“Something is funny, most of all, because it's true, and because the velocity of insight into this truth exceeds our normal standards. Something is funny because it's outside our accepted boundary of decorum. Something is funny because it defies our expectations. Something is funny because it offers a temporary reprieve from the hardship of seeing the world as it actually is. Something is funny because it is able to suggest gently that even the worst of our circumstances and sins is subject to eventual mercy.” WorldAbleSinSeeingWorstSubjectsCircumstancesOffersNormalStandardsExpectationsMercyInsightAcceptedBoundariesHardshipTemporaryExceedSeeing The WorldVelocityDecorumReprieve Author:Steve Almond
“Under ordinary circumstances, bad art naturally gets sorted out and disappears. That is how history works when it is left alone to do its job.” ArtJobsLeftCircumstancesStandardsOrdinaryDisappearLeft Alone Author:Michael Kimmelman
“No circumstance would prevent over-population so effectually as a general raising of the customary standard of comfort among the poorer classes. If they had accustomed themselves to a more comfortable style of living, they would use every effort not again to sink below it.” IfsUseGrowthEffortClassStyleCircumstancesComfortComfortableStandardsPopulationAccustomedPopulation Growth Author:Millicent Fawcett
“But one thing is certain: the commandments have not changed. Let there be no mistake about that. Right is still right. Wrong is still wrong, no matter how cleverly cloaked in respectability or political correctness. We believe in chastity before marriage and fidelity ever after. That standard is an absolute standard of truth. It is neither subject to public opinion polls nor dependent upon situation or circumstance. There is no need to debate it or other gospel standards.” NeedsBelieveStillsMatterPoliticalCertainMistakeSituationOpinionOne ThingSubjectsChangedCircumstancesStandardsAbsolutesDebateDependentCommandmentsPublic OpinionPollsFidelityPolitical CorrectnessChastityEver AfterCorrectnessRespectabilityAbsolutismOpinion PollsBefore Marriage Author:M. Russell Ballard
“I worry about younger generations who were born to view their country trampling on humanity of everyone that comes in its way, as the 'normal state of affairs" - because they knew no other. We know how easy it is to shed, under such circumstances, the thin and frail veneer of civilization, not to mention the moral standards of which the Jews were presumed to be the world's teachers.” KnowsWorldWayCountryStatesHumanityEasyBornViewsMoralWorryKnow HowTeacherGenerationsCircumstancesCivilizationNormalStandardsAffairJewShedFrailYounger GenerationVeneer Author:Zygmunt Bauman
“The international human rights framework is a vital component and engine for promoting global values. Governments have signed up to this international legal framework and we should hold them accountable, in all circumstances from environmental or labour standards, to trade talks, arms control and security issues as well as other international legal codes.” ShouldHumansWellsGovernmentValuesIssuesRightsSecurityArmsCircumstancesStandardsTradeEnvironmentalInternationalHuman RightsCodeLabourEnginesComponentsPromotingFramework Author:Mary Robinson