“Reason does not need thinking. If you observe yourself making a plan you will notice that having fixed the object, the facts just keep coming, linking up into a chain of proposed action. Awareness is experiencing from moment to moment. Reason acts quickly in awareness, a thousand times faster than thought, and you do not even notice it is operating.”

“You will become more conscious if you use the moment of being rebuked or blamed to observe your reaction. You will observe yourself making an excuse, giving a reason.”

Barry Long (1926–2003) Australian spiritual teacher and writer

“Such is the disposition of mankind, if they cannot blast an action, they will censure the parade of it; and whether you do what does not deserve to be taken notice of, or take notice yourself of what does, either way you incur reproach.”
Homines enim cum rem destruere non possunt, iactationem eius incessunt. Ita si silenda feceris, factum ipsum, si laudanda non sileas, ipse culparis.

Pliny the Younger (61–113) Roman writer

“The moment I am aware that I am aware, I am not aware. Awareness means the observer is not.”

Jiddu Krishnamurti (1895–1986) Indian spiritual philosopher

“Do you think people have noticed that I'm around?”
“I notice when you're not. Does that count?”

Melina Marchetta (1965) Australian teen writer

“Don't you notice that there are particular moments when you are naturally inspired to introspection? Work with them gently, for these are the moments when you can go through a powerful experience, and your whole worldview can change quickly.”

Sogyal Rinpoche (1947–2019) Tibetan Dzogchen lama of the Nyingma tradition

“Have you ever noticed that anybody driving slower than you is an idiot, and anyone going faster than you is a maniac?”

George Carlin (1937–2008) American stand-up comedian

“Why should I even bother? What's the point, really?"
He thought for a moment. "Who says there has to be a point?" he asked. "Or a reason. Maybe it's just something you have to do.”

Sarah Dessen book Along for the Ride

“The crisis takes a much longer time coming than you think, and then it happens much faster than you would have thought.”

Rudiger Dornbusch (1942–2002) German economist

“Just when you feel you have no time to relax, know that this is the moment you most need to make time to relax.”

Matt Haig book Reasons to Stay Alive