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Quotations – Momentous, Memorable, Meaningful

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A place to share the words of others (or your own!) which have been impactful in your life, whether they're serious, poignant, humorous, or just something worth noting.

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I have been a quote collector and quote monger for at least as long as I've been an atheist and probably a good deal longer. My admiration for those who enjoy reputations as wordsmiths extends even further back, whether we're talking about John F. Kennedy's assertion: "We choose to go to the moon," George Santayana's warning: "Those who do not remember the past are condemned to repeat it," or James T. Kirk's deft observation when faced with the dauntingly huge First Federation ship: "Not chess, Mr. Spock ... poker!"

The realm of atheist activism has had its own share of verbal craftsmen and women, from Madalyn Murray O'Hair's: "An atheist believes that a hospital should be built instead of a church." to Aron Ra's succinct: "If you can't show it, you don't know it."

Regardless of the topic, these are words which are capable of fomenting inspiration, reflection, and sometimes even action. They can educate and illuminate the human condition and allow us to better know ourselves. That said, here is an open invitation to share those words which have been particularly meaningful or impactful or timely or just special to you for one reason or another.

Let's share those words and have fun!

One bit of clerical business: please hold your quotes in the comment area below to 20 lines or 200 words. One comment should not so dominate the Home page of this group that no other comment is visible. That way, the briefer comments and quotes of all participants are more likely to be seen, read, and appreciated. If you have a long quote or commentary, create a post, please.

Discussion Forum

Ideas

Started by Joan Denoo. Last reply by Joan Denoo Sep 14. 2 Replies 2 Likes

The word “Permaculture” is the combination of the two words “permanent” and “agriculture.” It is a method of agricultural philosophy that allows gardeners to create and sustain growing food in a way…Continue

Tags: production, shelter, food, permaculture, Mollison

On Emotion, Vulnerability, and a Flawed God

Started by Loren Miller. Last reply by Grinning Cat Sep 10. 5 Replies 5 Likes

On 31 May, 2018, Joan Denoo posted a most excellent quote from David Hume: That quote was well deserving of a response, which is the following:The most preposterous notion that H. sapiens has ever…Continue

Tags: flawed, vulnerable, emotion, god

Will McAvoy's Rant: "America Is NOT the World's Greatest Country"

Started by Loren Miller. Last reply by Joan Denoo Aug 25. 3 Replies 4 Likes

Aaron Sorkin has a habit of swinging for the fences when he writes political commentary as entertainment for television. This was first evinced in the network television series, The West Wing, and…Continue

Tags: The Newsroom, Will McAvoy, Aaron Sorkin

Ingersoll Day August 11th

Started by Joan Denoo. Last reply by Plinius Aug 12. 2 Replies 3 Likes

Robert Green Ingersoll (1833-1899)"When I became convinced that the universe is natural, that all the ghosts and gods are myths, there entered into my brain, into my soul, into every drop of my blood…Continue

Tags: fearless, joyous, freedom, Day, agnostic

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Comment by Joan Denoo on September 23, 2018 at 1:01am: “A little nonsense now and then is relished by the wisest men”

~ Roald Dahl, 1972 “Charlie and the Great Glass Elevator”.

Comment by Loren Miller on September 22, 2018 at 6:02am: When I was a boy and I would see scary things in the news, my mother would say to me, “Look for the helpers. You will always find people who are helping.”
-- Fred Rogers

I can think of some Congresspeople and a certain chief executive who could stand to learn this lesson. Mr. Rogers truly knew whereof he spoke.

Comment by Bertold Brautigan on September 21, 2018 at 5:30pm: Ruth - It's why I'm glad I like guys. (:-)

Comment by Ruth Anthony-Gardner on September 21, 2018 at 2:22pm: The Billy Crystal quote gave me a chuckle.

Comment by Bertold Brautigan on September 21, 2018 at 7:47am: "Women need a reason to have sex. Men just need a place." -- Billy Crystal

Comment by Loren Miller on September 21, 2018 at 5:38am: All those pathetic lonely people fooling one another into their clumsy games of afterlife and cosmic relevance just to avoid noticing the nauseating sadness of their real lives.
― Edgar Cantero

Maybe not 100% of the time, but I think Edgar is onto something here.

Comment by Loren Miller on September 20, 2018 at 6:39am: Skepticism is my nature. Free Thought is my methodology. Agnosticism is my conclusion. Atheism is my opinion. Humanitarianism is my motivation.
-- Jerry DeWitt

This from a man who was the most enthusiastic pulpit-pounder you ever met, and so Jerry would testify himself. As for the tools he lists, I'd say they were pretty well chosen.

Comment by Joan Denoo on September 20, 2018 at 3:26am: "If you have really smart friends who never hesitate to correct you, you will become smarter yourself."

~ Daniel Everett, linguist, former christian missionary turned atheist.

Comment by Loren Miller on September 19, 2018 at 9:33pm: Precisely, Joan. Weather reporting is particularly nightmarish, because of the insane number of variables which are involved. This is part of the reason why, the further one tries to project the path of a storm over time, the wider the error bars get, and why meteorologists are always (or damned well should be!) circumspect in their language when forecasting.

On the other hand, when is the last time the bible predicted a weather event with ANYTHING resembling accuracy?!?

Comment by Joan Denoo on September 19, 2018 at 3:54pm: Bertold & Loren, "how close is the model to what is modeled?"

Weather reporting and forecasting offers an exellent example of the changes that take place in reporting and predicting as new infoermation and new technology develops.