Each person has inside a basic decency and goodness. If he listens to it and acts on it, he is giving a great deal of what it is the world needs most. It is not complicated but it takes courage. It takes courage for a person to listen to his own goodness and act on it.
–Pablo Casals (1876 โ 1973)
The Skeptic's Kaddish ๐ฎ๐ฑ 
I once saw Casals condut a small orchestra in Vermont. what a presence. Additional thought– Victor Frankl in Man’s Search for Meaning writes that even in the awful confines of a concentration camp people have a choice between being good or evil.
๐ Yes! I remember reading that in his book! Point well made.
Shabbat shalom, Peter โค
Sometimes I think our environment washes all of the subconscious decency out of us with soapy water.
That certainly seems to be true for some people I’ve met.
Yes, it takes courage. What a beautiful quote. ๐
I like it too – thanks ๐
David, I love the Pablo Casals quote. Christianity teaches that we have a sinful nature that must be overcome. In reality, we l are free to make choices, both good and bad, The idea of striving to act on our basic goodness is an approach that appeals more to me than suppressing an evil nature. โค Take care!
๐ Cheryl ๐ – yeah I know about that teaching… it’s not my faith tradition, and it doesn’t speak to me at all… This quote reflects my perspective quite well – and it’s not even from a Jewish source!
๐
David
not the mystics and not Jesus, thank goodness! I know what you mean though. As you said, I might get angry… ๐
… as far as Jesus can be dug out from underneath the moralistic re-interpretation!
that was obviously, probably, a reply to Cheryl’s comment. ๐
Yupp, it does take courage and self confidence, and some willpower to act on your goodness and listen to it. Great quote!
BTW here’s my next heptastitch:
https://theforgersoffantasy.art.blog/2021/08/27/betrayed-by-trust/
Wow! A two-fer! Well done, Quaran โค
-David
๐ค Quaran ๐ค
There is a street named after โPauโ Casals in Barcelona – now I know a bit more about him, thank you David!
๐ Ingrid ๐
Listening is an active process…
๐ Serena ๐
Thanks,
David
๐คฉ
๐ Eleanor ๐
๐ โค
๐ Filipa ๐
“Each person has inside a basic decency and goodness.” I agree with you, but boy, some are hiding it good.
๐ Sadly true ๐
Thanks,
David
yes Ladybug, I struggle more with the willfully ignorant than the deeply damaged, personally.