December 10

One of the worst things possible is to follow the rule: "Be like everyone, follow the crowd."

Woe to the world because of its stumbling block! For it is inevitable that stumbling blocks come; but woe to that man through whom the stumbling block comes! And if your hand or your foot cause you to stumble, cut it off and throw it from you; it is better for you to enter life crippled or lame than having two hands and two feet, to be cast into the eternal fire.

— Matthew 18:7-9

One of the major obstacles impeding any positive future change in our lives is that we are too busy with our current work or activity. Levi quit his tax-work, Peter stopped fishing at a lake, Paul ceased being a priest. They all left their jobs because they thought it was necessary.

— John Ruskin

If a person's hand is not damaged, then it can withstand the bite of a poisonous snake. Its poison poses no danger to a healthy hand. Evil is harmless for him who is not an evildoer.

— Buddhist Wisdom

False shame is the devil's favorite emotion; it is even worse than false pride. Pride can support evil, but false shame stops goodness.

— John Ruskin

There is no evil in the world itself. All evil exists in our souls, and can be destroyed.