The essentials are to learn to shape God with forethought, care, and work; to educate and benefit their community, their families and themselves; and to contribute to the fulfillment of the Destiny.
Interpretation
The quote emphasizes the importance of intentionality, education, and community contribution in shaping one's life and fulfilling purpose.
Octavia Butler’s quote speaks to the essential components of personal development and community service. It highlights the significance of thoughtful action and diligent work in shaping one's spiritual and bodily existence, while stressing the importance of educating not only oneself but also others in the community. This interconnectedness suggests that true fulfillment comes from contributing to the collective well-being and understanding that one’s destiny is tied to the growth and benefit of those around them.
In practice
In a speech about community service, one might say, 'As Octavia Butler said, we must learn to shape our contributions with care to fulfill our collective Destiny.'
What I'm working on now - I'm back to fantasy, although considering that it's me, I'm turning it into a kind of science fantasy. It's a vampire story - but my vampires are biological vampires. They didn't become vampires because someone bit them; they were born that way.
Slavery was a long slow process of dulling.
Here I was into astronomy, and here into anthropology, and there I go into geology. It was much more fun to be able to research and write about whatever I wanted to.
There is no end To what a living world Will demand of you.
You don't start out writing good stuff. You start out writing crap and thinking it's good stuff, and then gradually you get better at it. That's why I say one of the most valuable traits is persistence.
Better to stay alive," I said. "At least while there's a chance to get free." I thought of the sleeping pills in my bag and wondered just how great a hypocrite I was. It was so easy to advise other people to live with their pain.
(Whispered to a novice while standing in front of the convent library) Oh! I would have been sorry to have read all those books...If I had read them, I would have broken my head, and I would have wasted precious time that I could have employed very simply in loving God.
The same man cannot well be skilled in everything; each has his special excellence.
Every problem is a gift - without problems we would not grow.
Immature strategy is the cause of grief.
Retire into yourself as much as possible. Associate with people who are likely to improve you. Welcome those whom you are capable of improving. The process is a mutual one. People learn as they teach.
All who ask receive, those who seek find, and to those who knock it shall be opened. Therefore, let us knock at the beautiful garden of Scripture. It is fragrant, sweet, and blooming with various sounds of spiritual and divinely inspired birds. They sing all around our ears, capture our hearts, comfort the mourners, pacify the angry, and fill us with everlasting joy.
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