Lady Victoria Eclectic Pagan's blog: "Quotes and Stuff"

"Prohibition will work great injury to the cause of temperance. It is a species of intemperance within itself, for it goes beyond the bounds of reason in that it attempts to control a man's appetite by legislation, and makes a crime out of things that are not crimes. A Prohibition law strikes a blow at the very principles upon which our government was founded." Abraham Lincoln (1809-65), U.S. President. Speech, 18 Dec. 1840, to Illinois House of Representatives

“Love the moment and the energy of the moment will spread beyond all boundaries.” - Corita Kent Love the moment. Isn’t that great? As you’re reading this, take one moment right now and love it, just simply love it. That energy is just extending beyond your circle of influence out into the world – whether you realize it or not! ‘Spontaneous moment-loving’: now there’s a concept! Imagine how the energy of the whole planet would shift if we all did that at the same time.

“This is the character of truth: it is of all time, it is for all men, it has only to show itself to be recognized, and one cannot argue against it” - Voltaire (1694-1778) Truth is the great clarifier. I think of Jack Nicholson in “A Few Good Men” being grilled on the witness stand by Tom Cruise – it’s obvious that Jack’s covering something because the pieces aren’t falling into place. And he gets frustrated and yells at Tom: “You want the truth? You can’t handle the truth!” It’s one of those great moments in film where you get that “ah-ha!” and then the truth comes out. The truth might not always be pretty – but it is what it is, and it wants to be discovered. “Truth – is as old as God – His Twin identity And will endure as long as He A Co-Eternity –“ -Emily Dickinson (1830-1886) Truth – just five little letters and yet such a big word. It’s so powerful, and so real. Truth is something we all revere – we all search for it, we all believe in it. Truth is pure and simple. It makes everything make sense. Truth is a guiding principle that can’t steer us wrong. “There are no new truths, but only truths that have not been recognized by those who have perceived them without noticing. A truth is something that everyone can be shown to know and to have known, as people say, all along.” - Mary McCarthy (1912-1989) Truth is beyond time and space. Truth is always available to us, now, and wherever we are. Truth is unchanging and eternal. Truth is not biased or preferential – truth is the same for each one of us, it is there for all of us. “We know truth, not only by reason, but also by the heart.” - Blaise Pascal (1723-1662) In many ways, truth is intuitive. We know it when we see it. We recognize it, we feel it. There may be no hard evidence to back something up, but when it is the truth, we don’t need evidence – we understand it without explanation. “Truth is stranger than fiction, but it is because Fiction is obliged to stick to possibilities; Truth isn’t.” - Mark Twain (1835-1910) Of course, we know that there are infinite possibilities, but in our human experience we can only conjure up a portion of the possibilities based on what we’ve been exposed to. That’s why when some things happen we just can’t believe it – we can’t comprehend how such a thing could happen. But when we seek the truth, through prayer and meditation and spiritual practices, we see many more possibilities. We open up to answers and solutions that were once beyond our realm of understanding.

“If you don’t make a total commitment to whatever you’re doing, then you start looking to bail out the first time the boat starts leaking. It’s tough enough getting that boat to shore with everybody rowing, let alone when a guy stand up and starts putting his life jacket on.” - Lou Holtz Lou Holtz is the well-known football coach, and he’s talking about teamwork, and the importance of commitment to the team. The analogy he uses is great because it’s so visual – and you can see how one person’s lack of commitment affects those around him. Think about the commitment our ancestors made when coming to this country. Can you imagine the courage it took to leave home for somewhere, something unknown – the possibility of something better? Once they set out in that “boat” there was no turning back. If we could only have that courage, that commitment, in our own lives to just “go for it!” Yes, there are risks – that comes with the territory, but like another saying goes: “no risks, no rewards!” “I am seeking, I am striving, I am in it with all my heart.” -Vincent van Gogh Are we committed to living life to its fullest? What does that mean to each one of us personally? How does that show up in our daily routines? I think what van Gogh was saying was that commitment has to be whole-hearted. Whatever it is, whether it’s a friendship, a career, a marriage, or our spiritual pursuits – if we’re in it with all our heart, then we’re demonstrating the importance that it has in our lives. And whatever it is, will grow and bloom and thrive with our commitment to it. ““Put your heart, mind, intellect and soul even to your smallest acts. This is the secret of success.” - Swami Sivananda Commitment is 100%. You can’t hedge a little and say that you are committed. Your actions speak for themselves. Commitment is tied to so many other good things, like integrity – you say you will do something and then you do it, that’s integrity, that’s living up to your commitment. Commitment brings achievement, and success. “One’s lifework, I have learned, grows with the working and the living. Do it as if your life depended on it, and the first thing you know, you’ll have made a life out of it. A good life, too.” - Theresa Helburn Lifework. Isn’t all of life work at times?! Commitment does take work, but because we get so much out of what we put into it, it becomes a pleasure. Our relationships need attention, and the ones that get it help us to grow. Our lives are built on our commitments – to ourselves, our relationships, our work, and our communities.