When I was a young man, I wanted to change the world. I found it was difficult to change the world, so I tried to change my nation. When I found I couldn't change the nation, I began to focus on my town. I couldn't change the town and as an older man, I tried to change my family.
Now, as an old man, I realize the only thing I can change is myself, and suddenly I realize that if long ago I had changed myself, I could have made an impact on my family. My family and I could have made an impact on our town. Their impact could have changed the nation and I could indeed have changed the world.
Written on the tombstone of an unknown monk - 1100 A.D.
This is awesome and so true!
ReplyDeleteBrilliant! This reminds me somewhat of a quote I have tucked in my scriptures that I read the other day. I'll have to share it with you when I find it.
ReplyDeleteI look forward to it!
DeleteOk, it's super long, but here goes:
Delete"There is one responsibility which no man can evade: that responsibility is his personal influence. Man's unconscious influence is the silent, subtle radiation of his personality - the effect of his words and his acts on others. This radiation is tremendous. Every moment of life man is changing, to a degree, the life of the whole world.
Every man has an atmosphere which is affecting every other man. He cannot escape for one moment from this radiation of his character, this constant weakening or strengthening of others. Man cannot evade the responsibility by merely saying that it is an unconscious influence.
Man can select the qualities he would permit to be radiated. He can cultivate sweetness, calmness, trust, generosity, truth, justice, loyalty, nobility, and make them vitally active in his character. And by these qualities he will constantly affect the world.
This radiation to which I refer, comes from what a person really is, not from what he pretends to be. Every man by his mere living is radiating either sympathy, sorrow, morbidness, cynicism, or happiness and hope - or any one of a hundred other qualities.
Life is a state of radiation and absorption. To exist is to radiate: to exist is to be the recipient of radiation."
President David O. McKay from an address at BYU April 27, 1948
Very Profound. Thanks for sharing Apple!
ReplyDeleteYep no problem. Glad you liked it!
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