20th-Century-Famous People

____________________ Martin Luther King, Jr. -- Black, American civil rights leader assassinated in 1968 for his beliefs, his values and his courage to speak the truth directly into the face of the lie.

We are divided not by race, religion, or national origin, but rather by ignorance.

Every gun that is fired, every warship launched, every rocket fired signifies, in the final sense, a theft from those who hunger and are not fed, those who are cold and not clothed. This world in arms is not spending money alone. It is spending the sweat of its laborers, the genius of its scientists, the hopes of its children . . .

We pay for a single fighter plane with a half million bushels of wheat. We pay for a single destroyer with new homes that could have housed more than eight thousand people . . . This is not a way of life at all, in any true sense. Under the cloud of threatening war, it is humanity hanging from a cross of iron.

____________________ President Dwight Eisenhower -- 34th President of the Unites States

____________________ President John F. Kennedy -- 35th President of the Unites States

Ask not what your country can do for you, but rather, ask what you can do for your country.

To know what is impenetrable to us really exists, manifesting itself as the highest wisdom and most radiant beauty which our dull faculties can comprehend only in their most primitive forms — this knowledge, this feeling, is at the center of true religiousness. In this sense, and in this sense only, I belong to the ranks of devoutly religious men.

Throughout history, it has been the inaction of those who could have acted; the indifference of those who should have known better; the silence of the voice of justice when it mattered most; that has made it possible for evil to triumph.

.Martin Niemoller. .Martin Niemoller. ...

The following two quotes are variations of the same message. They are the words of Martin Niemoller, the well-known German Protestant Pastor who survived the Nazi Holocaust.

They came for the Communists, and I didn't object -
        For I wasn't a Communist;
They came for the Socialists, and I didn't object -
       For I wasn't a Socialist;
They came for the labor leaders, and I didn't object -
      For I wasn't a labor leader;
They came for the Jews, and I didn't object -
      For I wasn't a Jew;
Then they came for me -
       And there was no one left to object.

The quote below is from Pastor Martin Niemoeller" as he spoke before the United States Congressional on 14 October 1968. They appear in the Congressional record on page 31636:

When Hitler attacked the Jews I was not a Jew, therefore I was not concerned. And when Hitler attacked the Catholics, I was not a Catholic, and therefore, I was not concerned. And when Hitler attacked the unions and industrialists, I was not a member of the unions and I was not concerned. Then, Hitler attacked me and the Protestant church -- and there was nobody left to be concerned.

____________________ R. Bandler & J. Grinder (Pioneers of NLP and Authors of “Frogs into Princes”)

Until one is committed, there is hesitancy, the chance to draw back, always ineffectiveness. Concerning all acts of initiative [and creation] there is one elementary truth the ignorance of which kills countless ideas and splendid plans.

The moment one definitely commits oneself, then providence moves too. All sorts of things occur to help one that would never otherwise have occurred. A whole stream of events issue from the decision raising in one's favor all manner of unforeseen incidents and meetings and material assistance which no man could have dreamt would have come his way.

Experience should teach us to be most on our guard to protect liberty when the government's purposes are beneficial. The greatest dangers to liberty lurk in insidious encroachment by men of zeal, well meaning but without understanding.

Desiterata (The philosophy for a serene and happy life)

(The Complete text) Max Ehrmann 1872 - 1945

Go placidly amidst the noise and haste, and

remember what peace there may be in silence.

As far as possible, without surrender,

be on good terms with all persons.

Speak your truth quietly and clearly; and listen to others,

even the dull and ignorant for they too have their story.

Avoid loud and aggressive persons;

they are vexatious to the spirit.

If you compare yourself to others,

you may become vain and bitter,

for always there will be

greater and lesser persons than yourself.

Enjoy your achievements as well as your plans.

Keep interested in your own career,

however humble; it is a real possession

in the changing fortunes of time.

Exercise caution in your business affairs, for the

world is full of trickery.

But let this not blind you to what virtue there is; many person

strive for high ideals, and everywhere life is full of heroism.

Be good to yourself.

Especially do not feign affection.

Neither be cynical about love; for in the face of all aridity and

disenchantment, it is as perennial as the grass.

Take kindly the counsel of the years,

gracefully surrendering the things of youth.

Nurture strength of spirit to shield you in sudden misfortune.

But do not distress yourself with dark imaginings.

Many fears are born of fatigue and loneliness.

Beyond a wholesome discipline,

be gentle with yourself.

You are a child of the universe

no less than the trees and the stars;

you have a right to be here.

And whether or not it is clear to you,

no doubt the universe is unfolding as it should.

Therefore be at peace with God

whatever you conceive him to be.

And whatever your labors and aspirations

in the noisy confusion of life,

keep peace in your soul.

With all it's sham drudgery and broken dreams,

it is still a beautiful world.

Be Cheerful. Strive to be happy.

____________________

Serenity Prayer Reinhold Neibuhr 1892-1971

GOD, grant met he Serenity

to accept the things I cannot change,

Courage to change the things I can,

and the Wisdom to know the difference.

Living ONE DAY AT A TIME;

Enjoying one moment at a time;

Accepting hardship as the pathway to peace.

Taking, as He did, this sinful world as it is,

not as I would have it.

Trusting that He will make all things right

if I surrender to His Will;

That I may be reasonably happy in this life,

and supremely happy with Him forever in the next.

Amen

____________________