Virginia Cornelia

“… What about the main thing in life, all its riddles? If you want, I'll spell it out for you right now. Do not pursue what is illusionary -property and position: all that is gained at the expense of your nerves decade after decade, and is confiscated in one fell night. Live with a steady superiority over life -don't be afraid of misfortune, and do not yearn for happiness; it is, after all, all the same: the bitter doesn't last forever, and the sweet never fills the cup to overflowing. It is enough if you don't freeze in the cold and if thirst and hunger don't claw at your insides. If your back isn't broken, if your feet can walk, if both arms can bend, if both eyes can see, if both ears hear, then whom should you envy? And why? Our envy of others devours us most of all. Rub your eyes and purify your heart -and prize above all else in the world those who love you and who wish you well. Do not hurt them or scold them, and never part from any of them in anger; after all, you simply do not know: it may be your last act before your arrest, and that will be how you are imprinted on their memory.”
― Aleksandr Solzhenitsyn, The Gulag Archipelago 1918–1956

“The past is gone, the future is not yet here, and if we do not go back to ourselves in the present moment, we cannot be in touch with life.”
― Thich Nhat Hanh

“— .......ştii de ce-l iubesc încă pe Dumnezeu?
— Pentru că e singur, ca mine... ca tine, a răspuns Mensur. Singur-singurel acolo sus pe undeva, fără un suflet cu care să vorbească - mă rog, poate câţiva îngeri, dar cât te poţi distra cu un heruvim? Bilioane de oameni se roagă Ia El: 'O, Doamne, dă-mi reuşite, dă-mi bani, dă-mi un Ferrari, dă-mi aia, dă-mi aialaltă...' Aceleaşi cuvinte iar şi iar, însă nimeni nu-şi prea dă osteneala să-L cunoască.
— Gândeşte-te ce fac oamenii când văd un accident pe şosea. Spun imediat: 'Doamne fereşte!' Poţi să crezi aşa ceva? Prima lor reacţie e să se gândească la ei înşişi, nu la victime. Atâtea rugăciuni sunt copii la indigo ale altora. Apără-mă, iubeşte-mă, ajută-mă, toate ţipă eu, eu, eu... Şi mai numesc asta pietate; eu aş numi-o egoism deghizat.”
― Elif Shafak, Trois filles d'Ève