Post your favorite quotes and expressions here

[Arcturus Descending]

It is better to stand and fight. If you run, you'll only die tired.
Viking quote

[Arcturus Descending]

I will love the light for it shows me the way, yet I will endure the darkness because it shows me the stars.”
Og Mandino

[Arminius]

„Ich bin ein Teil von jener Kraft, // Die stets das Böse will und stets das Gute schafft. // .... Ich bin der Geist, der stets verneint! // Und das mit Recht; denn alles, was entsteht, // ist wert, daß es zugrunde geht; // Drum besser wärs, daß nichts entstünde. // So ist denn alles, was ihr Sünde, // Zerstörung, kurz das Böse nennt, // Mein eigentliches Element.“ - Johann Wolfgang (von) Goethe, Faust (I), 1790 / 1808, S. 64-67. **
Translation:
„I am Part of that Power which would // The Evil ever do, and ever does the Good. // .... I am the Spirit that denies! // And rightly too; for all that doth begin // Should rightly to destruction run; // 'Twere better then that nothing were begun. // Thus everything that you call Sin, // Destruction - in a word, as Evil represent- // That is my own, real element. “ - Johann Wolfgang (von) Goethe, Faust (I), 1790 / 1808, p. 64-67.

[LaughingMan]

Who is the smiling one?

[Arcturus Descending]

Who is the smiling one?

moi. Have you made arrangements for your head once you have been decapitated?

[Ierrellus]

"We must love one another or die". W. H. Auden, "Sept. 1939". Written on the eve of WWII, the poem states the last, best choice for human survival.

[Ierrellus]

duplicate post

[LaughingMan]

Who is the smiling one?

moi. Have you made arrangements for your head once you have been decapitated?

Who would want to harm a loving man like myself?

The world would miss me way too much.

[Arcturus Descending]

Who is the smiling one?

moi. Have you made arrangements for your head once you have been decapitated?

Who would want to harm a loving man like myself?
The world would miss me way too much.

YOU. If you keep your head out the window like that, people might come to think - "Okay then. He's asking for it.

Perception means lot you know.

[LaughingMan]

I'm not to be trifled with.

If anybody comes to seek me harm they'll have to get use to the idea of me wearing their face when I'm done with them.

I'm the last person in this world that anybody would want to mess with. *Laughs*

[Peter Kropotkin]

„Ich bin ein Teil von jener Kraft, // Die stets das Böse will und stets das Gute schafft. // .... Ich bin der Geist, der stets verneint! // Und das mit Recht; denn alles, was entsteht, // ist wert, daß es zugrunde geht; // Drum besser wärs, daß nichts entstünde. // So ist denn alles, was ihr Sünde, // Zerstörung, kurz das Böse nennt, // Mein eigentliches Element.“ - Johann Wolfgang (von) Goethe, Faust (I), 1790 / 1808, S. 64-67. **
Translation:
„I am Part of that Power which would // The Evil ever do, and ever does the Good. // .... I am the Spirit that denies! // And rightly too; for all that doth begin // Should rightly to destruction run; // 'Twere better then that nothing were begun. // Thus everything that you call Sin, // Destruction - in a word, as Evil represent- // That is my own, real element. “ - Johann Wolfgang (von) Goethe, Faust (I), 1790 / 1808, p. 64-67.

K: I am learning German by Reading Faust. I have Walter Kaufmann's translation which is English on
one side and the German on the other side. Interesting way to learn a Language.

My quote by the way is "back at the ranch" by me, which is my way of saying getting back to the point.

Kropotkin

[LaughingMan]

Ah yes, Mephistopheles.

One of my many inspirations for my own philosophy.

[Orbie]

And how he was tricked, by Faust, so that even the possessed may be redeemed.

[LaughingMan]

And how he was tricked, by Faust, so that even the possessed may be redeemed.

Nobody's perfect. Not even the devil.

Every now and then one slips up from time to time.....

[LaughingMan]

“I am the spirit that negates.
And rightly so, for all that comes to be
Deserves to perish wretchedly;
'Twere better nothing would begin.
Thus everything that that your terms, sin,
Destruction, evil represent—
That is my proper element.”

-Mephistopheles-

[Peter Kropotkin]

“—very popular error: having the courage of one's convictions—? Rather it is a matter of having the courage for an attack on one's convictions”
― Friedrich Nietzsche

Kropotkin

[Arminius]

Who is the smiling one?

