Cynthia

“Being unable to cure death, wretchedness and ignorance, men have decided, in order to be happy, not to think about such things.”
― Blaise Pascal, Pensées

“All mankind is of one author, and is one volume; when one man dies, one chapter is not torn out of the book, but translated into a better language; and every chapter must be so translated... As therefore the bell that rings to a sermon, calls not upon the preacher only, but upon the congregation to come: so this bell calls us all... No man is an island, entire of itself... any man's death diminishes me, because I am involved in mankind; and therefore never send to know for whom the bell tolls; it tolls for thee.”
― John Donne, Devotions Upon Emergent Occasions and Death's Duel

“Knowing God without knowing our wretchedness leads to pride. Knowing our wretchedness without knowing God leads to despair. Knowing Jesus Christ is the middle course, because in him we find both God and our wretchedness.”
― Blaise Pascal, Pensées

“No half-heartedness and no worldly fear must turn us aside from following the light unflinchingly.”
― J.R.R. Tolkien