tropicofpratek

“it is the continual effort of the beginning that creates the hoarded energy of the end;”
― Walter Bagehot, Physics and Politics, or, Thoughts on the application of the principles of natural selection and inheritance to political society

“Because enchantment, by my definition, has nothing to do with fantasy, or escapism, or magical thinking: it is founded on a vivid sense of belongingness to a rich and many-layered world; a profound and whole-hearted participation in the adventure of life. The enchanted life presented here is one which is intuitive, embraces wonder and fully engages the creative imagination – but it is also deeply embodied, ecological, grounded in place and community. It flourishes on work that has heart and meaning; it respects the instinctive knowledge and playfulness of children. It understands the myths we live by; thrives on poetry, song and dance. It loves the folkloric, the handcrafted, the practice of traditional skills. It respects wild things, recognises the wisdom of the crow, seeks out the medicine of plants. It rummages and roots on the wild edges, but comes home to an enchanted home and garden. It is engaged with the small, the local, the ethical; enchanted living is slow living.”
― Sharon Blackie, The Enchanted Life: Unlocking the Magic of the Everyday

“As far as we can tell from a purely scientific viewpoint, human life has absolutely no meaning. Humans are the outcome of blind evolutionary processes that operate without goal or purpose. Our actions are not part of some divine cosmic plan, and if planet earth were to blow up tomorrow morning, the universe would probably keep going about its business as usual. As far as we can tell at this point, human subjectivity would not be missed. Hence any meaning that people inscribe to their lives is just a delusion.”
― Yuval Noah Harari, Sapiens: A Brief History of Humankind

“You’re born, you take shit

get out in the world, you take more shit

climb a little higher, take less shit.

till one day you're in the rarefied atmosphere and you’ve forgotten what shit even looks like.

Welcome to the layer cake, son.”
― J. J. Connolly, Layer Cake