"We picture love as heart-shaped because we do not know the shape of the soul."
"When something seems to be missing in your life, it usually turns out to be someone."
"I am not certain of the hereafter. Frankly, I'm not all that certain of the here."
"We all know some lovable person who will certainly get to heaven -- unless it requires being somewhere on time."
"Usually, wanting the best for someone is as far as you should get involved."
"We don't always get to where we want to go, but we always get to where we're going.
"It is hard to reason with a man who sees his personal self-interest as a branch of logic."
New on the best-seller list, "How to Raise Kids", Seventh Revision.
I always turn to the newspaper "Life Styles" section first, looking for goings-on under "Sedentary."
"In comparing religious belief to science, I try to remember that science is belief also."
"TV consists mostly of good-looking people and cartoon characters, the first interviewing the second."
"Truth has its advocates, but, these days, nonsense seems to have all the martyrs."
"You will not get compromise from those who advocate pure nonsense, for they have a considerable stake in its purity."
"There are many human relationships that would be improved by one more degree of separation."
"It is not just the skeptic who is incapable of faith but they who profess certainty."
"It is not unreasonable to have faith in that which is necessary for your happiness."
"Genius is a plodding intellect, incapable of dreaming up the obstacles that stop the rest of us."
"Ask me to die for what my country might be, but, please, do not ask me to die for what my country once was."
"You can find your answer in God, but it helps to be willing to rephrase the question."
"Inevitably we get bogged down in family responsibilities, our search for life's purpose sidetracked by finding it."
~ Robert Brault
Friday, February 12, 2010
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26 comments:
You're right on (as always) with the thought that when something is missing in your life, it's pretty much always going to be someone. The older I get the more I realize the importance of people over things. In the end, people are all that really matter -- which means we need to take good care of those that we love. Thanks for planting that thought in my mind today.
I agree with Jan.
I was so looking forward to having a book of your quotes on two bookshelves in two countries Robert. I guess I'll have to compile an A-Z of my favorites instead.
It's good to have you back early though.
You are so full of wisdom...words...just as I feel them but can't quite pull together simple quotes. I have a tendency to explain the finest of details :)
I have a book full of quotations that my mother gave to me once. As I was searching through it one day, I was delighted to see a familiar name underneath one of the quotes...it was yours.
About your self publishing...I don't know what hinders you, but I can't quite seem to get myself motivated to go any further than where I am right in the here and now. Anything else will surely be nothing less than a pure miracle, so it seems :).
Bless you and your many thoughts.
Thanks for sharing these gems Robert. Much appreciated. ""It is not unreasonable to have faith in that which is necessary for your happiness." Am gradually coming to the conclusion that faith is the most vital ingrediant for lasting happiness, sense of wellbeing and self realisation !
Recently came across this book & liked it "Notes to Myself: My Struggle to Become a Person by Hugh Prather"
http://raj-diary-blog.blogspot.com/ has few of my notes. Thanks again Robert
All,
I have taken another crack at these, replacing some, rewording others. Might be worth another peek.
Jan,
I suspect that you are the wiser when it comes to human relationships. I am pretty much the hermit on the hill.
Ken,
Yours is a bookshelf I would love to be on. But, all in all, I think I have found my readership right here.
(Simply) Heather,
Frankly, I feel overwhelmed by all the good writing on the blogosphere, yours very much included. There are thousands of bloggers deserving of book publication, and there is simply not the book-buying market to support them. I'm content to publish here for the folks who have found me.
Raj,
I'm familiar with Hugh Prather, a person of considerably more talent and energy than myself. I also keep up with your blog, finding many a delightful read there. As I commit more to this blog, I intend to commit also to the blogs of my friends, so expect to see a comment from time to time.
smiles all,
rb
Robert of course I love all your quotes but the one that stood out for me is, "You can find your answer in God, but it helps to be willing to rephrase the question." Oh how true that statement is, so much depends on how you put your words together.
I am glad you are back early, I missed you wit and wisdom.
Forgot to mention, I am using one of your quotes on my blog today.
Marlene,
Thanks so much. Just took a peek at "Marlene's Musings," and came away, as always, lifted in spirit. Julie-Ann's artwork is a delight and illuminates my caption quite beyond anything it deserves.
smiles,
rb
Hi Robert,
I love your qoutes and very often post them on facebook (with your name after) and get a lot of positive comments.
My favourite is "Sometimes the shortest distance between two points is the winding path walked arm in arm"
So true and very romantic.
I like to think of quotes and thought of this when I was looking at a full Moon in January.
"The Moon...A mirror in the sky, reflecting the Sun to remind us of its warmth for the new morning"
Looking forward to more of your quotes and thoughts.
Chris
Robert, I admire you and enjoy your writing about as much as I've enjoyed anyone. I don't claim the lines, but don't remember who wrote the lines "What oft was thought, but ne'er so well expressed." But they are surely applicable to you. I'm finding out some stuff about publishing which I'll share with you once I've got something of real merit. I also want to buy an advance copy of anything you put into print. And your sister-in-law is one of the finest minds I've encountered where it comes to copy-editing and helpful critique. Cheers. Catch you next time. don
"You can find your answer in God, but it helps to be willing to rephrase the question." Thanks again Robert. Many thinkers are trying to illustrare that its worth rephasing the question itself - for our own clarity!
