In a neighborhood, as in life, a clean bandage is much, much better than a raw or festering wound.
Interpretation
Healing and care are essential in both life and community.
This quote by Ed Koch emphasizes the importance of addressing and caring for wounds, whether physical or metaphorical, in our lives and neighborhoods. It suggests that having a clean and well-managed situation is far better than allowing problems to fester and worsen, highlighting the value of proactive care and attention to our surroundings and relationships.
In practice
During a community meeting about neighborhood safety, this quote can inspire teamwork and care.
No, I am not a homosexual. If I were a homosexual, I would hope I would have the courage to say so. What's cruel is that you are forcing me to say I am not a homosexual. This means you are putting homosexuals down. I don't want to do that.
The knife of corruption endangered the life of New York City. The scalpel of the law is making us well again.
Have confidence in your decisions. Make them expeditiously, and stay with them as long as you believe you are correct no matter what others say. However, when you conclude you were in error, do not hesitate to announce the error publicly and change course.
I was not afraid of the press or the militants. It was uncomfortable, but I was not afraid. With respect to the press, I knew I knew more than they knew about city matters. With respect to the militants, I understood it. I mean, everybody believed in those days that they were being screwed, you know, that somebody was getting ahead of them.
Patience is bitter, but its fruit is sweet.
The Bible does not thrill; the Bible nourishes. Give time to the reading of the Bible and the recreating effect is as real as that of fresh air physically.
You can pray while you work. Work doesn't stop prayer and prayer doesn't stop work. It requires only that small raising of the mind to him: I love you God, I trust you, I believe in you, I need you now. Small things like that. They are wonderful prayers.
A wise man first thinks and then speaks and a fool speaks first and then thinks.
There was a lot more to magic, as Harry quickly found out, than waving your wand and saying a few funny words.
For pain must enter into its glorified life of memory before it can turn into compassion.
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