Parham > Parham's Quotes

“It did not really matter what we expected from life, but rather what life expected from us. We needed to stop asking about the meaning of life, and instead to think of ourselves as those who were being questioned by life—daily and hourly. Our answer must consist, not in talk and meditation, but in right action and in right conduct. Life ultimately means taking the responsibility to find the right answer to its problems and to fulfill the tasks which it constantly sets for each individual.”
― Viktor E. Frankl, Man's Search for Meaning

“What was really needed was a fundamental change in our attitude toward life. We had to learn ourselves and, furthermore, we had to teach the despairing men, that it did not really matter what we expected from life, but rather what life expected from us. We needed to stop asking about the meaning of life, and instead to think of ourselves as those who were being questioned by life--daily and hourly. Our answer must consist, not in talk and meditation, but in right action and in right conduct. Life ultimately means taking the responsibility to find the right answer to its problems and to fulfill the tasks which it constantly sets for each individual.
These tasks, and therefore the meaning of life, differ from man to man, and from moment to moment. Thus it is impossible to define the meaning of life in a general way. Questions about the meaning of life can never be answered by sweeping statements. “Life” does not mean something vague, but something very real and concrete, just as life’s tasks are also very real and concrete. They form man’s destiny, which is different and unique for each individual. No man and no destiny can be compared with any other man or any other destiny. No situation repeats itself, and each situation calls for a different response. Sometimes the situation in which a man finds himself may require him to shape his own fate by action. At other times it is more advantageous for him to make use of an opportunity for contemplation and to realize assets in this way. Sometimes man may be required simple to accept fate, to bear his cross. Every situation is distinguished by its uniqueness, and there is always only one right answer to the problem posed by the situation at hand.
When a man finds that it is his destiny to suffer, he will have to accept his suffering as his task; his single and unique task. He will have to acknowledge the fact that even in suffering he is unique and alone in the universe. No one can relieve him of his suffering or suffer in his place. His unique opportunity lies in the way in which he bears his burden.”
― Viktor Frankl

“The idea of Original Sin—of guilt where there is no possibility of innocence, no freedom of choice, no alternatives available—is anti-self-esteem by its very nature. The very notion of guilt without volition or responsibility is an assault on reason as well as on morality.”
― Nathaniel Branden, The Six Pillars of Self-Esteem

“My life does not belong to others and I am not here on earth to live up to someone else’s expectations.”
― Nathaniel Branden, The Six Pillars of Self-Esteem

“I accept my aloneness. That is, I accept that no one is coming to make my life right, or save me, or redeem my childhood, or rescue me from the consequences of my choices and actions.”
― Nathaniel Branden, The Six Pillars of Self-Esteem

“My mission in life is not merely to survive, but to thrive; and to do so with some passion, some compassion, some humor, and some style.”
― Maya Angelou

“Nothing is more important than life. Nothing. You realise the simplicity of that point only when you confront death everyday.”
― Amish Tripathi, The Secret of the Nagas

“Be kind. We never know what people are going through. Give grace and mercy because one day your circumstance could change and you may need it.”
― Germany Kent

“The secret of realizing the greatest fruitfulness and the greatest enjoyment of existence is: to live dangerously! Build your cities on the slopes of Vesuvius! Send your ships out into uncharted seas! Live in conflict with your equals and with yourselves! Be robbers and ravagers as soon as you ca not be rulers and owners, you men of knowledge! The time will soon past when you could be content to live concealed int he woods like timid deer!”
― Friedrich Nietzsche

“When we are no longer able to change a situation, we are challenged to change ourselves.”
― Viktor E. Frankl, Man's Search for Meaning

“An abnormal reaction to an abnormal situation is normal behavior.”
― Victor Frankl, Man's Search For Ultimate Meaning

“The major problems in the world are the result of the difference between how nature works and the way people think”
― Gregory Bateson

“No one asks how to motivate a baby. A baby naturally explores everything it can get at, unless restraining forces have already been at work. And this tendency doesn't die out, it's wiped out.”
― B.F. Skinner, Walden Two

“I've learned that people will forget what you said, people will forget what you did, but people will never forget how you made them feel.”
― Maya Angelou

“I cannot believe in a God who wants to be praised all the time.”
― Friedrich Nietzsche

“the voice of beauty speaks softly; it creeps only into the most fully awakened souls”
― Nietzsche

“...throw roses into the abyss and say: 'here is my thanks to the monster who didn't succeed in swallowing me alive.”
― Friedrich Nietzsche

“My solitude doesn’t depend on the presence or absence of people; on the contrary, I hate who steals my solitude without, in exchange, offering me true company.”
― Friedrich Nietzsche

“I hate who steals my solitude, without really offer me in exchange company.”
― Friedrich Nietzsche

“The life of the enemy . Whoever lives for the sake of combating an enemy has an interest in the enemy's staying alive.”
― Friedrich Wilhelm Nietzsche

“Love, too, has to be learned.”
― Friedrich Nietzsche, The Gay Science: With a Prelude in Rhymes and an Appendix of Songs

“A politician divides mankind into two classes: tools and enemies.”
― Friedrich Nietzsche

“Dancing in all its forms cannot be excluded from the curriculum of all noble education; dancing with the feet, with ideas, with words, and, need I add that one must also be able to dance with the pen?”
― Friedrich Nietzsche

“But how could you live and have no story to tell?”
― Fyodor Dostoevsky, White Nights

“I did not bow down to you, I bowed down to all the suffering of humanity.”
― Fyodor Dostoevsky, Crime and Punishment

“If you want to overcome the whole world, overcome yourself.”
― Fyodor Dostoyevsky, Demons

“Facing it, always facing it, that’s the way to get through. Face it.”
― Conrad Joseph

“Run towards the roar,’ the old people used to tell the young ones. When faced with great danger and when people panic and seek a false sense of safety, run towards the roaring and go where you fear to go. For only in facing your fears can you find some safety and a way through. When the world rattles and the end seems near, go towards the roar.”
― Michael Meade, Why the World Doesn't End: Tales of Renewal in Times of Loss

“The task we must set for ourselves is not to feel secure, but to be able to tolerate insecurity.”
― Erich Fromm, The Art of Loving

“Not he who has much is rich, but he who gives much.”
― Erich Fromm