#truism

If we persist in defining ourselves as doomed, human nature as beyond redemption, and social institutions as beyond reform, then we shall create a future that will inexorably proceed in confirming this view. Rescuers refused to see Jews as guilty or beyond hope and themselves as helpless, despite all the evidence that could be marshaled to the contrary. They made a choice that affirmed the value and meaningfulness of each life in the midst of a diabolical social order that repeatedly denied it. Can we do otherwise? ↗

— Samuel P. Oliner

#hope #nature

Religion decays, the icon remains; a narrative is forgotten, yet its representation still magnetizes. ↗

— Julian Barnes

#decay #religion #religion

The positive emotions that arise in...unpromising circumstances demonstrate that social ties and meaningful work are deeply desired, readily improvised, and intensely rewarding. The very structure of our economy and society prevent these goals from being achieved. ↗

— Rebecca Solnit

#disaster #hope #economy

A one dollar bill, though it weighs less than 99 pennies, is psychologically heavier. ↗

— Jarod Kintz

#psychology

We need to build websites with celebrity speakers who talk about the ideals of fairness, sharing, democratic cooperation, and altruism in public life. ↗

— Deepak Chopra

#altruism #build #celebrity #cooperation #democratic

Art gives its vision to beauty not always recognized. And it surrenders freely -- whatever power it possesses to every sincere soul that seeks it. But above all else--it presents us with the gift of ourselves. ↗

— Aberjhani

#art #artists #creative-vision #creativity #gifts

Like, in general I think people have very complicated reasons for wanting things, and we often have no idea whether we’re actually motivated by altruism or a desire to hook up or a search for answers or what. I always get annoyed when in books or movies characters want clear things for clear reasons, because my experience of humanness is that I always want messy things for messy reasons. ↗

— John Green

#characters #desire #messy #experience

Such is frequently the fate, and such the stern development, of the feminine character and person, when the woman has encountered, and lived through, an experience of peculiar severity. If she be all tenderness, she will die. If she survive, the tenderness will either be crushed out of her, or--and the outward semblance is the same--crushed so deeply into her heart that it can never show itself more. ↗

— Nathaniel Hawthorne

#experience

Acquaintance: "A person whom we know well enough to borrow from, but not well enough to lend to. A degree of friendship called slight when its object is poor or obscure, and intimate when he is rich or famous. ↗

— Ambrose Bierce

#truisms #friendship

We have so far to go to realize our human potential for compassion, altruism, and love. ↗

— Jane Goodall

#compassion #humanity #love #love