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Quote by Vine Deloria Jr.

“Religion is for people who're afraid of going to hell. Spirituality is for those who've already been there.”

Quote by Vine Deloria Jr.

Author

Vine Deloria Jr.
Vine Deloria Jr.

Vine Deloria Jr. was an American author, scholar, and activist, renowned for his contributions to Native American culture. His works often deal with Native American rights, history, and cultural identity, having a profound impact on contemporary American society. more

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“Knowing life authentically means you also know that it is immortal. The knowledge of its immortality is intrinsic. It is not something informed, from outside. Just living your true being in totality you slowly, slowly become aware of the immortal current of life within you. You know the body will die, but this soul, which is life's whole essence, cannot die. In existence nothing is destructible. And it is not something to believe in, it is a scientific truth that you cannot destroy anything. You cannot destroy even a small piece of stone. Whatever you do it will remain in some form or other. Science enquires into the objective world and finds that even objective reality is immortal. Religion works exactly like science in the inner world and finds the dancing life is intrinsically immortal.”

“When I find that stubbornness continually overrides common sense regardless of the logic of my argument, it seems that the only effective solution is to tell them to go ahead and stick their finger in the socket. And what I find is that what my argument failed to solve, electricity does quite nicely.”

“As a species, we haven’t evolved to plan 20 years into the future. As a rule, our decision-making is myopic, shortsighted, and lacks imagination. We’re heavily incentivized to seek rewards in the present, which can greatly cost our long-term Future Selves. [If you don't] think and strategize long term, [you'll be distracted by the short-term.] You’ll be caught up by endless distractions throughout your day. Your decisions will be myopic. You’ll cost your Future Self greatly, putting them deeper in debt in all ways.”