Words of Wisdom from a Few of our Living Legacies
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Professor Marianne McDonald
First a translation:
Zeus, who blazed the trail for man's sense,
Teaching the lesson through suffering.
The pain of remembered pain,
Drips in the night and sears the heart,
And even the unwilling gets wise this way.
A violent grace from the gods seated on their
Solemn throne.
Aeschylus, Agamemnon, 176-83, Trans. Marianne McDonald
Then a comment:
"We may have bad weather in Ireland, but the sun shines in the hearts of the people
and that keeps us all warm."
And a song:
The Mouse on the Barroom Floor
Some Guinness was spilt on the barroom floor.
When the pub was shut for the night,
Out of his hole crept a wee brown mouse,
And stood in the pale moonlight.
He lapped up the frothy brew from the floor,
The back on his haunches he sat,
And all night long you could hear him roar,
"Bring on the goddamn cat!".
[ Traditional Irish Pub Song]
General Eva Burrows
In family life, love is the oil that eases friction, the cement that binds closer together, and the music that brings harmony.
We have to be careful in this era of radical feminism, not to emphasize an equality of the sexes that leads women to imitate men to prove their equality. To be equal does not mean you have to be the same.
Many of our troubles in the world today arise from an over-emphasis of the masculine, and a neglect of the feminine. This modern world is an aggressive, hyperactive, competitive, masculine world, and it needs the woman's touch as never before.
Those who think the family has had its day should think again.
Serenity and inner beauty come when we wait upon God. "Waiting" like that is not merely wasting time.
Homelessness is not just an isolated social evil. It is the catalyst and the breeding ground for other problems such as marriage difficulties and family breakup, stress, unemployment and alcoholism..
Staring us in the face is the desperate plight of the poor. We don't need statistics to tell us that. They are flesh and blood people like ourselves, often out of work, forced out of rented premises, without money and without food.
People want progress, but they don't want change.
The hardship and suffering caused by unemployment penetrates every area of life. While politicians are tallying up the economic costs of unemployment, I wish they'd be more aware of the social and moral consequences which are unparalleled in many nations today.
We are working to help people become better people; then this will become a better world.
We may have lost the fear of the bomb in this post cold-war era, but many have not lost the fear of what the future will hold. As someone said to me recently, "The future isn't what it used to be."
People are looking for an answer, and I know that Answer is Jesus Christ.
lnspite of the way many people are turning away from God, not for other gods, but for no god; in spite of the mess we are making of this beautiful Planet Earth which God has given us, God still loves the world.
Jane Goodall
Every individual matters and has a role to play in this life on earth. The chimpanzees teach us that it is not only human but also non-human beings who matter in the scheme of things.
Above all we must realize that each of us makes a difference with our life. Each of us impacts the world around us every single day. We have a choice to use the gift of our life to make the world a better place - or not to bother.
And to all young people, in mother's words; "If you really want something, and really work hard, and take advantage of opportunities, and never give up, you will find a way.". Follow your Dreams.
Phyllis Diller
My Prayer
On this happy day
We are thankful
For our blessings
And we pray
For renewed belief
In ourselves
And each other
And hope
This bond of love
Will expand
To envelop
The entire universe
Bente Borsum
From my own experience:
"There is no short-cut to art, one has to work hard, be open and flexible in your mind, keep the child alive inside you, and through a whole lifetime be ready to learn new things and-of course-be mentally prepared for a hard punch on your nose-especially when you think you are doing well."
And some wisdom from the East:
"You can't prevent birds of sorrow flying over your head, but you can stop them building nests in your hair."
"Don't tell all your secrets to your friend, it's possible he may one day be your enemy. Don't exert all the evil in your power upon your enemy, it may be, one day, he will be your friend."
"If you have a good friend, you don't need a mirror."
"Don't be proud of what you know, and don't be self-confident if you are learned. Be open to advice from the unlearned-as well as from the learned. Art knows no limit, and the artists will never achieve perfection. A wise word is more rare than the green emerald, and one can find the word of wisdom even amongnst the slavegirls making grain."
