“TO BE HOPEFUL in bad times is not just foolishly romantic. It is based on the fact that human history is a history not only of cruelty, but also of compassion, sacrifice, courage, kindness.
What we choose to emphasize in this complex history will determine our lives. If we see only the worst, it destroys our capacity to do something. If we remember those times and places—and there are so many—where people have behaved magnificently, this gives us the energy to act, and at least the possibility of sending this spinning top of a world in a different direction.
And if we do act, in however small a way, we don’t have to wait for some grand utopian future. The future is an infinite succession of presents, and to live now as we think human beings should live, in defiance of all that is bad around us, is itself a marvelous victory.”
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What we choose to emphasize in this complex history will determine our lives. If we see only the worst, it destroys our capacity to do something. If we remember those times and places—and there are so many—where people have behaved magnificently, this gives us the energy to act, and at least the possibility of sending this spinning top of a world in a different direction.
And if we do act, in however small a way, we don’t have to wait for some grand utopian future. The future is an infinite succession of presents, and to live now as we think human beings should live, in defiance of all that is bad around us, is itself a marvelous victory.”
―
“When another person makes you suffer, it is because he suffers deeply within himself, and his suffering is spilling over. He does not need punishment; he needs help. That's the message he is sending.”
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Ask Athena's Daughters: Strong Female Characters For Today's Readers
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— last activity Oct 23, 2014 03:38PM
The authors of the Athena's Daughters anthology talk about writing strong female characters for today's readers. Lots of authors, lots of opinions--wa ...more
The Creative Writer's Toolbelt
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— last activity Jan 21, 2024 12:17PM
The Creative Writers Toolbelt podcast gives you practical, accessible advice, with examples, that you can apply to your writing immediately. You can ...more
Melanie’s 2024 Year in Books
Take a look at Melanie’s Year in Books, including some fun facts about their reading.
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