A good government may, indeed, redress the grievances of an injured people; but a strong people can alone build up a great nation.
Thomas Francis MeagherRead
I now bid farewell to the country of my birth - of my passions - of my death; a country whose misfortunes have invoked my sympathies - whose factions I sought to quell - whose intelligence I prompted to a lofty aim - whose freedom has been my fatal dream.
Interpretation
This quote reflects a deep emotional connection to one's homeland, intertwined with themes of struggle, aspiration, and loss.
In this poignant farewell, Thomas Francis Meagher expresses his profound attachment to his homeland, marked by a mix of passion and sorrow. He acknowledges the misfortunes that drew his sympathies and the struggles for freedom that inspired his aspirations, recognizing that his dreams for the country ultimately led to personal sacrifice and heartbreak.
In practice
During a memorial for a national hero, this quote can be used to reflect on the sacrifices made for freedom.
A good government may, indeed, redress the grievances of an injured people; but a strong people can alone build up a great nation.
The older I get, the more clearly I remember things that never happened.
The slave frees himself when, of all the relations of private property, he abolishes only the relation of slavery and thereby becomes a proletarian; the proletarian can free himself only by abolishing private property in general.
There exists a creature which is perfectly harmless; when it passes before your eyes you scarcely notice it and forget it again immediately. But as soon as it invisibly gets somehow into your ears, it develops there, it hatches, as it were, and cases have been known where it was penetrated even into the brain and has thriven devastatingly in that organ, like those pneumococci in dogs that gain entrance through the nose.This creature is one's neighbor.
Why can't we simply borrow what is useful to us from Buddhism, Hinduism, Taoism, especially Zen, as we borrow from Christianity, science, American Indian traditions and world literature in general, including philosophy, and let the rest go hang? Borrow what we need but rely principally upon our own senses, common sense and daily living experience.
I was promised on a time - to have reason for my rhyme; From that time unto this season, I received nor rhyme nor reason.
Imagine, just for the sake of discussion, that you had a few hours a week and a few dollars a month to donate to a cause - and you wanted to spend that time and money where it would have the greatest impact in saving and improving lives. Where would you spend it?
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