We are the product of 4.5 billion years of fortuitous, slow biological evolution. There is no reason to think that the evolutionary process has stopped. Man is a transitional animal. He is not the climax of creation.                                                           –Carl Sagan

 

There is a passion in the human heart called aspiration. It flares with a noble flame, and by its light Man has traveled from the caves of darkness to outer space. But when this passion called aspiration becomes lust, when its flame is fanned by greed and private hunger, then aspiration becomes ambition – by which sin the angels fell.           –The Control Voice, Outer Limits, a 1960s TV show

Mistakes are at the very base of human thought… feeding the structure like root nodules. If we were not provided with the knack of being wrong, we could never get anything useful done.

–Lewis Thomas

If you don’t have time to do it right you must have time to do it over.                                                               –source unknown

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.                                   –Chogyam Trungpa

 

The afternoon knows what morning never suspected.

 –Swedish proverb

The true fountains of evidence [are] the head and heart of every rational and honest man. It is there nature has written her moral laws, and where every man may read them for himself.

–Thomas Jefferson

Philosophy consists very largely of one philosopher arguing that all others are jackasses. He usually proves it, and I should add that he also usually proves that he is one himself.                         –H. L. Mencken

No man can reveal to you nothing but that which already lies half-asleep in the dawning of your knowledge.                       –Kahlil Gibran

 

No trumpets sound when the important decisions in our life are made. Destiny is made known silently.                          –Agnes deMille

The future lies before you, like paths of pure white snow. Be careful how you tread it, for every step will show.                 –source unknown

God made the world round so we would never be able to see too far down the road.                                                         –Isak Dinesen

I believe that unarmed truth and unconditional love will have the final word in reality. That is why right, temporarily defeated, is stronger than evil triumphant.                       –Martin Luther King, Jr

(Each week this column features quotations gleaned from the readings and experiences of our editors, reporters, readers, and friends. All are invited to submit quotations for inclusion here. They may be sent to Gleanings, c/o The Newtown Bee, 5 Church Hill Road, Newtown, CT 06470, or emailed to editor@thebee.com.)