Interpersonal Relationships

". . . The man Of virtuous soul commands not, nor obeys. Power, like a desolating pestilence, Pollutes whate'er it touches; and obedience, Bane of all genius, virtue, freedom, truth, Makes slaves of men, and of the human frame A mechanized automaton."

"The poor man’s son ... devotes himself for ever to the pursuit of wealth and greatness. To obtain the conveniencies which these afford, he submits in the first year, nay in the first month of his application, to more fatigue of body, and more uneasiness of mind, than he could have suffered through the whole of his life from the want of them. ... He makes his court to all mankind; he serves those whom he hates, and is obsequious to those whom he despises. Through the whole of his life he pursues the idea of a certain artificial and elegant repose which he may never arrive at, for which he sacrifices a real tranquillity that is at all times in his power."

"One so small Who knowing nothing knows but to obey."

"Unless the gods deceive my mind, That man is forging fetters for himself."

"With regard to the abuse of authority, this also may come about in two ways. First, when what is ordered by an authority is opposed to the object for which that authority was constituted (if, for example, some sinful action is commanded or one which is contrary to virtue, when it is precisely for the protection and fostering of virtue that authority is instituted). In such a case, not only is there no obligation to obey the authority, but one is obliged to disobey it, as did the holy martyrs who suffered death rather than obey the impious commands of tyrants. Secondly, when those who bear such authority command things which exceed the competence of such authority; as, for example, when a master demands payment from a servant which the latter is not bound to make, and other similar cases. In this instance the subject is free to obey or disobey."

"Those who, while they disapprove of the character and measures of a government, yield to it their allegiance and support are ... the most serious obstacles to reform."

"The powerful, if they carry oppression beyond a certain point, necessarily end by making themselves adored by their slaves. For the thought of being under absolute compulsion, the plaything of another, is unendurable for a human being. Hence, if every way of escape from the constraint is taken from him, there is nothing left for him to do but to persuade himself that he does the things he is forced to do willingly, that is to say, to substitute devotion for obedience. ... It is by this twist that slavery debases the soul: this devotion is in fact based on a lie, since the reasons for it cannot bear investigation."

"Their poet, a sad trimmer, but no less In company a very pleasant fellow, Had been the favorite of full many a mess Of men, and made them speeches when half mellow; And though his meaning they could rarely guess, Yet still they deign'd to hiccup or to bellow The glorious meed of popular applause, Of which the first ne'er knows the second cause."

"There is nothing which a prudent man must shun more carefully than living with a view to popularity and giving serious thought to the things esteemed by the multitude, instead of making sound reason his guide of life, so that, even if he must gainsay all men and fall into disrepute and incur danger for the sake of what is honourable, he will in no wise choose to swerve from what has been recognized as right."

"Some shout him, and some hang upon his car, To gaze in his eyes, and bless him. Maidens wave Their 'kerchiefs, and old women weep for joy; While others, not so satisfied, unhorse The gilded equipage, and turning loose His steeds, usurp a place they well deserve."

"We have aimed at popularity in the best sense of that term. The truly popular writer never sinks into the vulgar crowd. He rather raises the masses by bringing the highest subjects within their comprehension, making them, without a show of erudition, easily understood."

"εἰ ἐκ τοῦ κόσμου ἦτε, ὁ κόσμος ἂν τὸ ἴδιον ἐφίλει· ὅτι δὲ ἐκ τοῦ κόσμου οὐκ ἐστέ, ἀλλ’ ἐγὼ ἐξελεξάμην ὑμᾶς ἐκ τοῦ κόσμου, διὰ τοῦτο μισεῖ ὑμᾶς ὁ κόσμος."

"That’s the problem with being the flavor of the month: before you know it, the calendar’s turned, and no one can remember what they found so appealing about you in the first place."

"And to some men popularity is always suspicious. Enjoying none themselves, they are prone to suspect the validity of those attainments which command it."

"He has fought a good fight and has had to face every difficulty except popularity."

"If a man despises the applause of the crowd of today, it is because he seeks to survive in renewed minorities for generations. ... He wishes to prolong himself in time rather than in space. The crowd soon overthrows its own idols and the statue lies broken at the foot of the pedestal without anyone heeding it; but those who win the hearts of the elect will long be the objects of a fervent worship in some shrine, small and secluded no doubt, but capable of preserving them from the flood of oblivion."

"Or art thou base, common and popular?"

"I have seen the dumb men throng to see him, and The blind to hear him speak: matrons flung gloves, Ladies and maids their scarfs and handkerchers Upon him as he passed; the nobles bended, As to Jove's statue, and the commons made A shower and thunder with their caps and shouts."

"The ladies call him sweet; The stairs, as he treads on them, kiss his feet."

"Popularity is a crime from the moment it is sought: it is only a virtue where men have it, whether they will or no. It is generally an appeal to the people from the sentence given by men of sense."

"Woe unto you when all men shall speak well of you!"

"All tongues speak of him, and the bleared sights Are spectacled to see him."

"There was ease in Casey's manner as he stept into his place, There was pride in Casey's bearing and a smile on Casey's face, And when responding to the cheers he lightly doft his hat, No stranger in the crowd could doubt, 't was Casey at the bat."

""Eyes to the blind" Thou art, O God! Earth I no longer see, Yet trustfully my spirit looks to thee."

"O holy trust! O endless sense of rest! Like the beloved John To lay his head upon the Saviour's breast, And thus to journey on!"

"You may trust him in the dark."

"Trust men, and they will be true to you; treat them greatly, and they will show themselves great."

"A little trust that when we die We reap our sowing, and so—Good-bye."

"I too Will cast the spear and leave the rest to Jove."

"Who would not rather trust and be deceived?"

"Build a little fence of trust Around to-day; Fill the space with loving work, And therein stay; Look not through the sheltering bars Upon to-morrow; God will help thee bear what comes Of joy or sorrow."

"Trust in God, and keep your powder dry."

"Thou trustest in the staff of this broken reed."

"Evidently you do not trust me. This does not predispose me to trust you."

"To the trustworthy man belongs a divine voice. The barge on the river and the chariot on the road come to him."

"We have a saying in the movement that we don't trust anybody over 30."

"I am sorry I must never trust thee more, But count the world a stranger for thy sake: The private wound is deepest."

"My life upon her faith!"

"Edward Snowden: The NSA has the greatest surveillance capabilities that we've ever seen in history; now what they will argue is that they don't use this for nefarious purposes against American citizens, in some ways that's true, but the real problem is that they are using these capabilities to make us vulnerable to them and then saying while I have a gun pointed at your head I'm not gonna pull the trigger, trust me."

"Trust in me in all you do Have the faith I have in you Love will see us through If only you trust in me Why don't you, you trust me"

"If strong trust is not knotted in the foundation of love, a home that could shield its inhabitants could not be built. And life could not be lived wet, whether it be in rain or tears."

"Do not put your trust in princes,"

"I well believe Thou wilt not utter what thou dost not know; And so far will I trust thee."

"Preserve me, O God: for in thee do I put my trust."

"Trust requires time and experience."

"I will say to Jehovah: “You are my refuge and my stronghold, My God in whom I trust.”"

"Let every eye negotiate for itself, And trust no agent."

"The greatest trust between man and man is the trust of giving counsel."

"As our fathers trusted humbly, teach us Lord to trust thee still."

"Thou know'st how fearless is my trust in thee."