Admire your kind note "I'm familiar with Hugh Prather, a person of considerably more talent and energy than myself" Your enthusiasm is insiring.
Chris,
I like your image. We sometimes forget that the moon, as reflected sunlight, holds the promise of a new dawn.
Don/Anon,
There you go again, embarrassing me. Please stop (no, don't). I'm willing to publish, but I'm not willing to make the slightest effort to publish, so that's your starting point.
Raj,
Nice insight. If you keep rephrasing the question, it gradually becomes the answer. Hey, I like that!
smiles,
rb
Hi Robert,
I just wanted to say that I enjoy your writing, especially the quotes. I use them from time to time in my blog, and I've included a link under my great places to visit section. I found you through the Quote Garden.
Linda,
Thanks for the kind words. I'm a meteorology buff and was much taken by the Carolina snow scenes on your blog. Also interested to learn that the southeast USA drought may be over. It's been a dry, pretty much snowless winter in New England, and I fear that the drought pattern may have shifted to the north.
smiles,
rb
Robert, I found your blog via Ken's and I'm sure glad I did. I can relate to every one of these particular quotes. How thoughtful you are! The one in particular that stood out to me is "Usually, wanting the best for someone is as far as you should get involved". Our children are Young Adults and still live with us and work in the family business. They work hard and are independent, however, this is a very fine line which a parent treads and we are constantly conscious of not getting involved. ha ha...You never stop learning to be the best parent you can possibly be.
Now I'm off to read some more of your blog...
Robert...Thank you for your comments regarding my thoughts about the moon.
Keeping things celestial I thought of this earlier...
"Our daily lives require us to look ahead but look to the sky on a clear winters night and we may just find our Souls"
I realise it is possible that these words may have been said before but they just come to mind if I think about things.
People very rarely look upwards as we go through our daily lives.
Take care for now,
Chris
Hi Robert!
Your first quote is simply beautiful, Robert.
. . .
and this one ~
"Inevitably we get bogged down in family responsibilities, our search for life's purpose sidetracked by finding it."
It is so important, to count our blessings and find our treasures ~ I find that they are usually very close to home.
. . .
Thank you for sharing your gift of writing, Robert.
smiles back ~ Maria
The Machinist's Wife
Looked in on your site, and what a delicious treat it is, especially for a lifelong American suburbanite like myself. Life in rural Australia, described with humor and joie de vivre, and in a down-home narrative style that a professional writer would kill for. I am an instant admirer. Thanks.
Chris,
Nice image. It is remarkable, as you think about it, how we go about our everyday, oh-so-busy lives beneath this overhanging infinitude that we scarcely notice. To look up is to glance into timelessness and to feel a call to whatever is timeless within us.
Maria,
High praise, thank you. As a writer, or artist, you hope that if you diligently strive for the beautifully simple, you will occasionally come up with something simply beautiful.
smiles all,
rb
Hi!
We are high school students from australia. We are using one of your quotes for an assignment. :) We hope you don't mind. We shall reference you to this site. have you ever thought about being a philosopher? Your quotes are very deep and meaningful, but at the same time lovely and humourous. Thank you for your quote.
From Helen and Brittany.
Melrose High School, Canberra, Australia
Anonymous (Helen and Brittany)
It's quite the tease not to tell me which quote you're using. I'll imagine a different one every day. Thanks for your kind words and good luck on your assignment.
smiles,
rb
Hi again!
The quote that we are using is "I am not certain of the hereafter. Frankly, I'm not all that certain of the here."
It is for a philosophy assignment where we need to a thesis on "deep" quotes. :)
Thanks for the well wishes :D
We hope that your writing continues to be amazing!
From Helen and Brittany.
Anon (Helen and Brittany)
Well, whaddyaknow, I thought that one might be overlooked. I will try to keep my writing amazing, or, failing that, at least bewildering.
smiles,
rb
Thanks, yes we thought the quote was very philosophical and was very relevant to our assignment. Our topic is 'mind over matter' and 'life and death' ect... We praise all your hard work and brilliant quotes.
Thank you so much,
Helen and Brittany :)
Anon (Helen & Brittany)
Thanks again and good luck.
smiles,
rb
Hello there, and good day to you!
I understand that this is an old post, and I don't understand much of how blogs work. With that in mind, it is entirely possible that my comment with be unknowingly overlooked, but regardless, I am choosing to post it.
I am a high school student with an insatiable apetite for wisdom in the form of quotes. As I was perusing the internet for them, I stumbled upon a few of your quotes and decided to check out your website.
I'm glad that I did.
Your quotes are throughly insightful and enjoyable, and I appreciate my views on life being both challenged and reinforced!
While I've marvelled at quite a few in later posts (I read those first and am working my way down), my favorite quote from this section was,
"Ask me to die for what my country might be, but, please, do not ask me to die for what my country once was."
Thank you for your sage acumen!
Cara
Cara,
It seems that I am sent an email whenever someone roaming the dungeons of my archives leaves a comment. Don't get lost down here. Thanks for your kind words. You scarcely know how hearing from an articulate young person boosts one hopes for the human race.
smiles,
rb
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