Says Who

Don’t you just love when someone states something so brief, true, and profound? That is, when someone in one or a few sentences says much more, than you could do in five minutes of speech about a given topic. A truly powerful ‘punch-liner’ somehow makes you quiet for a moment or two, because really, there is often nothing to add. I love that. I appreciate the good quote. Others do too, so they have luckily been carried across centuries and borders.

I have a close relationship to quotes and use them actively in my life. Now you might think, ‘oh, you are one of those annoying ones that always have to quote someone when you speak’. Perhaps, and forgive me for that. Occasionally I do throw one into a good conversation or a speech, but more often I use them for myself, as guiding stars, inspirations, and reminders of core things, I like to be reminded about. I write them on post-its and stick them to my wall. I wrote them in the first pages of my notebook (yes, old-fashioned I like handwriting in moleskin notebooks) when I last year travelled to India to test out some thoughts I have for a social idea. I picked the quotes related to this work which inspires me and even keeps me on my toes, and wrote them in the first few pages, so they are always at hand, looking at me with their wisdom.

Because this blog is also about inspiration, living ones potential, dreams, and beauty – which in my option from a holistic perspective is very much related to social change-making – it seems natural to share some of these quotes here. Maybe they can serve as guiding stars for others, who knows. Isn’t it about sharing when all comes down to it.

“Wisdom begins in wonder.”

–   Socrates

“We must be the change we wish to see in the world.”

–  Gandhi

“There are no great acts, only small acts done with great love.”

– Mother Theresa

“Only those risking going too far can possibly find out how far one can go.”

– T. S. Eliot

“Let there be moments unexplainable. Let there be a few things that are mysterious, for which you cannot supply any reason. Let there be a few things for which people will think you are a little crazy.”

– Osho

“Give up the drop, become the ocean.”

– Rumi

“Whoever is happy will make others happy, too.”

– Mark Twain

“Courage is not the absence of fear, but the willingness to walk through your fear in pursuit of a goal that is important to you.”

– Robin Sharma

“Our deepest fear is not that we are inadequate. Our deepest fear is that we are powerful beyond measure. It is our light, not our darkness that most frightens us. We ask ourselves, who am I to be brilliant, gorgeous, talented, fabulous? Actually, who are you not to be? You are a child of God. Your playing small does not serve the world. There is nothing enlightened about shrinking so that other people won’t feel insecure around you. We are all meant to shine, as children do. We were born to make manifest the glory of God that is within us. It’s not just in some of us; it’s in everyone. And as we let our own light shine, we unconsciously give other people permission to do the same. As we are liberated from our own fear, our presence automatically liberates others.”

– Marianne Williamson