Quote of the Day: 28 February 2023 #QotD

“Reality continues to ruin my life.” -Calvin, Calvin and Hobbes
[As it does for all of us.]

Quote of the Day: 27 February 2023 #QotD

“Civil rights are fundamental to a free society and to human dignity.” -Thomas Sowell
[All civil rights. That includes the right to self-defense, and life. Even for the most powerless amongst us.]

Quote of the Day: 26 February 2023 #QotD

“Without the Savior’s Atonement, the eternal principle of justice would require punishment. Because of the Savior’s Atonement, mercy can prevail for those who have repented, and it can allow them to return to the presence of God.” -Quentin L. Cook

Quote of the Day: 25 February 2023 #QotD

“Even the strongest and bravest must sometimes weep. It shows they have a great heart, one that can feel compassion for others.” -Cornflower, Redwall
[I don't know about the absolute necessity of weeping, but the sentiment is not wrong.]

Quote of the Day: 24 February 2023 #QotD

“[L]aughter helps things slide into the thinking.” -Tiffany Aching (thought), I Shall Wear Midnight
[It's always helpful to use at least a bit of humor when presenting ideas to people. Getting them into a comfortable state will help them accept those ideas.]

Quote of the Day: 23 February 2023 #QotD

“The truth. It is a beautiful and terrible thing, and should therefore be treated with great caution.” -Albus Dumbledore, Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone

[And respect. Caution, yes, but don't resort to lies instead just because truth can hurt.]

Quote of the Day: 22 February 2023 #QotD

“It’s like the smarter you are, the more things can scare you.” -Jess Aarons, Bridge to Terabithia
[Something of a counterpart to the aphorism that 'ignorance is bliss.' The more you know, the more you know to be potentially dangerous to you or your way of life.]

Quote of the Day: 21 February 2021 #QotD

“It’s stories that inspire people to change. It’s stories that make them believe things can be better.” -Nehra, Knight’s Shadow
[The human hardware runs on a software of story. The stories we consume set our expectation for how any particular situation will turn out.]

Quote of the Day: 20 February 2023 #QotD

“[T]he perceived responsibilities and powers of the president of the United States have metastasized dangerously since their original conception at the American founding. The president was meant merely to preside over the execution of the laws of the United States, not to be an all-powerful superhero unconstrained in an endless quest to right all wrongs, foreign and domestic.” -Brian Doherty & Gene Healy
[We, the American people have allowed our representatives to cede too much power to the executive, and we have undertaken far too much veneration of the office of the presidency that really ought to be more of a glorified DMV manager.

Oh, and Happy Presidents' Day.]

Quote of the Day: 19 February 2023 #QotD

“Feelings of fear don’t come from the Lord but most often from the adversary.” -Gary E. Stevenson

Quote of the Day: 18 February 2023 #QotD

“I didn't say I liked it, Harry. I said it fascinated me. There is a great difference.” -Dorian Gray, The Picture of Dorian Gray
[Probably a similar sentiment to what motivates a lot of rubber necking.]

Quote of the Day: 17 February 2023 #QotD

“Civilization exists because everyone wants to keep their innards in’r innards.” -Ann, Tress of the Emerald Sea
[Well, not everyone, but the majority do. At least for now. Heaven help us should that change any time soon.]

Quote of the Day: 16 February 2023 #QotD

“Sorry, kids, you’re not any more special than anyone else on this planet—but that’s a good thing. What does it mean not to be special? It means you can be yourself.” -Amy McCready
[This is an incredibly freeing message to impart. However, I am also firmly of the belief that everyone has at least a spark of divinity within them. It's just one of those contradictions that I am, at present, unable to resolve.]

Quote of the Day: 15 February 2023 #QotD

“Don't chase happiness with money. You'll never catch enough of it.” -Dave Ramsey
[Money certainly can make it easier to find happiness. But it certainly doesn't provide happiness. Past a certain point, it doesn't even make things any easier. And you can find happiness in far worse conditions than you think might be possible.]

