Quote of the Day: 29 February 2024 #QotD

“[Music] gives our children a critically important outlet for their emotions and feelings; it helps to develop their sense of creativity and wonderment, and gives them sensitivity to the world and people around them.” -Sharlene Habermeyer
[This is whether the children use others' performances of that music, play it themselves, or improvise an expression of their emotions. The more they know, the better they are able to express themselves.]

Quote of the Day: 28 February 2024 #QotD

“I can’t wait until I’m old enough to ‘putter around.’” -Calvin, Calvin and Hobbes
[Every man has an innate need to putter.]

Quote of the Day: 27 February 2024 #QotD

“I must have done something good to be in this place, here today, at this time.” -Moist von Lipwig (thought), Raising Steam
[This is something I could probably say of myself on just about any given day. My life is really pretty good.]

Quote of the Day: 26 February 2024 #QotD

“We each make our own lore, our own legends, every day.” -Hoid, Tress of the Emerald Sea
[Both those that are going to be told about us, and those we tell ourselves.]

Quote of the Day: 25 February 2024 #QotD

“[W]e’re not finished until we see Jesus as the face of our Father’s love and follow Him, not just His rules.” -Robert M. Daines

Quote of the Day: 24 February 2024 #QotD

“Ah, it is the fault of our science that it wants to explain all; and if it explain not, then it says there is nothing to explain.” -Dr. Van Helsing, Dracula
[I think this might be something that has expanded beyond science and into every area of supposed expertise. It is important to be able to stand back and simply answer, 'I don't know' to some things. The humility to do so is important.]

Quote of the Day: 23 February 2024 #QotD

“Stupid people can create problems, but it often takes brilliant people to create a real catastrophe.” -Thomas Sowell
[I know that computer code works this way. I've created bugs I wasn't smart enough to debug because I put all my cleverness into the original code. Ultimately, I had to rewrite the code and take a more straightforward approach to get it right. I'm sure there are plenty of other domains where this applies as well.]

Quote of the Day: 22 February 2024 #QotD

“To reveal art and conceal the artist is art's aim.” -Oscar Wilde
[Perhaps. Sometimes it seems the purpose is to shock the observer, rather than to convey an intended meaning.]

Quote of the Day: 21 February 2024 #QotD

“The more transcendental is your patriotism, the more practical are your politics.” -G. K. Chesterton
[Which we could use more of: a love of country, and a willingness to work at accomplishing meaningful reform.]

Quote of the Day: 20 February 2024 #QotD

“Courage is about learning how to function despite the fear, to put aside your instincts to run or give in completely to the anger born from fear. Courage is about using your brain and your heart when every cell of your body is screaming at you to fight or flee—and then following through on what you believe is the right thing to do.” -Harry Dresden, Ghost Story
[I have been looking at martial arts schools again. I really ought to follow through, and find a good school to enroll myself in.]

Quote of the Day: 19 February 2024 #QotD

“While parents of over-entitled kids often shoulder all their children’s responsibilities in a well-meaning effort to provide them with a carefree, magical childhood, they’re actually depriving their youngsters of a fulfilling adulthood.” -Amy McCready
[Humans need to strive. Removing that from your children's lives will only do them harm, though you think you are helping them.]

Quote of the Day: 18 February 2024 #QotD

“One of our most sacred responsibilities is to help our children come to know deeply and specifically that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of the living God, their personal Savior and Redeemer, who stands at the head of His Church!” -Jan E. Newman

Quote of the Day: 17 February 2024 #QotD

“Whether it is exerted by ten men or by ten billion, political authority is force.” -Maj. Reid, Starship Troopers
[Something that few are willing to cogitate upon.]

Quote of the Day: 16 February 2024 #QotD

“I am what I am, an’ I’m not ashamed.” -Rubeus Hagrid, Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire
[Nor should any of us be, unless what we are is the result of an at least unsavory choice.]

