I read Betty Smith's "A Tree Grows in Brooklyn," all of Shirley Jackson's books, which I loved.
For change to happen in any community, the initiative must come from the individual.
The problems we face today, violent conflicts, destruction of nature, poverty, hunger and so on, are human-created problems which can be resolved through human effort, understanding and the development of a sense of brotherhood and sisterhood. We need to cultivate a universal responsibility for one another and the planet we share.
We are driven by self-interest, it’s necessary to survive. But we need wise self-interest that is generous and co-operative, taking others’ interests into account. Co-operation comes from friendship, friendship comes from trust, and trust comes from kind-heartedness. Once you have a genuine sense of concern for others, there’s no room for cheating, bullying or exploitation.
The way to change others' minds is with affection, and not anger.
True friendship develops not as a result of money or power but on the basis of genuine human affection.
A simple smile. That's the start of opening your heart and being compassionate to others.
I still swing the way I used to, but when I look up the ball is going in a different direction.
O heaven! that one might read the book of fate, and see the revolution of the times.
The nature of fashion is family. You see that at almost every house, it was owned first by a family. It wasn't owned by a bank.
You don't reach Serendib by plotting a course for it. You have to set out in good faith for elsewhere and lose your bearings. . . serendipitously.