“There is in even the most selfish passion a large element of self-abnegation. It is startling to realize that what we call extreme self-seeking is actually self-renunciation. The miser, health addict, glory chaser and their like are not far behind the selfless in the exercise of self-sacrifice.” SelfPassionRealizingBehindsSacrificeExerciseElementsGlorySeekingExtremesSelfishSelflessAddictSelf SacrificeRenunciationMisersAbnegationChasers Book:The Passionate State of Mind Source: The Passionate State of Mind
“The most important preliminary to the task of arranging one's life so that one may live fully and comfortably within one's daily budget of 24 hours is the calm realization of the extreme difficulty of the task, of the sacrifices and the endless effort which it demands.” LifeMayImportantHoursEffortSacrificeDemandTasksDifficultyCalmExtremesEndlessRealizationBudgetsArranging Book:How to Live on 24 Hours a Day Source: How to Live on 24 Hours a Day
“The distractions, the exhaustions, the savage noises, the demands of town life, are, for me, mortal enemies to thought, to sleep,and to study; its extremes of squalor and of splendor do not stimulate, but sadden me; certain phases of its society I profoundly value, but would sacrifice them to the heaven of country quiet, if I had to choose between.” IfsCountryCertainValuesHeavenSleepEnemyStudySacrificeQuietDemandTownsExtremesNoiseMortalsDistractionPhasesSavagesExhaustionSplendorSqualorRural LifeMortal Enemies Author:Elizabeth Stuart Phelps Ward
“The extreme self-sacrifice characteristic of group-selected species such as ants and bees can often be found among soldiers.” SelfFoundSacrificeGroupsSpeciesSoldierExtremesCharacteristicsBeesAntsSelf SacrificeSelectedOften Is Author:Jonathan Haidt
“The gospel teaches us that though we may have lost a battle or two, the war is not yet over. With the Lord's help and the hope of the gospel, we can win out in the end. Truth ultimately triumphs over falsehood. Evil is overwhelmed by goodness. Sin, however extreme it may have been, can give way to cleansing and refreshing forgiveness. This is the great hope of the gospel, centered as it is in the life, mission and atoning sacrifice of Jesus Christ.” WayGivingMayHas BeensTwoWarEndsHelpingEvilJesusWinningLostChristSinLordTeachSacrificeBattleGoodnessJesus ChristExtremesMissionsTriumphFalsehoodOverwhelmedRefreshingCleansingGreat Hope Author:David S. Baxter
“Heroes and scholars represent the opposite extremes... The scholar struggles for the benefit of all humanity, sometimes to reduce physical effort, sometimes to reduce pain, and sometimes to postpone death, or at least render it more bearable. In contrast, the patriot sacrifices a rather substantial part of humanity for the sake of his own prestige. His statue is always erected on a pedestal of ruins and corpses... In contrast, all humanity crowns a scholar, love forms the pedestal of his statues, and his triumphs defy the desecration of time and the judgment of history.” SometimesPainFormHumanityEffortHistoryStruggleSacrificeHeroBenefitsJudgmentOppositesSakeExtremesRuinsTriumphContrastScholarCrownsPatriotStatuesCorpsesPrestigePedestalBearable Author:Santiago Ramon y Cajal
“The most beautiful act of faith is the one made in darkness, in sacrificing, and with extreme effort.” MadeBeautifulEffortDarknessSacrificeSaintExtremesServing Others Author:Pio of Pietrelcina