“For years I lived under the impression that I was the master of my life, and the CEO of my own personal brand. But a few hours of meditation were enough to show me that I hardly had any control of myself. I was not the CEO – I was barely the gatekeeper. I was asked to stand at the gateway of my body – the nostrils – and just observe whatever comes in or goes out. Yet after a few moments I lost my focus and abandoned my post.”
21 Lessons for the 21st Century
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Yuval Noah Harari42
Israeli historian 1976Related quotes
Morrissey (1959) English singer
From the TV documentary The Importance of Being Morrissey (2003)
In interviews etc., About himself and his work
“My heart returns to me what I turn away. I am my own master but not always master of myself.”
Jeanette Winterson (1959) English writer
The Powerbook (2000)
Frank W. Abagnale (1948) American security consultant, former confidence trickster, check forger, impostor, and escape artist
Source: Catch Me if You Can: The True Story of a Real Fake, 2002, Ch.1 Pg.4(a), Ch.1 Pg. 11(b),Back cover(c), Ch.6 Pg.116(d)
Matt Birk (1976) Player of American football
Pro-life NFL star Matt Birk reveals real reason he skipped meeting with Obama https://www.lifesitenews.com/news/exclusive-video-nfl-star-matt-birk-reveals-real-reason-he-skipped-meeting-w (April 15, 2016)
John Hart (1965) American author with multiple books and awards
Source: The King of Lies (2006), Ch. 10.
Albert Schweitzer (1875–1965) French-German physician, theologian, musician and philosopher
Kulturphilosophie (1923), Vol. 2 : Civilization and Ethics
Context: Reverence for life, veneratio vitæ, is the most direct and at the same time the profoundest achievement of my will-to-live.
In reverence for life my knowledge passes into experience. The simple world- and life-affirmation which is within me just because I am will-to-live has, therefore, no need to enter into controversy with itself, if my will-to-live learns to think and yet does not understand the meaning of the world. In spite of the negative results of knowledge, I have to hold fast to world- and life-affirmation and deepen it. My life carries its own meaning in itself. This meaning lies in my living out the highest idea which shows itself in my will-to-live, the idea of reverence for life. With that for a starting-point I give value to my own life and to all the will-to-live which surrounds me, I persevere in activity, and I produce values.
Margaret Thatcher book The Downing Street Years
On the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting at Nassau in October 1985, where Thatcher opposed sanctions on South Africa
Source: The Downing Street Years (1993), p. 517