Thomas Johnson

“At a certain age, you’ve made so many dumb mistakes that you’re able to identify the kind of faulty thinking that leads up to them,”
― John Gierach, All the Time in the World

“A person needs hardships. Overcoming trials through perseverance, self-reliance, and sacrifice is what you missed out on. Pain, fear, drudgery, boredom—lots of boredom—these are the things that build character. And you need to experience loss and remorse because falling down gives you the opportunity to rise once more. Overcoming challenges turns a self-centered infant into a caring adult. Empathy—the ability to understand and appreciate the feelings of others—is the cornerstone of civilization and the foundation of our relationships. Lack of it . . . well, lack of empathy is as close to a definition of evil that I can come up with.” “Then”
― Michael J. Sullivan, Age of Legend