The smiling one is Mephistopheles (shorter: Mephisto). And as far as I "know" you, you'll find Mephisto interesting. I can guarantee you.

The following links lead to Goethe, Goethe's Faust, and Goethe's Mephisto(pheles):
- http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Johann_Wolfgang_von_Goethe
- http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Goethe%27s_Faust
- http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mephistopheles




Translation: Scene in Auerbach's cellar. From Goethe's "Faust". Mephisto bewitches the students.

[Arminius]

“I am the spirit that negates.
And rightly so, for all that comes to be
Deserves to perish wretchedly;
'Twere better nothing would begin.
Thus everything that that your terms, sin,
Destruction, evil represent—
That is my proper element.”

-Mephistopheles-

My translation ( or ) was this one:

„I am the Spirit that denies! // And rightly too; for all that doth begin // Should rightly to destruction run; // 'Twere better then that nothing were begun. // Thus everything that you call Sin, // Destruction - in a word, as Evil represent- // That is my own, real element. “ - Johann Wolfgang (von) Goethe, Faust (I), 1790 / 1808, p. 64-67.

=> #

[Arminius]

I am learning German by Reading Faust. I have Walter Kaufmann's translation which is English on
one side and the German on the other side. Interesting way to learn a Language.

My quote by the way is "back at the ranch" by me, which is my way of saying getting back to the point.

Congratulations. May I test your German skills?

[Arminius]

"Ich bin ein Teil des Teils, der anfangs alles war,
Ein Teil der Finsternis, die sich das Licht gebar,
Das stolze Licht, das nun der Mutter Nacht
Den alten Rang, den Raum ihr streitig macht.
Und doch gelingt's ihm nicht, da es, so viel es strebt,
Verhaftet an den Körpern klebt."

- Johann Wolfgang (von) Goethe, Faust (I), 1790 / 1808, S. 67.

Translation:

"But I'm part of the Part which at the first was all,
Part of the Darkness that gave birth to Light,
The haughty Light that now with Mother Night
Disputes her ancient rank and space withal,
And yet 'twill not succeed, since, strive as strive it may,
Fettered to bodies will Light stay."

- Johann Wolfgang (von) Goethe, Faust (I), 1790 / 1808, p. 67.

[Arminius]

"Was Du ererbt von deinen Vätern hast,
Erwirb es, um es zu besitzen."

- Johann Wolfgang (von) Goethe, Faust (I), 1790 / 1808, S. 39.

Translation:

"What you have inherited from your fathers,
Acquire it in order to possess it."

- Johann Wolfgang (von) Goethe, Faust (I), 1790 / 1808, p. 39.

[Arcturus Descending]

“We read fine things but never feel them to the full until we have gone the same steps as the author.”
― John Keats


“Nothing ever becomes real till experienced – even a proverb is no proverb until your life has illustrated it”
― John Keats

[Arminius]

"Geben Sie Gedankenfreiheit!" - Friedrich Schiller, "Don Karlos", 1787.
Translation:
"Give freedom of thought!" - Friedrich Schiller, "Don Carlos", 1787.


_____ Don Carlos (1545-1568), ______ King Philipp II of Spain (1527-1598), Friedrich Schiller (1759-1805), 1st print of Schiller's "Don Karlos" (1787)

[Arminius]

In the near end of Goethe's "Faust", part II, an angel says to Faust:

"Wer immer strebend sich bemüht, // Den können wir erlösen."
(Johann Wolfgang von Goethe, "Faust", Teil II, S. 376.)
Translation:
"Who strives always to the utmost, // For him there is salvation.."

And amongst others this is what the "Chorus mysticus" sings when Faust is in heaven at last:

"Alles Vergängliche ist nur ein Gleichnis."
(Johann Wolfgang von Goethe, "Faust", Teil II, S. 383.)
Translation:
"All perishable is only an allegory."

Add-on:

"Niemand ist mehr Sklave, als der sich für frei hält, ohne es zu sein."
(Johann Wolfgang von Goethe, "Die Wahlverwandtschaften", Band 6, S. 397.)

Translation:

"None are more hopelessly enslaved than those who falsely believe they are free."

[Arcturus Descending]

This quote turned me on. It is so cool...and real.

I meditate because evolution gave me a big brain, but it didn't come with an instruction manual.
I meditate because life is too short and sitting slows it down.
I meditate because life is too long and I need an occasional break.
I meditate because it's such a relief to spend time ignoring myself.
I meditate because I'm building myself a bigger and better perspective, and occasionally I need to add a new window.

Wes Nisker.