From a Book.

“Basically,” he began, “the tourist can be divided into two categories. The Organizes- the Disorganized. Under the Organized you find two distinct types: first, the Eager-Beaver_Culture-Vulture with the list ten yards long, who just manages to get it all crossed off before she collapses of aesthetic indigestion each night and has to be carried back to her hotel; and second, the cool suave Sophisticate who comes gliding over gracefully, calmly, and indifferently. But don’t be fooled by the indifference. This babe is determined to maintain her incorruptible standards of cleanliness and efficiency if the entire staff of her hotel dies trying. She belongs to the take-your-own-toilet-paper set. Stuffs her suitcases full of nylon, Kleenex, soupflakes, and D.D.T. bombs. Immediately learns the rules of the country. (I mean what time the shops open and close, and how much to tip the waiter.) Can pack for a week end in a small jewel case and in a large handbag and still have enough room for her own soap and washrag. Finds the hairdresser who speaks English, the restaurant who knows how she likes her steak, and the first foreign word she makes absolutely sure of pronouncing correctly is the one for drugstore. After that shes all set and the would is her ash tray. If she’s got enough money she;s got no trouble at all. On the whole, I rather like her.”

-The Dud Avocado, Elaine Dundy

From a Book.

From all this we may learn that there are two races of men in this world, but only these two- the “race” of the decent man and the “race” of the indecent man. Both are found everywhere, they penetrate into all groups of society. No group consists entirely of decent or innocent people. In this sense, no group is of “pure race”- and therefore one occasionally found a decent fellow among the camp guards.

-Man’s Search for Meaning, Viktor E. Frankl

From a Book.

We experience our ability to process knowledge. We see, for example, that a stick is a tool, and we see the effects of how we choose to use it. The club that kills can drive a stake into the ground to hold a shelter. The spear that takes a life can be used as a lever to ease life’s burdens. The knife that cuts flesh can be used to cut cloth. The hands that build bombs can be used to build schools. The minds that coordinate the activities of violence can coordinate the activities of cooperation.

The Seat of the Soul, Gary Zukav

From a Book.

Look up from this page and cast your eyes around the room you’re in. Everything in your midst has been designed. The typeface of these letters. The book you hold in your hands. The clothes that cover your body. The piece of furniture on which you’re sitting. The building that surrounds you. These things are part of your life because someone else imagined them and brought them into being.

-A Whole New Mind, Daniel H. Pink