When the sage points at the moon, all that the idiot sees is the finger.
Anthony De MelloRead
Problems only exist in the human mind.
Interpretation
Problems are a creation of our thoughts, not external realities.
This quote by Anthony De Mello emphasizes the idea that the challenges and obstacles we face are largely a product of our perceptions and thoughts. It suggests that our mindset and interpretation of situations play a pivotal role in defining what we consider to be problems, indicating that by changing our thoughts, we can alter our experiences of reality.
In practice
In a motivational speech about overcoming mental barriers.
When the sage points at the moon, all that the idiot sees is the finger.
Perfect love casts out fear. Where there is love there are no demands, no expectations, no dependency. I do not demand that you make me happy; my happiness does not lie in you. If you were to leave me, I will not feel sorry for myself; I enjoy your company immensely, but I do not cling.
The master never seemed to have his fill of gazing at his firstborn child. "What do you want him to be when he grows up?" someone asked. "Outrageously happy," said the master.
The genius of a composer is found in the notes of his music; but analyzing the notes will not reveal his genius. The poet's greatness is contained in his words; yet the study of his words will not disclose his inspiration. God reveals himself in creation; but scrutinize creation as minutely as you wish, you will not find God, any more than you will find the soul through careful examination of your body.
What is a loving heart? A loving heart is sensitive to the whole of life, to all persons; a loving heart doesn't harden itself to any persons or things.
Those who make no mistakes are making the biggest mistakes of all - they are attempting nothing new.
It's all very well for us to sit here in the west with our high incomes and cushy lives, and say it's immoral to violate the sovereignty of another state. But if the effect of that is to bring people in that country economic and political freedom, to raise their standard of living, to increase their life expectancy, then don't rule it out.
I'm a strict, strict agnostic. It's very different from a casual, 'I don't know.' It's that you cannot present as knowledge something that is not knowledge. You can present it as faith, you can present it as belief, but you can't present it as fact.
Must not all things at the last be swallowed up in death?
It is impossible for someone to lie unless he thinks he knows the truth. Producing bullshit requires no such conviction.
Are people the best judges of their own happiness, or outsiders? In defining happiness, should we think of entire lives or of shorter periods such as moments, days, or years? And to what extent are virtue and happiness linked?
The mob is the mother of tyrants.
Subscribe for the occasional hand-picked quote. No noise.