Temet Nosce (Know Thyself)

This page exists as what used to be known as a "Commonplace Book" for the purpose of maintaining a log of the poetry and philosophy that inspires and propels much of my own thought and writing, and to share, with fellow sojourners, a collection of the beauty and wisdom of kindred souls throughout time. My hope is that we will collectively work towards the goal of a deep and sustaining self-knowledge that will, then, inspire and guide us to pursue beauty, peace and justice in our world.

“He who cannot draw on three thousand years is living from hand to mouth.”

~ Johann Wolfgang von Goethe



Wednesday, March 12, 2014

The Little Ways That Encourage Good Fortune by William Stafford

Wisdom is having things right in your life 
and knowing why. 
If you do not have things right in your life
you will be overwhelmed:
you may be heroic, but you will not be wise.
If you do have things right in your life
but do not know why
you are just lucky, and you will not move
in the little ways that encourage good fortune. 

The saddest are those not right in their lives
who are acting to make things right for others:
they act only from the self--
and that self will never be right:
no luck, no help, no wisdom.

~ William Stafford, "The Little Ways That Encourage Good Fortune"
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