Comforting Thought: Life On a Low Flame

One can live at a low flame. Most people do. For some, life is an exercise in moderation The best china saved for special occasions But given something like death What does it matter if one looks foolish now and then Or tries too hard, or cares too deeply? Diane Ackerman

Comforting Thought: The appetites of the soul by Aldous Huxley

Two great appetites of the soul – the urge to independence and self-determination and the urge to self-transcendence – were fused with, and interpreted in the light of, a third – the urge to worship.
~ Aldous Huxley, The Doors of Perception and Heaven & Hell

10 Interesting Things I Found on the Internet #129

Get a time-traveller’s guide to #medieval #Europe, some timeless words from Albert Camus, a hand-sewn heart, homely and warming porridge meals, bewitching cat-eye makeup and much more. Welcome to edition #129 of #InterestingThings by #ContentCatnip

Comforting Thought: If We Want to Do Something Well – We Cannot Do It All

“Opt out of the relentless pursuit of personal optimisation of our lives. “Opt-out of picking and choosing a new partner when we get bored of the person we have been with for many years simply because we are bored.” Svend Brinkmann #quote #philosophy #psychology #consumerism

Comforting Thought: Getting Real, the Velveteen Rabbit

“Your days are numbered. Use them to throw open the windows of your soul to the sun. If you do not, the sun will soon set, and you with it.”
— Marcus Aurelius #quote #stoic #philosophy #soul #life

Comforting Thought: James Baldwin on why art is important

If you can examine and face your life, you can discover the terms with which you are connected to other lives, and they can discover them too – the terms with which they are connected to other people. This has happened to every one of us, I’m sure. You read something which you thought only happened to you, and you discovered that it happened 100 years ago to Dostoyevski. This is a very great liberation for the suffering person, who always thinks that they are alone. This is why art is important. ~ James Baldwin

Comforting Thought: Throw open the windows of your soul

“Your days are numbered. Use them to throw open the windows of your soul to the sun. If you do not, the sun will soon set, and you with it.”
— Marcus Aurelius #quote #stoic #philosophy #soul #life

Comforting Thought: Whistling in the dark

“Art would not be important if life were not important. And life is important. Most of us, no matter what we say, are walking in the dark, whistling in the dark.” James Baldwin #quote #philosophy #art