Goethe almost always knew the right thing to say, didn’t he? I say almost because he was human after all, with all of the snails and puppy dog tails that come with it.
I think this is always a good thing to keep in mind whether we’re quoting an individual or backing them for President. We’re all human – deep down, we realize that – but how quickly we forget when a weakness is exposed in another.
We want compassion and understanding for ourselves and we even want it for people we support. Yet, when anyone else messes up – by gosh we’re all over it like a cat on a fat mouse with a limp.
I actually caught heat years ago for using a Goethe quote and for saying it was a wonderful quote. Come to think of it, I’ve also gotten flack for using John F. Kennedy, Mother Teresa, Gandhi, and Ronald Reagan quotes.
If I highlight a quote, it’s out of great appreciation for the quote – not always for the quoter. It’s to share the thought, not necessarily the thinker.
Many of the words Goethe left behind are wonderful and if they can be used to bring inspiration, motivation, and encouragement to people – I’ll quote him for years to come.
Was he perfect? No more so than any of us. Heck, even Mother Teresa wasn’t perfect. I only know of One Man who was perfect and no other will ever even come close.
There’ll be people we like, there’ll be people we don’t like. There’ll be people we all but hate with an un-Christian hatred! That’s just life. But here’s my own personal take on the situation: The fewer people we dislike or (worse yet) the fewer times we go searching for reasons to dislike them.. the better off we’ll be.
Why? Because negativity is a disease that eats us from the inside out. It’s also a habit – you look for reasons to dislike someone and it becomes second nature.
That’s anything BUT a good thing.
There’s another reason to always keep an open mind – one that most people don’t even want to consider. Shhh, don’t let it get out but, we might be wrong! I know, I know – I don’t like it any better than you do, but it’s just the truth.
I have my faults and I’ll be the first one to own up to them. Heck I’ll even alphabetize them if you want me to. But one thing that can be said of me is this – I have now, and always have had, a very open mind. I think one of the reasons may be the fact that I’m so blissfully aware of how imperfect I am. Maybe somewhere in my mind I’m always thinking, “You could very well be wrong, dear, don’t go shutting any doors or bolting any windows….”
Just recently – while following the Presidential Candidates and reading everything I could get my hands on – I changed my mind. Twice! Some people get so locked into an individual (or party) that they put blinders on their eyes and plugs in their ears.
Talk about a surefire way to make sure you shut out knowledge. Don’t know about you, but I want all the knowledge I can get.
A mind is like a parachute – it works best when, to a point, it’s open.
Just be sure no one comes along trying to fill it with their thoughts… choose your own. Your mind, your thoughts.
Whatever you do in life, wherever you go, and whomever you choose to be – never think of yourself as “too small,” “too young/old,” or “too inadequate…” The only “too” you are is “too awesome” and I can tell that from here.
Tuck away these words by Goethe and pull them out when needed. They really are WONDERFUL words.
Make each moment count double! – Joi (“Joy”)
Art little? Do thy little well:
And for thy comfort know
The great can do their greatest work
No better than just so.
-Goethe
Joshua Kemp says
Hey there, Joi! I agree, each moment matters just as much and more so than the last!
I love how life longs to seek fuller expression! When I first read the Goethe quote many years ago, I had not a clue as to what it meant or how it could pertain to my life in any way. However, as years have passed and I have accepted more wisdom… this quote is powerful 🙂
I s well recently built my very own website to help many others such as us that are across the globe seeking a larger expression of life! Thanks for sharing.
quest says
Very good article!!! Sometimes, we are in a dilemna about our own behaviour. For more such readings you can also read
http://pratibhasauparna.com/