Timeless Wisdom from
ALBERT SCHWEITZER
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| Dr. Albert Schweitzer (1875-1965) |
Constant kindness can accomplish much.
As the sun makes ice melt, kindness causes
misunderstanding, mistrust,
and hostility to evaporate.
Life becomes harder for us when we live for others, but it also becomes richer and happier.
Just as the wave cannot exist for itself, but is ever a part of the heaving surface of the ocean, so must I never live my life for itself, but always in the experience which is going on around me.
The willow which bends to the tempest, often escapes better than the oak which resists it; and so in great calamities, it sometimes happens that light and frivolous spirits recover their elasticity and presence of mind sooner than those of a loftier character.
There are two means of refuge from the miseries of life: music and cats.
Do something wonderful. Someone may imitate it.
Hear Dr. Schweitzer performing Bach's great G-Minor Organ Fantasy in the post immediately below
Rational Self Interest defined.
ReplyDeleteOnly two??? ;)
ReplyDeleteI admit that the simple view of Dr Albert Schweitzer that seems to have stuck in my mind of a good doctor seeking to help the downtrodden poor of Africa is way too simplistic to understand the complexities of this man. After taking some time to read his bio on Wikipedia he's worthwhile looking at in detail.
ReplyDeleteI don't think I've read as simple and honest a personal philosophy of life expressed in as few words: Schweitzer wrote, "True philosophy must start from the most immediate and comprehensive fact of consciousness, and this may be formulated as follows: 'I am life which wills to live, and I exist in the midst of life which wills to live.'"
Oddly enough this man bumped up against opposition in the world impeding his plans to serve and attempt to alleviate the suffering of the exploited occupants of the European African colonies. So maybe this suffering and enslavement of the colonies wasn't an accident—or it couldn't have been after it had been recognized.
"For Schweitzer, mankind had to accept that objective reality is ethically neutral. It could then affirm a new Enlightenment through spiritual rationalism, by giving priority to volition or ethical will as the primary meaning of life." ..."Respect for life, overcoming coarser impulses and hollow doctrines, leads the individual to live in the service of other people and of every living creature. In contemplation of the will-to-life, respect for the life of others becomes the highest principle and the defining purpose of humanity."
Well, if Dr. Schweitzer's ship has sailed, obviously the world has missed the boat.
Wonderful post, my friend, although you can keep the cats. I'm perfectly happy with my banjo ;-)
ReplyDeleteHappy Sunday!
As usual whenever we [resent something truly worthwhile it gets largely ignored, misunderstood, or used as a form for irrelevant comments that must be removed.
ReplyDeleteWhat this says about our readership is not very flattering to say the least.
I don't suppose it occurs to many that whenever we ignore or spit in the eye of Truth, we crucify Jesus all over again?
I hasten to thank those few who made sincere attempts to make intelligent, respectful comments on this post.