Quote of the Day: 15 February 2024 #QotD

“Music speaks to the inner reaches of the soul, giving solace to the mind as well as the body. It has the power to uplift us when life is collapsing around us.” -Sharlene Habermeyer
[I feel the entire spectrum of human emotion through music, more intensely than through any other medium.]

Quote of the Day: 14 February 2024 #QotD

“You sent me a hate-mail valentine and a crummy bunch of dead flowers! So here’s a valentine for you, you insensitive clod!!” -Susie Derkins, Calvin and Hobbes
[Happy Valentine's Day!]

Quote of the Day: 13 February 2024 #QotD

“[O]nce you have a dream you’ve got somewhere closer to a reality.” -Moist von Lipwig, Raising Steam
[You first have to envision something before you will be able to accomplish it. Sometimes, that is the hardest part of solving the problem.]

Quote of the Day: 12 February 2024 #QotD

“[S]he— like all people— still appreciates a compliment now and then.” -Hoid, Yumi and the Nightmare Painter
[A good thing to keep in mind as we approach Valentine's Day.]

Quote of the Day: 11 February 2024 #QotD

“Despite our every effort, you and I won’t heal everyone, but each of us can be the one who can make a difference for good in the life of someone.” -Ian S. Ardern

Quote of the Day: 10 February 2024 #QotD

“What-ifs are for fools. We are here because we are meant to be.” -Geth, Leven Thumps and the Gateway to Foo
[This is where we are. To some, that is an indication that we were intended to be here. Others reject such thinking and embrace other modes of thought.]

Quote of the Day: 9 February 2024 #QotD

“The purpose of cause-and-effect analysis is not to offer advice or consolation to people in impossible situations, but to attempt to reduce the occurrence of such situations.” -Thomas Sowell
[Bu some people aren't interested in finding ways to actually address the root causes of things unless they align with their deeply held political views.]

Quote of the Day: 8 February 2024 #QotD

“Invention, it must be humbly admitted, does not consist in creating out of void, but out of chaos[.]” -Victor Frankenstein, Frankenstein

[Every invention starts on a foundation of previous contrivance and ingenuity.]

Quote of the Day: 7 February 2024 #QotD

“You may alter the place to which you are going; but you cannot alter the place from which you have come.” -G. K. Chesterton
[So, keep in mind how that beginning will affect your path.]

Quote of the Day: 6 February 2024 #QotD

“Life is hard. Dying’s easy.” -Harry Dresden, Ghost Story

[Ease isn't the proper metric for determining value, though.]

Quote of the Day: 5 February 2024 #QotD

“In short, there is a subconscious collaboration between the author and the audience.” -David Farland
[Each reading of a book results in a slightly different story in the head of each person who hears it. No two people experience exactly the same story because there are so many things left to the imagination of the hearers. Even in the most detailed prose there is immense room for personal interpretation.]

Quote of the Day: 4 February 2024 #QotD

“God expects us to seek, recognize, and act on truth.” -John C. Pingree Jr.

Quote of the Day: 3 February 2024 #QotD

“In terms of morals there is no such thing as ‘state.’ Just men. Individuals. Each responsible for his own acts.” -Bernardo de la Paz, The Moon is a Harsh Mistress
[We may choose to do some things collectively, as a society, but that doesn't make responsibility for them fall anywhere but on the individuals who have selected those actions.]

Quote of the Day: 2 February 2023 #QotD

“Hearing voices no one else can hear isn’t a good sign, even in the Wizarding world.” -Ron Weasley, Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets
[Not really in any world. If you're actually hearing a voice no one else does, something strange is going on, and if you're not, something strange is going on in your head. Neither is a place I want to be in.]

Quote of the Day: 1 February 2024 #QotD

“Learning is a process, not a product. Every child can learn, but not all learn at the same rate and in the same manner.” -Sharlene Habermeyer
[This is a big reason to engage in home education rather than sending your children off to a governmental child warehouse.]