#soc

The first duty of a man is to think for himself ↗

— José Martí

#democracy #freedom #history #hope #individualism

Mr. Lisbon knew his parental and neighborly duty entailed putting the retainer in a Ziploc bag, calling the Kriegers, and telling them their expensive orthodontal device was in safe keeping. Acts like theses -- simple, humane, conscientious, forgiving -- held life together. Only a few days earlier he would have been able to perform them. But now he took the retainer and dropped it in the toiler. He pressed the handle. The retainer, jostled int he surge, disappeared down the porcelain throat, and, when waters abated, floated triumphantly, mockingly, out, Mr. Lisbon waited for the tank to refill and flushed again, but the same thing happened. The replica of the boy's mouth clung to the white slope. ↗

— Jeffrey Eugenides

#grief #parents #society #death

I've spent most of my life and most of my friendships holding my breath and hoping that when people get close enough they won't leave, and fearing that it's a matter of time before they figure me out and go. ↗

— Shauna Niequist

#friendships #social-anxiety #change

Children’s literature must build a bridge between the colorful dream world full of fantasy and illusion, and a tougher real world full of twists and turns. The child armed with the torch of knowledge, awareness and guidance must cross this bridge and set foot to the intense harshness of the bigger world.” An In-Depth Analysis of Educational Deadlock ↗

— Samad Beh-Rang

#inspirational #pedagogic #socio-political #dreams

Philanthropy is involved with basic innovations that transform society, not simply maintaining the status quo or filling basic social needs that were formerly the province of the public sector. ↗

— David Rockefeller

#filling #formerly #innovations #involved #maintaining

Don't look for society to give you permission to be yourself. ↗

— Steve Maraboli

#life #permission #society #experience

Having soon discovered to be great, I must appear so, and therefore studiously avoided mixing in society, and wrapped myself in mystery, devoting my time to fasting and prayer. ↗

— Nat Turner

#avoided #devoting #discovered #fasting #great

Whoever sets any bounds for the reconstructive power of the religious life over the social relations and institutions of men, to that extent denies the faith of the Master. ↗

— Walter Rauschenbusch

#bounds #denies #extent #faith #institutions

Master, I love how you make me feel. I love how you hurt me." She gasped again at a hard tug. "I'm here for you, Sir, to please you. ↗

— Verity Ant

#sadomasochism #verity-ant #love

He slipped his hands around my waist and pulled me against him, tossing the ice cream cone over his shoulder. It landed with a splat on the sidewalk. "So does that mean I have a varsity girlfriend?" I giggled like a total girl and linked my hands behind his neck. "Yeah I guess it does." "Sweet." Then he bent his head, and I stood up on my tiptoes and we met in the middle. And it was perfect. ↗

— Stephie Davis

#graham #love #soccer #trisha #love