The sole purpose of human existence…

Posted on by ben Alexander

Give light and people will find the way.

–Ella Baker (1903 – 1986)

Thus shadow owes its birth to light.

–John Gay (1685 – 1732)

We can easily forgive a child who is afraid of the dark; the real tragedy of life is when men are afraid of the light.

–Socrates (470–399 BCE)

Light travels faster than sound. This is why some people appear bright until you hear them speak.

–Alan Dundes (1934 – 2005)

As we let our light shine, we unconsciously give other people permission to do the same. As we are liberated from our own fear, our presence actually liberates others.

–Marianne Williamson (b. 1952)

Faith is the bird that feels the light when the dawn is still dark.

–Rabindranath Tagore (1861 – 1941)

Nothing in the universe can travel at the speed of light, they say, forgetful of the shadow’s speed.

–Howard Nemerov (1920 – 1991)

How beautiful the leaves grow old. How full of light and color are their last days.

–John Burroughs (1837 – 1921)

As far as we can discern, the sole purpose of human existence is to kindle a light of meaning in the darkness of mere being.

–Carl Jung (1875 – 1961)

Sometimes you get the best light from a burning bridge.

–Don Henley (b. 1947)

47 thoughts on “The sole purpose of human existence…”

  9. Working on bringing some light to the idea that a 70 year plan can work for all of us, “–everywhere in the world,” as FDR said.

    We can Do Better.

    Shabbat Shalom, David.

    Shira

      1. Shavuah Tov, David!

        No worries: Project Do Better, for which I am in the 3rd edit, is a 4 phase proposal, of 15-20 years per phase, to build empathy, infrastructure, cultural change, and new tools for participatory democracy.

        Would you like me to drop a link here?
        Shira

          1. Hmm, it’s meant to be a general proposal for both a grass-roots project, and also top-down, as many of the ideas need federal or state level legislative support. So it is intended to be accessible as a proposal for volunteers wishing to begin an inter-generational project for societal uplift.

            Here’s the best link, I believe, to start with:

            https://shiradest.wordpress.com/pubs-workshops-and-more/

            (I need to edit this page, now that the book is nearly done, and my focus is shifting to the project itself…)

            Shira

          3. Yup, it is. I first started pondering parts of it back in 2008, and wrote up parts of Phase II in 2011. I outlined the entire book in 2019, and then began writing it in November of the year before last, focusing in on it in January of last year, so that I could finish it in 2021 and hand off the start of the project to some younger folks, preferably extroverts! But, I’ve had trouble finding Beta Readers, and the Alpha readers who volunteered took so long that I ended up continuing with my drafts, so I’m working to finish the book now, in draft 3.7-ish, as I also work to start the project, hand it off, and get back to my own work, which is writing historical fiction!

          5. Thank you, but obviously, like the Rabbi planting the tree at an advanced age, this success will not be for me to see, but for those who come after me, and I start this for them.

            I just hope not to get hit by a bus before getting it properly started!

            Shavuah Tov,
            Shira

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