"Well, ok", she said, "we'll take a vote."

And they voted ten to four not to do the senior class play, which went against everything they'd been brought up with: "never to quit; never to quit; never ever give up."

And they found out then the reason you should never quit or give up is because when you do, it won't make that big a difference to people. They won't notice. You think it's going to be a scandle, and it's not. You'll come home early from school for three or four days before your parents say, "weren't you in a play?", and you say "it was cancelled," and they'll say "oh." That's all. That's all the world says when you quit, when you've given up. "oh." That's all you get.

--Garrison Keillor, A prairie home companion, Apr 23, 2005

Small | Medium | Large

Mountains should be climbed with as little effort as possible and without desire. The reality of your own nature should determine the speed. If you become restless, speed up. If you become winded, slow down. You climb the mountain in an equilibrium between restlessness and exhaustion. Then, when you're no longer thinking ahead, each footstep isn't just a means to an end but a unique event in itself. This leaf has jagged edges. This rock looks loose. From this place the snow is less visible, even though closer. These are things you should notice anyway. To live only for some future goal is shallow. It's the sides of the mountain which sustain life, not the top. Here's where things grow.

But of course, without the top you can't have any sides. It's the top that defines the sides.

--Zen and the Art of Motorcycle Mainenance, Robert M. Pirsig, p. 205

[2005.04.22 02:46] | [quotes] | #

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