Category: KNOWLEDGE & SELF-KNOWLEDGE

  • I the Preacher was king over Israel in Jerusalem.

    And I gave my heart to seek and search out by wisdom concerning all things that are done under heaven: this sore travail hath God given to the sons of man to be exercised therewith.

    I have seen all the works that are done under the sun; and, behold, all is vanity and vexation of spirit.

    That which is crooked cannot be made straight: and that which is wanting cannot be numbered.[Ecclesiastes 1:12-15]

    What did he mean by “vexation of spirit”? It refers to the aimlessness and futility of human activity, for one can never lay hold of real satisfaction. It vexed him to see many that had wisdom not use it, and many that had folly not strive against it. The minds and manners of men are crooked and perverse. Solomon thought with his wisdom and power together thoroughly to reform his kingdom, but he was disappointed. He found no lasting satisfaction, for the world was still full of problems that could not be solved. All the philosophy and politics in the world will not restore the corrupt nature of man. Human wisdom will never be able to change the course of things, since all things are ordained and cannot be different from what they are.

    Book of Ecclesiastes
    Fr. Tadros Y. Malaty

  • All talking, seeing, and hearing is useless toil, for curiosity will never be satisfied; man himself seems to be moving in vain rounds. It is impossible to put into words the futility of it all. It never brings real satisfaction to the eye or the ear of man

    Book of Ecclesiastes
    Fr. Tadros Y. Malaty

  • He had lived alone all his adult life, in a vacuum. He had contributed to the sum of human knowledge; that was his vocation, it was the way he had found to express his talents; but love was something he had never known.

    Atomised
    Michel Houellebecq

  • I found it very difficult now to tolerate intellectual debate. I no longer had any desire to understand the world, or even to know it.

    Platform
    Michel Houellebecq

  • “The person who sees their sins is better than the one who sees angels.”
    —St. Isaac the Syrian

    ON THE EGO & THE LOVE OF PRAISE
    H.H. Pope Shenouda III

  • Another time, a monk of Syrian descent was living in Scetis. He came to St. Macarius and said to him, “I have a question, father: When I was in Syria, I was able to fast a great deal and spend days fasting, but now, in Egypt, I cannot complete the day fasting. Why?” Seeing that the monasteries in Syria were in cities in the midst of people, St. Macarius answered him and said, “You used to spend your days fasting because you dined on vainglory, that is, people’s praise of you during the fasting and abstinence from food. But here in the wilderness, no one sees you, and hence you quickly become hungry.” Because of this, the saints said that if the virtues are known, they are ruined and end; and because of this, they would hide their virtues, wisdom, and knowledge.

    ON THE EGO & THE LOVE OF PRAISE
    H.H. Pope Shenouda III

  • Poor are those who limit their thoughts to the past with all its troubles, mistakes and its sweet dreams. There would not be any time or strength left for them to do something for the future.

    They talk about the beauty of the past, the greatness of the past, either a boosting talk or a sorrowful talk. As for the present, there is nothing about it, it does not exist, the same with the future … etc. 

    The beautiful past is not going to satisfy you if the present is troublesome. Therefore, do not live on sweet memories but reach forward. Let your present always be better than your past.

    Do not remember from the past except what could make your present better and gives you a push forward in repentance or in growth.

    WORDS OF SPIRITUAL BENEFIT VOL III
    H.H. Pope Shenouda III

  • I don’t know what good it is to know so much and be smart as whips and all if it doesn’t make you happy.

    Franny and Zooey 
    J.D. Salinger

  • In the first place, you’re way off when you start railing at things and people instead of at yourself.

    Franny and Zooey
    J.D. Salinger

  • The strife-makers find in themselves, in their barren hearts and empty lives, their own appropriate curse. The blow they strike comes back upon them. Worse than the choleric temperament is the peevish, sullen nature. The one usually finds a speedy repentance for his hot and hasty mood; the other is a constant menace to friendship and acts like a perpetual irritant. The root of this temperament is selfishness, and it grows by what it feeds on.

    When offenses do come, we may indeed use them as opportunities for growth in gracious ways, and thus turn them into blessings on the lives of both. To the offended, it may be an occasion for patience and forgiveness; to the offender, an occasion for humility and frank confession; and to both, a renewing of love less open to offense in the future.

    The Art of Being a Good Friend
    Hugh Black