“And at this moment in history, our core value happens to be the raw, aching truth of the human predicament. It may also be the only belief that can save us as a species. A species that will continue to find comfort and delight in the companionship of animals, the miracle of birds, the colours of the corals and the majesty of the forests. We are in it together, on this blue spinning marble in the cold and silent void. And we must act on that belief, if we are going to be able to continue to live a good life here, in this beautiful and fragile country, on this lovely planet, our only home.” IfsHumansMayCountryMomentsHomeHappensAbleTogetherBeautifulValuesBeliefAnimalEnvironmentPlanetsColdComfortBirdMiracleBlueSilentSpeciesDelightCoreLovelyForestsColourGood LifeFragileVoidCompanionshipMajestySpinningMarbleCore ValuesPredicaments Author:Geraldine Brooks
“Silence comes in two varieties: One that nourishes and comforts; another that chokes, smothers, and isolates. Solitary confinement is the worst kind of imprisonment we can inflict on fellow humans, and if you are forced to keep silent about some dark secret, you live in solitary confinement. Without the bridge of communication connecting you to other human beings, you can’t share your burdens, can’t receive comfort, can’t confirm that you still belong. Silence is the abyss that separates you from hope.” IfsHumansKindStillsTwoDarkHuman BeingsSecretSilenceShareWorstCommunicationComfortFellowsSilentBurdenVarietyBridgesSolitarySilence IsAbyssConnectingChokeImprisonmentConfinementSolitary ConfinementDark Secrets Author:Martha Beck
“But there are so many ways to be needy. There are many who mourn and find no comfort. Many are lonely and find no love. Some feel unneeded and find no opportunities to share with others. Anyone who has an unmet need is needy. We are all needy! And those who have something they can share are rich. We are all rich! All of us can share something that may lift a burden or help in some silent struggle.” WayNeedsFeelsMayHelpingOpportunityStruggleRichShareComfortLonelySilentBurdenLiftsMournNeedyNo LoveUnmet Needs Author:Mary Edmunds
“Need-love says of a woman "I cannot live without her"; Gift-love longs to give her happiness, comfort, protection - if possible, wealth; Appreciative love gazes and holds its breath and is silent, rejoices that such a wonder should exist even if not for him, will not be wholly dejected by losing her, would rather have it so than never to have seen her at all.” IfsNeedsGivingShouldWonderComfortLosingBreathsSilentProtectionRejoiceAppreciativeNeed LoveDejectedLosing Her Author:C. S. Lewis
“So generation after generation of men in love with pain and passivity serve out their time in the Zone, silent, redolent of faded sperm, terrified of dying, desperately addicted to the comforts others sell them, however useless, ugly or shallow, willing to have life defined for them by men whose only talent is for death.” MenPainGenerationsDyingTalentWillingComfortSellsSilentUglyDefinedUselessZoneTerrifiedShallowFadedPassivity Book:Gravity's Rainbow Source: Gravity's Rainbow
“Having a sister or a friend is like sitting at night in a lighted house. Those outside can watch you if they want, but you need not see them. You simply say, "Here are the perimeters of our attention. If you prowl around under the windows till the crickets go silent, we will pull the shades. If you wish us to suffer your envious curiosity, you must permit us not to notice it." Anyone with one solid human bond is that smug, and it is the smugness as much as the comfort and safety that lonely people covet and admire.” PeopleIfsWantNeedsHumansNightSufferingHouseWishAttentionWatchesComfortSittingWindowLonelySafetySilentCuriosityAdmireShadePermitCricketEnviousLonely PeopleSmugnessPerimeter Book:Housekeeping: A Novel Source: Housekeeping: A Novel
“Jacob was hardly in need of any physical protection I could offer. But my arms, pinned beneath Edward's, yearned to reach out to him. To wrap around his big, warm, waist in a silent promise of acceptance and comfort. Edward's shielding arms had become restraints.” NeedsBigsAcceptanceArmsComfortPromiseOffersSilentWarmProtectionReach OutRestraintWrapsJacob Book:Eclipse Source: Eclipse