“There is a powerful craving in most of us to see ourselves as instruments in the hands of others and thus free ourselves from the responsibility for acts which are prompted by our own questionable inclinations and impulses. Both the strong and the weak grasp at this alibi. The latter hide their malevolence under the virtue of obedience: they acted dishonorably because they had to obey orders. The strong, too, claim absolution by proclaiming themselves the chosen instrument of a higher power -- God, history, fate, nation, or humanity.” HandsHumanityOrderStrongNationsPowerfulResponsibilityVirtueFateHigherWeakClaimsInstrumentsChosenObedienceImpulseLatterInclinationCravingHigher PowerQuestionableProclaimingAbsolutionMalevolence Book:Bruce Lee: Artist of Life Source: Bruce Lee: Artist of Life
“Some critics claim to know what art has to be and do, and consider it their task to steer art along the path they have chosen. Others receive art gladly, and try to distinguish degrees of excellence.” KnowsTryingArtPathDegreesTasksClaimsExcellenceCriticsChosenSteers Author:Norbert Lynton
“Indian spirituality, proclaimed that the true Godhead was beyond number and count; that it had many manifestations which did not exclude or repel each other but included each other, and went together in friendship; that it was approached in different ways and through many symbols; that it resided in the hearts of its devotees. Here there were no chosen people, no exclusive prophethoods, no privileged churches and fraternities and ummas. The message was subversive of all religions based on exclusive claims.” PeopleWayHeartDifferentTogetherSpiritualityChurchNumbersMessagesClaimsChosenSymbolsIndianManifestationDifferent WaysPrivilegedExclusiveSubversiveFraternityDevotee Book:Hindu View of Christianity and Islam Source: Hindu View of Christianity and Islam
“We set up a certain aim, and put ourselves of our own will into the power of a certain current. Once having done that, we find ourselves committed to usages and customs which we had not before fully known, but from which we cannot depart without giving up the end which we have chosen. But we have no right, therefore, to claim that we are under the yoke of necessity. We might as well say that the man whom we see struggling vainly in the current of Niagara could not have helped jumping in.” MenGivingWellsEndsDoneMightCertainFreedomKnownStruggleHe ManGiving UpClaimsAimCurrentsCommittedChosenCustomsJumpingUsageYokeNiagaraJumping In Author:Anna Brackett
“We have Christians against Muslims against Jews. They're making incompatible claims on real estate in the Middle East as though God were some kind of omniscient real estate broker parsing out parcels of land to his chosen flock. People are literally dying over ancient literature.” PeopleKindRealChristianLiteratureLandMiddleDyingClaimsAncientJewEastChosenMiddle EastEstatesFlocksParcelBrokersOmniscientAncient Literature Author:Sam Harris
“It is this claim to a monopoly of meaning, rather than any special scientific doctrine, that makes science and religion look like competitors today. Scientism emerged not as the conclusion of scientific argument but as a chosen element in a worldview - a vision that attracted people by its contrast with what went before - which is, of course, how people very often do make such decisions, even ones that they afterwards call scientific.” PeopleLooksTodayCoursesDecisionVisionSpecialElementsArgumentClaimsChosenDoctrineConclusionContrastScience And ReligionCompetitorsMonopolyWorldviewScientism Author:Mary Midgley
“Orthodox Jews, or, as they are known in the Talmud, the Really Chosen Ones, are committed to the idea that the entire Torah was dictated by God verbatim to Moses at Mount Sinai... Other forms of Judaism dispute this claim, although it does explain certain passages in the first Torah, such as, I'm sorry, am I boring you? and What do you like better, Moses, Lord Almighty or Big Hoohah?” FirstsDoeIdeasBigsFormCertainKnownLordClaimsSorryCommittedJewBoringChosenOrthodoxPassagesAlmightyI'm SorryJudaismDisputesMosesTorahChosen OneSinai Author:Jon Stewart
“I know what you are. I've always known from the beginning, Kushiel's Chosen. It is folly, to make claim on one whom the gods have marked for their own. And unlike the others, I am no fool, to grasp at that which burns to the touch. What you have given..." she raised one hand, palm upward, the garnet seal dangling at her wrist, "... I hold in an open hand.” KnowsHandsGivenKnownFoolClaimsRaisedChosenFollyPalmsSealsWrists Author:Jacqueline Carey