Echoes

When one cultivates to the utmost the principles of his nature, and exercises them on the principle of reciprocity, he is not far from the path. What you do not like when done to yourself, do not do to others.

Only if we understand can we care. Only if we care will we help. Only if we help shall they be saved.

When will our consciences grow so tender that we will act to prevent human misery rather than avenge it?

Think lightly of yourself and deeply of the world.

People don't care how much you know until they know how much you care.

Indifference towards people and the reality in which they live is actually the one and only cardinal sin in design.

How selfish soever man may be supposed, there are evidently some principles in his nature, which interest him in the fortune of others, and render their happiness necessary to him, though he derives nothing from it except the pleasure of seeing it.

In democratic ages men rarely sacrifice themselves for another, but they show a general compassion for all the human race. One never sees them inflict pointless suffering, and they are glad to relieve the sorrows of others when they can do so without much trouble to themselves. They are not disinterested, but they are gentle.

The physician should not treat the disease but the patient who is suffering from it.

Whoever gives reverence receives reverence.

Toleration is good for all, or it is good for none.

There is no man in the world free from trouble or anguish, though he were King or Pope.

If you do not tell the truth about yourself you cannot tell it about other people.

To account nothing of one’s self, and to think always kindly and highly of others, this is great and perfect wisdom.

It is not fair to ask of others what you are unwilling to do yourself.

The inhabitants of these islands are the most hospitable people I have ever encountered; they give freely of what they possess, asking nothing in return.

Brothers, have no fear of men's sin. Love a man even in his sin, for that is the semblance of Divine Love and is the highest love on earth. Love all God's creation, the whole of it and every grain of sand in it. Love every leaf, every ray of God's light. Love the animals, love the plants, love everything. If you love everything, you will perceive the divine mystery in things. Once you have perceived it, you will begin to comprehend it better every day, and you will come at last to love the world with an all-embracing love. Love the animals: God has given them the rudiments of thought and untroubled joy. So do not trouble it, do not harass them, do not deprive them of their joy, do not go against God's intent. Man, do not exhale yourself above the animals: they are without sin, while you in your majesty defile the earth by your appearance on it, and you leave the traces of your defilement behind you — alas, this is true of almost every one of us! Love children especially, for like the angels they too are sinless, and they live to soften and purify our hearts, and, as it were, to guide us. Woe to him who offends a child. My young brother asked even the birds to forgive him. It may sound absurd, but it is right none the less, for everything, like the ocean, flows and enters into contact with everything else: touch one place, and you set up a movement at the other end of the world. It may be senseless to beg forgiveness of the birds, but, then, it would be easier for the birds, and for the child, and for every animal if you were yourself more pleasant than you are now. Everything is like an ocean, I tell you. Then you would pray to the birds, too, consumed by a universal love, as though in ecstasy, and ask that they, too, should forgive your sin. Treasure this ecstasy, however absurd people may think it.

The most dangerous worldview is the worldview of those who have not viewed the world.

The strength of the wolf is the pack, and the strength of the pack is the wolf.

The only true voyage of discovery, the only fountain of Eternal Youth, would be not to visit strange lands but to possess other eyes, to behold the universe through the eyes of another, of a hundred others, to behold the hundred universes that each of them beholds, that each of them is.

The worst lesson that can be taught a man is to rely upon others and to whine over his sufferings.

When you are content to be simply yourself, everybody will respect you.

The only real, dignified, human doctrine is the greatest good of all, and this can only be achieved by uttermost self-sacrifice.

Everything is interaction and reciprocal.

A friend is one soul abiding in two bodies.