Quotes about problems
page 6

Tenzin Gyatso photo

“Inner peace is the key: if you have inner peace, the external problems do not affect your deep sense of peace and tranquility.”

Tenzin Gyatso (1935) spiritual leader of Tibet

Nobel lecture (1989)
Context: Inner peace is the key: if you have inner peace, the external problems do not affect your deep sense of peace and tranquility. In that state of mind you can deal with situations with calmness and reason, while keeping your inner happiness. That is very important. Without this inner peace, no matter how comfortable your life is materially, you may still be worried, disturbed or unhappy because of circumstances.

Martin Luther King, Jr. photo

“We meet these people every day. And so this is not a foreign subject. It is not something far off. It is a problem that meets us in everyday life. We meet it in ourselves, we meet in other selves: the problem of selfcenteredness.”

Martin Luther King, Jr. (1929–1968) American clergyman, activist, and leader in the American Civil Rights Movement

Source: 1950s, Conquering Self-centeredness (1957)
Context: Life has its beginning and its maturity comes into being when an individual rises above self to something greater. Few individuals learn this, and so they go through life merely existing and never living. Now you see signs all along in your everyday life with individuals who are the victims of self-centeredness. They are the people who live an eternal “I.” They do not have the capacity to project the “I” into the “Thou." They do not have the mental equipment for an eternal, dangerous and sometimes costly altruism. They live a life of perpetual egotism. And they are the victims all around of the egocentric predicament. They start out, the minute you talk with them, talking about what they can do, what they have done. They’re the people who will tell you, before you talk with them five minutes, where they have been and who they know. They’re the people who can tell you in a few seconds, how many degrees they have and where they went to school and how much money they have. We meet these people every day. And so this is not a foreign subject. It is not something far off. It is a problem that meets us in everyday life. We meet it in ourselves, we meet in other selves: the problem of selfcenteredness.

Antoine de Saint-Exupéry photo

“Contrary to the vulgar illusion, it is thanks to the metal, and by virtue of it, that the pilot rediscovers nature. As I have already said, the machine does not isolate man from the great problems of nature but plunges him more deeply into them.”

Antoine de Saint-Exupéry (1900–1944) French writer and aviator

Ch III : The Tool
Terre des Hommes (1939)
Context: !-- There was a time when a flyer sat at the centre of a complicated works. Flight set us factory problems. The indicators that oscillated on the instrument panel warned us of a thousand dangers. But in the machine of today we forget that motors are whirring: the motor, finally, has come to fulfil its function, which is to whirr as a heart beats—and we give no thought to the beating of our heart. Thus, --> Precisely because it is perfect the machine dissembles its own existence instead of forcing itself upon our notice.
And thus, also, the realities of nature resume their pride of place. It is not with metal that the pilot is in contact. Contrary to the vulgar illusion, it is thanks to the metal, and by virtue of it, that the pilot rediscovers nature. As I have already said, the machine does not isolate man from the great problems of nature but plunges him more deeply into them.
Numerous, nevertheless, are the moralists who have attacked the machine as the source of all the ills we bear, who, creating a fictitious dichotomy, have denounced the mechanical civilization as the enemy of the spiritual civilization.
If what they think were really so, then indeed we should have to despair of man, for it would be futile to struggle against this new advancing chaos. The machine is certainly as irresistible in its advance as those virgin forests that encroach upon equatorial domains.

Bjarne Stroustrup photo

““I invented auto in 83 and it had incompatibility problems, so I had to wait 25 years””

Bjarne Stroustrup (1950) Danish computer scientist, creator of C++

Conference Madrid 2019

Jacque Fresco photo
Jacque Fresco photo
Jacque Fresco photo
Wahiduddin Khan photo

“I think it is dangerous to run away from history. I am much more interested in looking at something difficult and really fraught with a lot of problems and then challenging it from a close perspective, as opposed to just not dealing with it when creating the characters or the story.”

