Blessed is the one who has arrived at infinite ignorance.
Evagrius PonticusRead
A monk is a man who considers himself one with all men because he seems constantly to see himself in every man.
Interpretation
The quote emphasizes the interconnectedness of humanity and the importance of empathy.
Evagrius Ponticus suggests that a monk, who is often associated with contemplation and spiritual understanding, perceives a profound unity with all people. This perspective implies that through self-reflection and awareness, one can recognize their own humanity in others, fostering a greater sense of compassion and connection across society.
In practice
During a lecture on empathy and human connection, this quote can serve as a profound introduction.
From such crooked wood as that which man is made of, nothing straight can be fashioned.
I despair of the Republic! Such dreariness, such whining sallow women, such utter absence of the amenities, such crass food, crass manners, crass landscape!! What a horror it is for a whole nation to be developing without the sense of beauty, and eating bananas for breakfast.
Chess is a forcing house where the fruits of character can ripen more fully than in life
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I am against the fact that a settler minority should impose an entire system of values on an indigenous people.
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