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Quote by Peter Kuper

“Besides casual onlookers there were also permanent watchers. This was merely a formality: the artist would never swallow the smallest morsel of food. No one could possible watch the hunger artist continuously, therefore he was bound to be the sole spectator completely satisfied with his own fast. Such suspicions, anyhow, were a necessary accompaniment to the profession of fasting. Yet for other reasons he was never content. For he alone knew how easy it was to fast. Experience had proven that the interest of the public could be sustained for about forty days. But after that their enthusiasm began to wane. So on that day the cage was opened. Two doctors entered to measure the results of the fast, and two young ladies were selected for the honor of helping the hunger artist in a small table, on which was spread a carefully chosen meal. And at this moment the artist always turned stubborn. Why should he be cheated of the fame he would get for fasting longer, breaking his own record as the greatest hunger artist of all time? - A Hunger Artist”

Quote by Peter Kuper

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Kafkaesque: Fourteen Stories

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Peter Kuper

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“One day, the ringmaster's eye fell upon the cage and he asked: "Why?" this perfectly good spot should be left standing there unused. Nobody knew, until one man remembered about the hunger artist. "Are you still fasting?" "Forgive me, everybody. "I've always wanted you to admire my fasting. "But you shouldn't admire it. Because I have to fast. I can't help it." "And why can't you help it?" "Because I couldn't find the food I liked. If I had, I should have stuffed myself life you or anyone else." Those were his last words, but in his dimming eyes remained the firm conviction that he was still continuing to fast. And they buried the hunger artist, straw and all. - A Hunger Artist”

“Action Yoga (Sonnet 1030) If you love the idea of yoga, Then be a karma yogi, Without all that nonsense of, “Be kind and you'll be treated kindly”. Silently do your duty as a human being, With zero expectation for praise and reward. Kindness with expectation is kindness ruined, True goodness expects nothing in return. Karma means duty, yoga means union, Lose yourself in goodness, and you'll find unity. In this age of reason only yogi is the one, Who is one with the world in humanitarian duty. Silent kindness is sacred kindness. The ancients called it karma yoga, I call it humanness.”

“For, there were many, many things he had neglected. Little matters while he was at home and surrounded by them, but things of mighty moment when he was at an immeasurable distance. There were many many blessings that he had inadequately felt, there were many trivial injuries that he had not forgiven, there was love that he had but poorly returned, there was friendship that he had too lightly prized: there were a million kind words that he might have spoken, a million kind looks that he might have given, uncountable slight easy deeds in which he might have been most truly great and good. O for a day (he would exclaim), for but one day to make amends!”