Naomi Iizuka (1965) American dramatist

On inverting the clichéd romantic plot between a White male and Asian female in “Iizuka's '36 Views'” https://asiasociety.org/iizukas-36-views in Asia Society

Helena Roerich photo

“To all these insanities will be added the most shameful—the intensified competition between male and female. We insist upon equal and full rights for women, but the servants of darkness will expel them from many fields of activity, even where they bring the most benefit. We have spoken about the many maladies in the world, but the renewed struggle between the male and female principles will be the most tragic. It is hard to imagine how disastrous this will be, for it is a struggle against evolution itself! What a high price humanity pays for every such opposition to evolution! In these convulsions the young generations are corrupted. Plato spoke about beautiful thinking, but what kind of beauty is possible when there is hostility between man and woman? Now is the time to think about equal and full rights, but darkness invades the tensed realms. However, all the dark attacks will serve a certain good purpose, for those who have been humiliated in Kali Yuga will be glorified in Satya Yuga. ...Let us remember that these years of Armageddon are the most intense, and one’s health should be especially guarded because the cosmic currents will increase many diseases. You must understand that this time is unique... It is near-sighted to think that if war is prevented all problems will be solved! There are those who think so and imagine that they can cheat evolution, not realizing that the worst war is in their own homes. However, there do exist places on Earth where evolution develops normally, and We are always there.”

Helena Roerich (1879–1955) Russian philosopher

286
Armageddon

Pope Francis photo
Natalie Wynn photo
Barack Obama photo
Barack Obama photo
Leon Trotsky photo
Steven Weinberg photo
Xi Jinping photo

“It is for the people of Asia to run the affairs of Asia, solve the problems of Asia and uphold the security of Asia. The people of Asia have the capability and wisdom to achieve peace and stability in the region through enhanced cooperation.”

Xi Jinping (1953) General Secretary of the Communist Party of China and paramount leader of China

New Asian Security Concept For New Progress in Security Cooperation https://www.fmprc.gov.cn/mfa_eng/zxxx_662805/t1159951.shtml,Shanghai Expo Center, 21 May 2014
2010s

Benjamin Creme photo
Richard Adams photo
Jawaharlal Nehru photo
Jawaharlal Nehru photo
Jawaharlal Nehru photo
Jawaharlal Nehru photo
Jawaharlal Nehru photo
Indíra Gándhí photo
Hendrik Verwoerd photo
H.P. Lovecraft photo
Ronald Reagan photo
Ronald Reagan photo
Jennifer Lopez photo

“I'm the best. If you have the goods, there's nothing to be afraid of. If somebody doesn’t have the goods, they're insecure. I don't have that problem. I'm not the best actress that ever lived, but I know I'm pretty good.”

Jennifer Lopez (1969) American singer and actress

Jennifer Lopez shades A-list actress peers in resurfaced interview https://nypost.com/2019/09/25/jennifer-lopez-shades-a-list-actress-peers-in-resurfaced-interview/, by Nadine DeNinno, New York Post, September 25, 2019.

Steve Jobs photo
Abu Hamid al-Ghazali photo

“From my early youth, since I attained the age of puberty before I was twenty, until the present time when I am over fifty, I have ever recklessly launched out into the midst of these ocean depths, I have ever bravely embarked on this open sea, throwing aside all craven caution; I have poked into every dark recess, I have made an assault on every problem, I have plunged into every abyss, I have scrutinized the creed of every sect, I have tried to lay bare the inmost doctrines of every community. All this have I done that I might 68 distinguish between true and false, between sound tradition and heretical innovation. Whenever I meet one of the Batiniyah, I like to study his creed; whenever I meet one of the Zahiriyah, I want to know the essentials of his belief. If it is a philosopher, I try to become acquainted with the essence of his philosophy; if a scholastic theologian I busy myself in examining his theological reasoning; if a Sufi, I yearn to fathom the secret of his mysticism; if an ascetic (muta'ahhid) , I investigate the basis of his ascetic practices; if one ofthe Zanadiqah or Mu'attilah, I look beneath the surface to discover the reasons for his bold adoption of such a creed.”

Abu Hamid al-Ghazali (1058–1111) Persian Muslim theologian, jurist, philosopher, and mystic

The Deliverance from Error https://www.amazon.com/Al-Ghazalis-Path-Sufism-Deliverance-al-Munqidh/dp/1887752307, p: 20-21

Taiichi Ohno photo

“Having no problems is the biggest problem of all.”

