eternal truths

this is it
there are no hidden meanings
you can't get there from here, and besides, there's no place else to go
we are already dying, and we will be dead for a long time
nothing lasts
there is no way of getting all you want
you can't have anything unless you let go of it
there is no particular reason why you lost out
on some things
the world is not necessarily just! being good often does not pay off
and there is no compensation for misfortune
you have a responsibility to do your best
nonetheless
it is a random universe to which we bring meaning
you don't really control anything
you can't make anyone love you
no one is any stronger or weaker than anyone else
everyone is, in his own way, vulnerable
there are no great men
if you have a hero, look again: you have diminished yourself in some way
everyone lies, cheats, pretends (yes, you too, and most certainly i myself)
all evil is potential vitality in need of transformation
all of you is worth something, if you will only own it
progress is an illusion
evil can be displaced but never eradicated, as all problems
yet it is necessary to keep on struggling toward solutions
childhood is a nightmare
but it is so very hard to be an on-your-own,
take-care-of-yourself-cause-there-is-no-one
-else-to-do-it-for-you grown-up
each of us is ultimately alone
the most important thing, each man must do for himself
love is not enough, but it sure helps
we have only ourselves, and one another
that may not be too much, but that's all there is
how strange, that so often, it all seems worth it
we must live within the ambiguity of partial freedom,
partial power, and partial knowledge
all important decisions must be made on the basis of insufficient data
yet we are responsible for everything we do
you can run, but you can't hide
it is most important to run out of scapegoats
we must learn the power of living with our helplessness
all of the significant battles are waged within the self
you are free to do whatever you like
you need only to face the consequences
what do you know... for sure... anyway?
learn to forgive yourself, again and again and again...




derived from Asian philosophies by Sheldon B. Kopp