Saturday, August 10, 2013

The Quest to Understand

A Dancing Star: Inspirations to Guide & HealA Dancing Star: 
Inspirations to Guide and Heal
by Eileen Campbell

"The real voyage of discovery consists not in seeking new landscapes but in having new eyes." - Marcel Proust


In Also Sprach Zarathustra Nietzsche said: "I say to you: 'One must have chaos in oneself in order to give birth to a dancing star.'" In this collection Eileen Campbell has gathered quotations from both East and West to speak to people whose lives are constantly subject to change, and frequently chaotic as a result. She relies on the premise that our problems are not unique; likely to be part of the human condition. The result is that there are times we need inspiration. For most readers there are old favorites, but also different quotes not found in traditional sources. The result is an anthology that bears fruit from repeated visits and meditation on the direction that is suggested by study of each quote. This small book has room for an informative list of recommended reading which makes it even more valuable.


Here are some of my favorites:
"Do not weep; do not wax indignant. Understand." -Baruch Spinoza
"The greatest human quest is to know what one must do in order to become a human being." -Immanuel Kant
"Knowing other is intelligence; knowing yourself is true wisdom. Mastering others is strength; mastering yourself is true power." - Lao-Tzu

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