“The difference between a pessimistic and an optimistic mind is of such controlling importance in regard to every intellectual function, and especially for the conduct of life, that it is out of the question to admit that both are normal, and the great majority of mankind are naturally optimistic.” MindDifferencesMankindNormalIntellectualFunctionImportanceRegardMajorityOptimisticPessimistic Book:Selected Writings (Values in a Universe of Chance) Source: Selected Writings (Values in a Universe of Chance)
“we are dealing with a return to what might be a far more normal relationship between the West and Russia. Russia is what it is that we see. It's not dressed up in its birthday costume. It is what it is. It regards its national interests as important enough to fight for. And the difference on the whole Ukraine situation is that the Russians are prepared to fight for their position on Ukraine, and the West is not.” ImportantEnoughWholeMightFightingInterestDifferencesSituationPositionReturnNormalRegardPreparedWestRussiaCostumesUkraineDressed UpIt Is What It IsNational Interests Author:Marvin Kalb
“The inspiration comes from everywhere, from what I grew up with. There's so much silliness and nonsense in the world that we regard as normal working procedure. The satirical point of the view may be to counterpoint that. The way we look at classics has been hijacked by the intelligentsia - Shakespeare is highbrow and seen as something clever people do, which isn't right at all. I basically pull inspiration from everywhere.” PeopleWorldWayLooksMayHas BeensInspirationViewsGrewNormalGrew UpRegardCleverNonsenseProceduresSatiricalSilliness Author:Jasper Fforde
“Thinking that your story is so interesting that other people will want to listen to it or read it or pay to hear it, that's - what kind of person thinks that? A monster of self-regard. It's not normal thinking.” PeopleThinkingWantKindPersonsSelfStoriesInterestingPayNormalRegardMonsters Author:Anthony Bourdain
“And why are you so firmly, so triumphantly, convinced that only the normal and the positive--in other words, only what is conducive to welfare--is for the advantage of man? Is not reason in error as regards advantage? Does not man, perhaps, love something besides well-being? Perhaps he is just as fond of suffering? Perhaps suffering is just as great a benefit to him as well-being? Man is sometimes extraordinarily, passionately, in love with suffering, and that is a fact.” MenWellsDoeSometimesReasonFactsSufferingNormalBenefitsAdvantageRegardErrorsConvincedWell BeingWelfarePerhaps Love Author:Fyodor Dostoevsky
“Indeed, the sort of crimes and even the amount of delinquency that fill the prophets of Israel with dismay do not go beyond that which we regard as normal, as typical ingredients of social dynamics. To us a single act of injustice--cheating in business, exploitation of the poor--is slight; to the prophets, a disaster. To us injustice is injurious to the welfare of the people; to the prophets it is a deathblow to existence: to us, an episode; to them, a catastrophe, a threat to the world.” PeopleWorldSocialPoorExistenceCrimeAmountNormalRegardThreatInjusticeIsraelDisasterWelfareProphetCheatingIngredientsEpisodesExploitationTypicalCatastropheDynamicsDismayDelinquency Book:The Prophets Source: The Prophets