So, I was going through my recipes trying to organize them and I found this quote that I had read in a book. I thought someone in the vast expanse of www might like it too. Enjoy and HAPPY NEW YEAR!
"The world has proclaimed the reign of freedom, especially of late, but what do we see in this freedom? Nothing but slavery and self-destruction! For the world says: 'You have desires and so satisfy them, for you have the same rights as the most rich and powerful. Don't be afraid of satisfying them and even multiply your desires.' That is the modern doctrine of the world. In that they see freedom. And what follows from this right of multiplication of desires? In the rich, isolation and spiritual suicide: in the poor, envy and murder. For they all have been given rights, but have not been shown the means of satisfying their wants. They maintain that the world is getting more and more united, more and more bound together in brotherly community, as it overcomes distance and sets thoughts flying through the air. Alas, put no faith in such a bond of union, Interpreting freedom as the multiplication and rapid satisfaction of desired, men distort their own nature, for many senseless and foolish desires and habits and ridiculous beliefs are thus fostered...And it's no wonder that instead of gaining freedom men have sunk into slavery. Instead of serving the cause of brotherly love and the union of humanity, men have fallen, on the contrary, into dissension and isolation."
Father Zossima, The Brothers Karamozov, Fyodor Dostoyevsky 1880
1 comment:
hmmmm...that's a lot to read and think about. If I'm not mistaken (or confused, as I am easily am!), what your quote says in long form, this quote from Socrates (which stays on my piano)says in short form:
"There are two freedoms--the false, where a man is free to do as he likes; the true, where he is free to do what he ought."
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