Inspiring quotes

Sharing of inspiring quotes nourishes my soul.  Our "Word for the Day" provides daily gems, and I'm hopeful that viewers will share words of heroes of peace who bring joy and motivation to the lives of all of us.
 

Thank you for starting this section, TookBlessed!  Brother David shared a quote he found the other day which seemed a little too focused in scope for Word for the Day -- there are other forms of courage, too -- but which fits well with the "heroes of peace" theme you established and comes from someone who bravely walked his talk:
 
The truest act of courage is sacrificing ourselves in a totally nonviolent struggle for justice.

I want to share words of Archbishop Desmond Tutu, Nobel Peace Prize recipient of 1984:  "You are God's partner, and you matter.  Only you can fulfill your part of God's dream."

I am filled with gratitude that at a tring time in my life I can access these beautiful inspirational messages
Hope coach
Barbara T.

God I gratefully await and accept your miracles for me that I may be a witness to your wonder

It was but yesterday I thought of myself a fragment quivering without rhythm in the sphere of life. Now I know that I am the sphere, and all life in rhythmic fragments moves within me.
  ~ Kahlil Gibran

Alchemist, that is very profound. Often I puzzle over some of Kahlil Gibran, but I like that enormously. Thank you for sharing it.  Jude

Love is the only way

Jude
 
You are very welcome. Much of Gibran seems purposely vague to me, but the gems are there to be found. I am glad you liked this one.

We have to dare to be ourselves, however frightening or strange that Self may prove to be.
~ May Sarton

He who fights with monsters might take care lest he thereby become a monster. And if you gaze for long into an abyss, the abyss gazes also into you.
  ~ Nietszche

We have to dare to be ourselves, however frightening or strange that Self may prove to be.
~ May Sarton

You are now the candles in the window of the world. You in turn must light those who come to you.
  ~ Say Yes to Love

We have to dare to be ourselves, however frightening or strange that Self may prove to be.
~ May Sarton

Alchemist, I apologize for taking so long to welcome you to this forum. We hope to see your posts often. Please feel free to share why a particular quote is so meaningful to you, personally, in your own life and how/why it increases your sense of gratitude. We look forward to reading your insights into the quotes. Many times someone else's insight into a particular quote can trigger a powerful, though different, insight for each of us individually. Since your first post, the name you have chosen as your online name has struck me. Years ago I read the book "The Alchemist." Though a small book, it has a very profound message. Again, I apologize for not posting a welcome sooner. It has been a bit hectic lately with a deadline to meet.

Yesterday is gone forever.Tomorrow may not come. Live Fully each moment today. Look for Good Things that Happen to you Every Day.

Imenuff
 
Thank you for the welcome.
 
It is interesting that you suggest to expand upon the quotes, as I have mused upon a resonant quote on another forum daily for about 18 months. It is somewhat like walking a tightrope. On the one hand the quotes might take on more depth when someone adds personal perspective to the written word. On the other hand one doesn't want to unduly influence others from finding their own meanings.
 
I read "The Alchemist" some time ago as well at the urging of a dear friend. It seems a good time to read it again.
 
I hope to post with some frequency. My life has been extremely hectic for the past two years, but time seems to have slowed down for me in the last fortnight or so. Hopefully the beginning of a new trend.
 
 
Blessings,         Alchemist

We have to dare to be ourselves, however frightening or strange that Self may prove to be.
~ May Sarton

Believe that with your feelings and your work you are taking part in the greatest; the more strongly you cultivate this belief, the more will reality and the world go forth from it.

~ Rainer Maria Rilke

 

Since gratefulness.org is celebrating the birth of Rainer Maria Rilke today, it seemed appropriate to share a favorite quote. This quote reminds us that we are co-creators with the Maker and our thoughts and actions have divine meaning.

We have to dare to be ourselves, however frightening or strange that Self may prove to be.
~ May Sarton

Alchemist Thank you for reminding me. There is one particular Rilke quote that is my constant companion in those times of total confusion.

"I beg you...to have patience with everything unresolved in your heart and try to love the questions themselves as if they were locked rooms or books written in a very foreign language. Don't search for the answers, which could not be given you now, because you would not be able to live them. And the point is, to live everything. Live the questions now. Perhaps then, someday far in the future, you will gradually, without even noticing it, live your way into the answer."

It consistantly reminds me to "surrenden my will be done," to "the Holy One's will be done."

Yesterday is gone forever.Tomorrow may not come. Live Fully each moment today. Look for Good Things that Happen to you Every Day.

Imenuff
 

You are welcome. I like your Rilke quote as well. "A Course in Miracles" also asks us in many ways to align our will wih God's.

We have to dare to be ourselves, however frightening or strange that Self may prove to be.
~ May Sarton

Betty, I have that quote posted in my office!  It's one of my favorites. 
 
Still praying for your retreat, for you and your spiritual guide.
 
Lori

To truly listen is to perfect one's own virtue.

I thank you God for this most amazing day, for the leaping greenly spirits of trees, and for the blue dream of sky and for everything which is natural, which is infinite, which is yes.
~ e. e. cummings

 
Because many of us are experiencing weather which is less than pleasant I decided to post a quote which always makes me fel like springtime. Enjoy.

We have to dare to be ourselves, however frightening or strange that Self may prove to be.
~ May Sarton

Alchemist, Thank you for the quote of E.E.Cummings. I love it. And thank you and  Betty, too, for the Rilke quotes. R.M.Rilke has been my favorite poet since the days of my youth, and it makes me glad to find some of his work in the hearts of English-speaking people. Thomas Merton spoke very favorably about him (in some of his talks which were recorded). I would like to offer some more sayings of his, but would have to translate them into English first. Having no professional training as an interpreter, however, this would not be too good an idea. (Translating from English into German is easy, but it´s hard and may even be dangerous the other way round).
Could you, Alchemist, and/or you, Betty, name an edition in English from which you have gathered the quotes? Maybe on the book thread, some time? (After your retreat, of course).

Juliana
_____________________________
Speak Peace in a World of Conflict

Juliana,I am almost sure that one of Rilke's that I have is "Letters to a Young Poet." Can't find it right now but will look for it. I also really like his "The Man Watching the Storm Approaching " If there is no retreat next week, I will look for it. EXCELLENT THOUGHT--since Christmas "stuff" has been taken care of, if there is no retreat, it would be a good time to curl up in front of the fireplace with some really good books. May you have a blessed weekend.

Yesterday is gone forever.Tomorrow may not come. Live Fully each moment today. Look for Good Things that Happen to you Every Day.

Alchemist, Thank you for that beautiful quote. We have a severe weather forecast here in Britain too, (Rain at present) and imagining that picture does help!
 
Jude

Love is the only way

Juliana
 

Translations are all important as I learned when studying one of my favorite writers: Nietzsche. Reading different translations was almost like reading different works. I have heard that two of the finest works on Rilke in English are "The Poet's Guide to Life" and "Letters on Life" translated by Ulrich Baer. The second book contains never before translated correspondence. As for me, I have an eclectic collection of quotes which I have gleaned from various sources.

 
Jude
 

You are welcome. I am always happy to bring sunshine into someone's life.
 
I would like to post another quote by Nietzsche. Since authenticity is of great importance to him and R M Rilke as well, here is a thought which always makes helps me to understand its impact.

 
 
Of all that is written, I love only what a person has written with his own blood.
  ~ Friedrich Nietzsche

We have to dare to be ourselves, however frightening or strange that Self may prove to be.
~ May Sarton