July 31, 2008

"In the old days there were angels who came and took men by the hand and led them away from the city of destruction. We see no white-winged angels now. But yet men are led away from threatening destruction: a hand is put into theirs, which leads them forth gently towards a calm and bright land, so that they look no more backward; and the hand may be a little child's."
- George Elliot, "Silas Marner" (p 114)

March 29th, 2007

"So little do we see before us in the world; and so much reason have we to depend cheerfully upon the great Maker of the world, that He does not leave His creatures so absolutely destitute but that in the worst circumstances they have always something to be thankful for, and sometimes are nearer their deliverance than they imagine; nay, are even brought to their deliverance by the means by which they seem to be brought to their destruction."
- Daniel Defoe "Robinson Crusoe" (p 247)

March 24th, 2007

"All our discontents about what we want appeared to me to spring from the want of thankfulness for what we have."
- Daniel Defoe "Robinson Crusoe" (p 130)

"How mercifully can our great Creator treat His creatures, even in those conditions in which they seemed to be overwhelmed in destruction! How can He sweeten the bitterest providences, and give us cause to praise Him for dungeons and prisons!"
- Daniel Defoe "Robinson Crusoe" (p 146)

March 19th, 2007

"Moses said to the Lord, 'Oh Lord, I have never been eloquent, neither in the past nor since you have spoken to your servant. I am slow of speech and tongue.'

The Lord said to him, 'Who gave man his mouth? Who makes him deaf or mute? Who gives him sight or makes him blind? Is it not I, the Lord? Now go; I will help you speak and will teach you what to say.' "
- Exodus 4:10-12


"As to going home, shame opposed the best motions that offered to my thoughts; and it immediately occurred to me how I should be laughed at among the neighbors, and should be ashamed to see, not my father and mother only, but even everybody else; from whence I have since often observed how incongruous and irrational the common temper of mankind is, especially of youth, to that reason which ought to guide them in such cases, viz., that they are not ashamed to sin, and yet are ashamed to repent; nor ashamed of the action for which they ought justly to be esteemed fool, but are ashamed of the returning, which only can make them be esteemed wise men."
- Daniel Defoe "Robinson Crusoe" (p 20)