Disappointment is a good sign of basic intelligence. It cannot be compared to anything else: it is so sharp, precise, obvious and direct. If we can open, then we suddenly begin to see that our expectations are irrelevant compared with the reality of the situations we are facing.

Chögyam Trungpa

Exactitude in some small matters is the very soul of discipline.

Joseph Conrad

I am so convinced that a work is something that, once it has come forth from us, is worth more than we are, that I find it quite natural to sacrifice myself for it as a father would for his child. But this idea must not lead me to address others about what can, unfortunately, only interest me.

Proust

Life, like a dome of many-colored glass, stains the white radiance of eternity.

William James

Wrath springs only from thwarted desires. I do not expect anything from others, so their actions cannot be in opposition to wishes of mine. I would not use you for my own ends; I am happy only in your own true happiness.

Sri Yukteswar

Giving/Your life has brought you closer to your friends./Yes, it has brought you home. All’s well that ends.

Robert Lowell

The sword embedded in the stone . . . it’s a beautiful symbol, no one can get it out. Then someone comes along and takes it out with no effort because it was his sword. You have a woman who’s made of stone. No one can remove his phallus from her. You come and remove it with no effort. You can do it because she is your woman. Because when she had the phallus inside her, it was immobile. Because it was yours. And you went through life castrated. But when you laid your pelvis against hers, you recovered your phallus and you were able to enter and withdraw with ease. And then water came from the stone. And that water fell on your testicles, and your testicles bloomed, like flowers.

Alexandro Jodorowsky

You are a wish to be here
wishing yourself.

Philip Whalen

You can’t get snot off a suede jacket.

Lenny Bruce

When bad things happen, that’s good. When good things happen, you don’t need a philosophy.

Mike Mathers

The strangest and most fantastic fact about negative emotions is that people actually worship them.

P.D. Ouspensky

. . . you are no longer a Buddhist or a Hindu or a Christian or a Jew or a Moslem. You are love, you are truth. And love and truth have no form. They flow into forms. But the word is never the same as that which the word connotes. The word “God” is not God, the word “Mother” is not Mother, the word “Self” is not Self, the word “moment” is not the moment. All of these words are empty. We’re playing at the level of intellect. Feeding that thing in us that keeps wanting to understand. And here we are, all the words we’ve said are gone. Where did they go? Do you remember them all? Empty, empty. If you heard them, you are at this moment empty. You’re ready for the next word. And the word will go through you. You don’t have to know anything: “that’s what’s so funny about it. You get so simple. You’re empty. You know nothing. You simply are wisdom. Not becoming anything, just being everything.

Ram Dass

The key to the treasure is the treasure itself.

John Barth