In reality, there is no such thing as a “should” or a “shouldn’t”. These are only thoughts that we impose onto reality. The mind is like a carpenter’s level. When the bubble is off to one side—“It shouldn’t be raining”—we can know that the mind is caught in its thinking. When the bubble is right in the middle—“It’s raining”—we can know that the surface level and the mind is accepting reality as it is. Without the “should” and “shouldn’t,” we can see reality as it is, and this leaves us free to act efficiently, clearly, and sanely. Asking “What’s the reality of it?” can help bring the mind out of its story, back into the real world.
—Byron Katie (b.1942) American Speaker, Author
The world has narrowed to a neighborhood before it has broadened to a brotherhood.
—Lyndon B. Johnson (1908–73) American Head of State, Political leader
When the world is destroyed, it will be destroyed not by its madmen but by the sanity of its experts and the superior ignorance of its bureaucrats.
—John le Carre (1931–2020) English Spy Thriller Novelist
When you do The Work, you see who you are by seeing who you think other people are. Eventually you come to see that everything outside you is a reflection of your own thinking. You are the storyteller, the projector of all stories, and the world is the projected image of your thoughts.
—Byron Katie (b.1942) American Speaker, Author
Would the world ever have been made if its maker had been afraid of making trouble? Making life means making trouble.
—George Bernard Shaw (1856–1950) Irish Playwright
Our roots are in the dark; the earth is our country. Why did we look up for blessing—instead of around, and down? What hope we have lies there. Not in the sky full of orbiting spy-eyes and weaponry, but in the earth we have looked down upon. Not from above, but from below. Not in the light that blinds, but in the dark that nourishes, where human beings grow human souls.
—Ursula K. Le Guin (b.1929) American Science Fiction and Fantasy Writer
Thou must content thyself to see the world imperfect as it is. Thou wilt never have any quiet if thou vexest thyself because thou canst not bring mankind to that exact notion of things and rule of life which thou hast formed in thy own mind.
—Thomas Fuller (1608–61) English Cleric, Historian
There are people in the world so hungry, that God cannot appear to them except in the form of bread.
—Mohandas K. Gandhi (1869–1948) Indian Hindu Political leader
Loving people live in a loving world. Hostile people live in a hostile world. Same world.
—Wayne Dyer (1940–2015) American Self-Help Author
Do you want to be right more than you want to know the truth? It’s the truth that set me free. Acceptance, peace, and less attachment to a world of suffering are all effects of doing The Work. They’re not the goals. Do The Work for the love of freedom, for the love of truth.
—Byron Katie (b.1942) American Speaker, Author
To understand the world one must not be worrying about one’s self.
—Albert Einstein (1879–1955) German-born Physicist
For in itself a thought, a slumbering thought, is capable of years, and curdles a long life into one hour.
—Lord Byron (George Gordon Byron) (1788–1824) English Romantic Poet
All the world’s a stage, and all the men and women merely players: they have their exits and their entrances; and one man in his time plays many parts. His acts being seven ages.
—William Shakespeare (1564–1616) British Playwright
To him who looks upon the world rationally, the world in its turn presents a rational aspect. The relation is mutual.
—Georg Wilhelm Friedrich Hegel (1770–1831) German Philosopher
What is meant by a “knowledge of the world” is simply an acquaintance with the infirmities of men.
—Charles Dickens (1812–70) English Novelist
God had created the world in play.
—Ramakrishna Paramahamsa (1836–86) Indian Hindu Philosopher
This world is but a canvas to our imagination.
—Henry David Thoreau (1817–62) American Philosopher
That is one good thing about this world…there are always sure to be more springs.
—Lucy Maud Montgomery (1874–1942) Canadian Novelist
Each blade of grass has its spot on earth whence it draws its life, its strength; and so is man rooted to the land from which he draws his faith together with his life.
—Joseph Conrad (1857–1924) Polish-born British Novelist
Until you can see everything in the world as your friend, your work is not done.
—Byron Katie (b.1942) American Speaker, Author
Once you kick the world, and the world and you will live together at a reasonably good understanding.
—Jonathan Swift (1667–1745) Irish Satirist
The world is too much with us; late and soon, getting and spending we lay waste our powers. Little we see in nature that is ours.
—William Wordsworth (1770–1850) English Poet
You can’t shut out the world without shutting yourself in.
—Arnold Glasow (1905–98) American Businessman
Imagine all the people living life in peace. You may say I’m a dreamer, but I’m not the only one. I hope someday you’ll join us, and the world will be as one.
—John Lennon (1940–80) British Singer, Songwriter, Musician, Activist
I have run the silly rounds of pleasure, and have done with them all. I have enjoyed all the pleasures of the world, and I appraise them at their real worth, which is in truth very low; those who have only seen their outside always overrate them, but I have been behind the scenes, I have seen all the coarse pulleys and dirty ropes which move the gaudy machines, and I have seen and smelt the tallow candles which illuminate the whole decoration, to the astonishment and admiration of the ignorant audience. When I reflect on what I have seen, what I have heard, and what I have done, I can hardly persuade myself that all that frivolous hurry and bustle of pleasure in the world had any reality; but I look upon all that is passed as one of those romantic dreams which opium commonly occasions, and I do by no means desire to repeat the nauseous dose.
—Earl of Chesterfield (1694–1773) English Statesman, Man of Letters
Regrets are idle; yet history is one long regret. Everything might have turned out so differently!
—Charles Dudley Warner (1829–1900) American Essayist, Novelist
We can not play innocents abroad in a world that is not innocent.
—Ronald Reagan (1911–2004) American Head of State
The world knows nothing of its greatest men.
—Henry Taylor (1800–86) British Poet, Dramatist
I have seen how the foundations of the world are laid, and I have not the least doubt that it will stand a good while.
—Henry David Thoreau (1817–62) American Philosopher
A great deal of talent is lost to the world for want of a little courage. Every day sends to their graves obscure men whose timidity prevented them from making a first effort.
—Sydney Smith (1771–1845) English Clergyman, Essayist, Wit
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