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Quote by Robert Louis Stevenson

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An Apology for Idlers

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Robert Louis Stevenson
Robert Louis Stevenson

Robert Louis Stevenson was a 19th-century Scottish novelist, poet, travel writer, and essayist. His works are characterized by adventure and romance, with his most famous novels being 'Treasure Island' and 'The Adventure of the Treasure Island'. Stevenson's works have been beloved by readers and have had a profound impact on literature. more

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“It is not an easy thing for certain men and women to remain hidden. However, they accomplish this in a variety of ways. Remember the story of the Sufi Master who deliberately passed wind to rid himself of students who were not there out of a love of Essence? Many stories such as this have been told.”

LoveEssenceFartHideSufi Master
Book:The Sun at Midnight: The Revealed Mysteries of the Ahlul Bayt Sufis
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“What's in a name? that which we call a rose/By any other name would smell as sweet.' In other words, the essence of an object does not change depending on it's name. This is a common misconception not unlike the 'world is flat' belief. By verbally identifying an object, by giving it a name, we alter it. And at the same time we prevent it from changing. A name is like a forked stick that we use to hold a snake on the ground." Portnov imitated using a forked branch to press down an imaginary viper. "By the way, consider this: the contradictory nature of a statement almost certainly proves its legitimacy... Come in." [...] "May I continue? Thank you. However, there is also another misconception-by which a name automatically defines the properties of an object. Here is a pen." He tossed up and caught a dark-blue pen with a white top. "If I give it the name of... an earthworm, will it slither?" Second years, Group A, maintained a tense silence. No one wanted to risk an answer. "It will not." Portnov let the pen fall on his desk. "Because this given piece of plastic has nothing in common with the process and events that we are talking about, that we spend time studying... between dance parties and dealing with gastrointestinal problems. Besides, when I say 'give a name,' I do not imply any of the languages that are commonly used by any of the living persons. I am talking about Speech, which you will begin to study during your third year. Some of you may start earlier.”

PhilosophyNamesLanguageSpeechEssenceNameChangingIdentifyObject
Book:Vita Nostra
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“Happiness is not to be achieved at the command of emotional whims. Happiness is not the satisfaction of whatever irrational wishes you might blindly attempt to indulge. Happiness is a state of non-contradictory joy—a joy without penalty or guilt, a joy that does not clash with any of your values and does not work for your own destruction, not the joy of escaping from your mind, but of using your mind's fullest power, not the joy of faking reality, but of achieving values that are real, not the joy of a drunkard, but of a producer. Happiness is possible only to a rational man, the man who desires nothing but rational goals, seeks nothing but rational values and finds his joy in nothing but rational actions.”

HappinessValuesRationality
Book:Atlas Shrugged
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