Quote of the Day: 14 February 2023 #QotD

“Those librarians are a sharp bunch.” -Calvin, Calvin and Hobbes
[In addition to Valentine's Day, it is also Library Lovers Day. The more you know.]

Quote of the Day: 13 February 2023 #QotD

“[I]f your kid is asking for a paper towel it’s already too late.” -Mike Chase
[Too true. Ask any parent how he knows.]

Quote of the Day: 12 February 2023 #QotD

“Jesus Christ paid the price of our sins. We may claim that blessing of eternal life if we will have faith in Him enough to repent and become like a child, pure and ready to receive the greatest of all the gifts of God.” -Henry B. Eyring

Quote of the Day: 11 February 2023 #QotD

“We are none of us too old to learn.” -Abbot Mortimer, Redwall
[A good attitude to take in life. It encourages humility, and learning.]

Quote of the Day: 10 February 2023 #QotD

“I know I haven’t done anything wrong. Or have I? I can only see my life from the inside, and I suppose that on the inside nobody does anything wrong.” -Tiffany Aching (thought), I Shall Wear Midnight
[It is probably better to be aware of this tendency rather than to continue in ignorance of it. It's still a hard thing to overcome. I am so often certain that I am right, but how can I be sure?]

Quote of the Day: 9 February 2023 #QotD

“Always use the proper name for things. Fear of a name increases fear of the thing itself.” -Albus Dumbledore, Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone
[I thought this apropos given the current brouhaha over the new Harry Potter video game, and Ms. Rowling's insistence on using the proper definition of 'woman'.]

Quote of the Day: 8 February 2023 #QotD

“So when can we quit passing laws and raising taxes? When can we say of our political system, ‘Stick a fork in it, it’s done’?” -P. J. O’Rourke
[I suspect that there will always be valid reasons for additional legislation. But I'm also certain that our current set of laws could do with a thorough clean up. In fact, I'd very much like to see an effort to remove useless laws and restore a larger measure of the freedom we've ceded to the administrative state.]

Quote of the Day: 7 February 2023 #QotD

“[D]on’t forget that mathematics isn’t merely a school subject; it’s a way of understanding the world.” -Susan Wise Bauer and Jessie Wise
[Happy e Day.

A little more obscure than π, but still quite accessible, and useful in many contexts.]

Quote of the Day: 6 February 2023 #QotD

“The idea that unrestrained diversity is a magical elixir when it comes to creating stable and peaceful societies is a profoundly imbecilic notion.” -Gad Saad
[Diversity for diversity's sake gets the cart before the horse. Yes, a group of diverse people may operate better than a homogenous group, provided civilized behavior can be assured. But, merely seeking to ensure a group is diverse will only foster resentment, and divisiveness.]

Quote of the Day: 5 February 2023 #QotD

“[B]ecause Jesus Christ overcame this fallen world, and because He atoned for each of us, you too can overcome this sin-saturated, self-centered, and often exhausting world.” -Russell M. Nelson

Quote of the Day: 4 February 2023 #QotD

“Man is many things, but he is not rational.” -Lord Henry Wotton, The Picture of Dorian Gray

[And yet, it is still more sensible to treat people as though they are, rather than as if they are not. There are too many ways of being irrational to account for the one that is going to happen.]

Quote of the Day: 3 February 2023 #QotD

“Well, sir, better speak plain, I believe, even at the risk of offence.” -Captain Smollett, Treasure Island
[I am one who naturally seeks to achieve peace in my interpersonal interactions. Sometimes at the expense of expressing my true opinions. I am trying to be more forthright in my life going forward though.]

Quote of the Day: 2 February 2023 #QotD

“While a strong system of constitutional protections is a vital prerequisite to upholding individual freedom, it is not a silver bullet.” -Harrison Griffiths
[The constitution is truly only a piece of paper, unless we treat it like its important.]

Quote of the Day: 1 February 2023 #QotD

“[E]ven a prince may be a fool.” -Leslie Burke, Bridge to Terabithia
[Everyone can act foolish. Some abuse the privilege.]