Yoko Ono on Seasons

Spring passes and one remembers one's innocence.
Summer passes and one remembers one's exuberance.
Autumn passes and one remembers one's reverence.
Winter passes and one remembers one's perseverance.

Yoko Ono

 Source: goodreads.com

Cheryl Sawyer on America

ONE
by Cheryl Sawyer  

As the soot and dirt and ash rained down,
We became one color.
As we carried each other down the stairs of the burning building
We became one class.
As we lit candles of waiting and hope
We became one generation.
As the firefighters and police officers fought their way into the inferno
We became one gender.
As we fell to our knees in prayer for strength,
We became one faith.
As we whispered or shouted words of encouragement,
We spoke one language.
As we gave our blood in lines a mile long,
We became one body.
As we mourned together the great loss
We became one family.
As we cried tears of grief and loss
We became one soul.
As we retell with pride of the sacrifice of heroes
We become one people.

We are
One color
One class
One generation
One gender
One faith
One language
One body
One family
One soul
One people

We are The Power of One.
We are United.
We are America.


Thanks to John Holland for posting this on facebook. 

We remember. Always.

Abraham Lincoln on Discretion

I have always found that mercy bears richer fruits than strict justice.

Abraham Lincoln

Source: goodreads.com

Abraham Lincoln on Authenticity

If you once forfeit the confidence of your fellow citizens, you can never regain their respect and esteem. It is true that you may fool all of the people some of the time; you can even fool some of the people all of the time; but you can't fool all of the people all of the time.

Abraham Lincoln
Speech at Clinton, Illinois, September 8, 1854. 

Source: goodreads.com

Ron Shapiro on Discretion

We've all suffered from "negotiation fever" at one time or another. That's where you get so caught up in the heat of making a deal, you lose sight of the quality of the deal. If you weren't involved and you were just the observer, you'd whisper in your own ear, "Stop! It's not worth it." But it's hard to remind yourself to be objective. Some deals just aren't worth making.

Ronald M. Shapiro
in the book The Power of Nice
©2001, John Wiley & Sons, p. 226

Henri, le Chat Noir on Weathering Storms

The wind and rain whipping through the branches outside seem to sing in their own language. "Stay on the sofa," they say. "Finish your nap."

Henri, le Chat Noir 

Source: Henri, le Chat Noir, on facebook