Taiichi Ohno (1912–1990) Japanese businessman and engineer
Wendell Berry photo
Max Planck photo

“I also knew the formula that expresses the energy distribution in the normal spectrum. A theoretical interpretation therefore had to be found at any cost, no matter how high. It was clear to me that classical physics could offer no solution to this problem, and would have meant that all energy would eventually transfer from matter to radiation. ...This approach was opened to me by maintaining the two laws of thermodynamics. The two laws, it seems to me, must be upheld under all circumstances. For the rest, I was ready to sacrifice every one of my previous convictions about physical laws. ...[One] finds that the continuous loss of energy into radiation can be prevented by assuming that energy is forced at the outset to remain together in certain quanta. This was purely a formal assumption and I really did not give it much thought except that no matter what the cost, I must bring about a positive result.”

Max Planck (1858–1947) German theoretical physicist

Letter to Robert W. Wood (October 7, 1931) in Archive for the History of Quantum Physics, Microfilm 66, 5, as cited in Thomas S. Kuhn, Black-Body Theory and the Quantum Discontinuity, 1894–1912 (1978) pp. 132, 288. Translation of the entire letter, which is follow above is in Armin Hermann, Frühgeschiche der Quantentheorie (1899–1913) Mosbach/Baden: Physik Verlag (1969), transl. Claude W. Nash, p. 23 of the translation; and also in M. S. Longair,Theoretical Concepts in Physics(Cambridge and NewYork: Cambridge University Press, 1984), ch. 6–12, p. 222. All as quoted/cited by Clayton A. Gearhart, "Planck, the Quantum, and the Historians" http://citeseerx.ist.psu.edu/viewdoc/download?doi=10.1.1.613.4262&rep=rep1&type=pdf, Physics in Perspective, 4 (2002) 170-215.

Mark Manson photo

“Pain is not the real problem; the real problem is our thinking about pain, our resistance to it, our attempt to escape it and get to an (imaginary) future.”

Jeff Foster (1980) Spiritual teacher

Source: https://www.lifewithoutacentre.com/writings/shockingly-simple-principles-of-spiritual-awakening/

Indíra Gándhí photo

“There are grave misgivings that the discussion on ecology may be designed to distract attention from the problems of war and poverty.”

Indíra Gándhí (1917–1984) Indian politician and Prime Minister

First global conference on the human environment (UNCHE) in Stockholm in June 1972 by UN.

Tupac Shakur photo

“What I want you to take seriously, is what we have to do for the youth. Because we're coming up in a totally different world. This is not the same world that you had this is not 6th Street its not. You grew up, we grew up B. C. Before crack. That's just saying it all. You understand? We did not grow up without parents. You had parents that told you this and that and told you what went on back in the day. You have young kids, fourteen, coming home and their mama is smoking out, going to their best friend to get the product. You understand what I'm saying? So that means it's not just about you taking care of "your" child. It's about you taking care of "these children". It hurts that I got to, it bothers me, not hurts, that I have to sidestep my youth to stand up and do some shit that somebody else is suppose to be doing. You understand what I'm saying? There's too many men out here for me to be doing this, because it ain't my turn yet. I'm supposed to be following behind him getting the knowledge. I don't even got a chance to get the fucking knowledge. I can't go to college. There's too much problems out here. I don't got the money. Nobody does. You understand what I'm saying? So what I'm saying is, it's not as easy as we're mapping it out to be. We've got to stay real. Before we can be new African we've gotta be black first. You understand? We've gotta get our brothers from the streets like Harriett Tubman did. Why can't we look at that and see exactly what she was doing? Like Malcolm did, the real Malcolm, before the Nation of Islam. You've got to remember, this was a pimp. You know what I'm saying, we forgot about all that. In our strive to be enlightened we forgot about all our brothers in the street, about all our dope dealers, our pushers and our pimps, and that's who's teaching the new generation, because y'all not doing it. I'm sorry. But, it's the pimps and pushers who's teaching us. So, if you got a problem with how we were raised, its because they was the only ones who could do it. They the only ones who did it, because everybody else wanted to go to college, and you know, yeah everything's changed, they were the ones telling you 'the white man ain't shit, there you go, check this out young blood, you take this product, you switch it, you get money and that's how you beat the white man, you get money, you get the hell up out of here.'”

Tupac Shakur (1971–1996) rapper and actor

Nobody else did that. So I don't wanna hear shit about nobody telling me who I can't love and respect until you start doing what they did. To me, this is Mecca. This is the black family. You know what I'm saying? But, what makes it that much sadder, what makes me wanna cry, is that when I leave this place, so does Mecca. You understand what I'm saying? We're going back to the real deal. Right out there, you're going see the same sisters and Brenda, they're right out there, and y'all are going to get in your cars and drive the fuck home.
1990s, Malcolm X Grassroots Movement, Atlanta (1992)

Thomas Edison photo
Bahá'u'lláh photo

“...for each day there is a new problem and for every problem an expedient solution.”

