“Without self knowledge, without understanding the working and functions of his machine, man cannot be free, he cannot govern himself and he will always remain a slave.”
―
―
“You are in prison. If you wish to get out of prison, the first thing you must do is realize that you are in prison. If you think you are free, you can't escape.”
―
―
“ Are you oblivious to the sufferings of birth, old age, sickness and death? There is no guarantee that you will survive, even past this very day! The time has come [for you] to develop perseverance in [your] practice. For, at this singular opportunity, you could attain the everlasting bliss [of nirvāṇa]. So now is [certainly] not the time to sit idly, But, starting with [the reflection on] death, you should bring your practice to completion!3 The moments of our life are not expendable, And the [possible] circumstances of death are beyond imagination. If you do not achieve an undaunted confident security now, What point is there in your being alive, O living creature?”
― The Tibetan Book of the Dead. First Complete Translation
― The Tibetan Book of the Dead. First Complete Translation
“Let us take some event in the life of humanity. For instance, war. There is a war going on at the present moment. What does it signify? It signifies that several millions of sleeping people are trying to destroy several millions of other sleeping people. They would not do this, of course, if they were to wake up. Everything that takes place is owing to this sleep.”
―
―
“There is no faith in the smile of the rose”
― Hafiz of Shiraz: Thirty Poems: An Introduction to the Sufi Master
― Hafiz of Shiraz: Thirty Poems: An Introduction to the Sufi Master
The History Book Club
— 26086 members
— last activity Apr 22, 2026 07:27AM
"Interested in history - then you have found the right group". The History Book Club is the largest history and nonfiction group on Goodread ...more
Christian’s 2025 Year in Books
Take a look at Christian’s Year in Books, including some fun facts about their reading.
More friends…
Favorite Genres
Polls voted on by Christian
Lists liked by Christian
























