“…the only thing she feared was compromise, the soothing voice that licks down rage until it is nothing but a small smooth lump in your hand.”
― After Sappho
― After Sappho
“Souls unite in the face of violence, if only on the common ground of frailty.”
― The Tree of Man
― The Tree of Man
“Engaging with them (malignant narcissists) alone is futile - never wrestle a pig, as the old saying goes; you both end up covered in shit, and the pig likes it. The fundamental rules of human interaction do not apply to them, although they weaponize those rules against everyone else.”
― Sand Talk: How Indigenous Thinking Can Save the World
― Sand Talk: How Indigenous Thinking Can Save the World
“The real problem of humanity is the following: We have Paleolithic emotions, medieval institutions and godlike technology. And it is terrifically dangerous, and it is now approaching a point of crisis overall.”
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“Understanding your own culture and the ways it interacts with others, particularly the power dynamics of it, is far more appreciated. My reading of Germane Greer when I was a young lad was a lot more conducive to forming relationships with European females than my reading of Dante was--and that was more about my understanding of my male privilege and controlling its excess than being an export on women's literature or issues. This kind of cultural humility is a useful exercise in understanding your role as an agent of sustainability in a complex system. It is difficult to relinquish the illusions of power and delusions of exceptionalism that come with privilege. But it is strangely liberating to realise your true status as a node in a single network. There is honour to be found in this role, and a certain dignified agency. You won't be swallowed up by a hive mind or individuality--you will retain your autonomy while simultaneously being profoundly interdependent and connected.”
― Sand Talk: How Indigenous Thinking Can Save the World
― Sand Talk: How Indigenous Thinking Can Save the World
Ben’s 2025 Year in Books
Take a look at Ben’s Year in Books, including some fun facts about their reading.
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