper hand, the defensive fighter who blocks and evades until his opponent is tired, and then the most dangerous type of fighter, the one who waits for his opponent to make a mistake. ↗

— Aaron B. Powell

#martial-arts #art

Ah, the magic of music, with it, all things are possible. ↗

— E.A. Bucchianeri

#everything-is-possible #inspirational #magic #music #nothing-is-impossible

He couldn’t just come right out with it, could he? No, that would scare her off. He had to be subtle, build up to it. Explain himself. “I love you.” Of course, straight to the point was also an effective strategy. ↗

— Sarah Mayberry

#humour #love #romance #romantic-comedy #funny

That explains a lot,' he said. 'I suppose it's also why we've never glimpsed that giant compass in the corner of the Atlantic. I have to say, I'm a little disappointed. ↗

— Gideon Defoe

#maps #pirates #funny

Mira a todos a tu alrededor y ve lo que hemos hecho de nosotros y de eso considerado como victoria nuestra de cada día. No hemos amado por encima de todas las cosas. No hemos aceptado lo que no se entiende porque no queremos pasar por tontos. Hemos amontonado cosas y seguridades por no tenernos el uno al otro. No tenemos ninguna alegría que no haya sido catalogada. Hemos construido catedrales y nos hemos quedado del lado de afuera, pues las catedrales que nosotros mismos construimos tememos que sean trampas. No nos hemos entregado a nosotros mismos, pues eso sería el comienzo de una vida larga y la tememos. Hemos evitado caer de rodillas delante del primero de nosotros que por amor diga: tienes miedo. Hemos organizado asociaciones y clubs sonrientes donde se sirve con o sin soda. Hemos tratado de salvarnos, pero sin usar la palabra salvación para no avergonzarnos de ser inocentes. No hemos usado la palabra amor para no tener que reconocer su contextura de odio, de amor, de celos y de tantos otros opuestos. Hemos mantenido en secreto nuestra muerte para hacer posible nuestra vida. Muchos de nosotros hacen arte por no saber cómo es la otra cosa. Hemos disfrazado con falso amor nuestra indiferencia, sabiendo que nuestra indiferencia es angustia disfrazada. Hemos disfrazado con el pequeño miedo el gran miedo mayor y por eso nunca hablamos de lo que realmente importa. Hablar de lo que realmente importa es considerado una indiscreción. No hemos adorado por tener la sensata mezquindad de acordarnos a tiempo de los falsos dioses. No hemos sido puros e ingenuos para no reírnos de nosotros mismos y para que al fin del día podamos decir «al menos no fui tonto» y así no quedarnos perplejos antes de apagar la luz. Hemos sonreído en público de lo que no sonreiríamos cuando nos quedásemos solos. Hemos llamado debilidad a nuestro candor. Nos hemos temido uno al otro, por encima de todo. Y todo eso lo consideramos victoria nuestra de cada día. ↗

— Clarice Lispector

#humanidad #victoria #vida #art

Moreover, knowledge and investigation help promote wonder they do not destroy it. Whatever our tastes, we can generally appreciate such things as music, art or wine better when we understand a bit about them. We read up on our favourite singers or artists because we feel we can appreciate their work better when we know how they think and what they bring to their work. The giddy delight and curiosity that comes from marvelling at the beauty of this universe is deepened, not cheapened, by the laws and facts science gives us to aid our understanding. In a similar way, the psychological tricks at work behind many seemingly paranormal events are truly more fascinating than the explanation of other-worldiness precisely because they are of this world, and say something about how rich and complex and mysterious we are as human beings to be convinced by such trickery, indeed to want to perpetuate it in the first place. ↗

— Derren Brown

#inspirational #knowledge #science #art

Why had she set limits like no sex? I want sex. ↗

— Cherise Sinclair

#erotic-romance #funny #romance #funny

With cold eyes and indifferent mind the spectators regard the work. Connoissers admire the "skill" (as one admires a tightrope walker), enjoy the "quality of painting" (as one enjoys a pasty). But hungry souls go hungry away. The vulgar herd stroll through the rooms and pronounce the pictures "nice" or "splendid." Those who could speak have said nothing, those who could hear have heard nothing. ↗

— Wassily Kandinsky

#artists #creativity #imagination #inventiveness #originality

She hated Mr. Meanie. But she'd gotten to know him and they'd reached an understanding of sorts. Now she was to have him for supper. "Don't tell me you're feeling guilty?" Breaking off a piece of the wing, she brought it to her lips and took a bite. It did taste good. Very good. "I wonder if all grouchy males are this palatable." Drew choked. She looked up, tilting her head. "Are you all right?" He turned a dull red. "Eat your supper, Connie. ↗

— Deeanne Gist

#constance-connie #constance-morrow #deeanne-gist #drew #drew-o-conner