Bahá'u'lláh (1817–1892) founder of the Bahá'í Faith

The Kitáb-i-Aqdas

Pierre-Simon Laplace photo

“Life's most important questions are, for the most part, nothing but probability problems.”

Pierre-Simon Laplace (1749–1827) French mathematician and astronomer

citation needed
"Les questions les plus importantes de la vie ne sont en effet, pour la plupart, que des problèmes de probabilité."

Robert Lewandowski photo
Henry A. Wallace photo

“With a fascist the problem is never how best to present the truth to the public but how best to use the news to deceive the public.”

Henry A. Wallace (1888–1965) Vice President of the United States

Quoted by Thom Hartmann in Fascists Compete To Own America, Common Dreams, https://www.commondreams.org/views/2018/04/30/fascists-compete-own-america (30 April 2018)

Eckhart Tolle photo
Eckhart Tolle photo

“"No self, no problem,” said the Buddhist master when asked to explain the deeper meaning of Buddhism.”

Eckhart Tolle (1948) German writer

Source: Stillness Speaks (2003)

Prevale photo

“Don't think that life no longer holds anything beautiful for you: face the problems and enjoy the moments, focusing your attention exclusively on what makes you feel alive.”

Prevale (1983) Italian DJ and producer

Original: (it) Non pensare che la vita non riservi più nulla di bello per te: affronta i problemi e goditi gli attimi, concentrando la tua attenzione esclusivamente su ciò che ti fa sentire vivo.
Source: prevale.net

Kanye West photo
Teal Swan photo
Neale Donald Walsch photo
Neale Donald Walsch photo
Prevale photo

“It is fascinating the intellect of a person who always has a resource, who instead of getting down about a problem look for a solution. The mind remains the most interesting and engaging place of a human being.”

Prevale (1983) Italian DJ and producer

Original: È affascinante l'intelletto di una persona che ha sempre una risorsa, che invece di abbattersi per un problema cerca una soluzione. La mente rimane il posto più interessante e coinvolgente di un essere umano.
Source: prevale.net

Rick Riordan photo
Douglas Adams photo
Byron Katie photo

“Peace doesn't require two people; it requires only one. It has to be you. The problem begins and ends there.”

Byron Katie (1942) American spiritual writer

Source: Loving What Is: Four Questions That Can Change Your Life

Isaac Asimov photo

“Science fiction writers foresee the inevitable, and although problems and catastrophes may be inevitable, solutions are not.”

Isaac Asimov (1920–1992) American writer and professor of biochemistry at Boston University, known for his works of science fiction …

"How Easy to See the Future", Natural History magazine (April 1975);
General sources

Nicholas Sparks photo
Marcus Tullius Cicero photo
Bernie Sanders photo
Anne Lamott photo

“If your wife locks you out of the house, you don't have a problem with your door.”

Anne Lamott (1954) Novelist, essayist, memoirist, activist

Source: Bird by Bird: Some Instructions on Writing and Life

Gabriel García Márquez photo
Elizabeth Wurtzel photo
Erich Fromm photo

“Man is the only animal for whom his own existence is a problem which he has to solve and from which he cannot escape.”

Erich Fromm (1900–1980) German social psychologist and psychoanalyst

Source: Man for Himself (1947), Ch. 3 "Human Nature and Character

Jonathan Stroud photo
Rick Riordan photo
Richelle Mead photo
Richelle Mead photo
Chuck Palahniuk photo
Neil deGrasse Tyson photo
James C. Collins photo

“Put your best people on your biggest opportunities, not your biggest problems. In”

Good to Great: Why Some Companies Make the Leap... and Others Don't

Brandon Sanderson photo
Chuck Palahniuk photo
Paula Poundstone photo
Dave Barry photo
Nelson DeMille photo

“The problem with doing nothing is not knowing when you are finished.”

Nelson DeMille (1943) American writer

Variant: The problem with doing nothing is that you never know when you're finished.

P.G. Wodehouse photo

“This problem - it is age old. To do what is right and save the day without destroying the very thing the day is lived for.”

Christopher Pike (1954) American author Kevin Christopher McFadden

Source: Black Blood

Robert Greene photo
Carrie Fisher photo