Pilgrim Notes

Reflections along the way.

Tag: Life (page 2 of 2)

Quotes

How many people content themselves with speaking, and believe that it exempts them from acting! And those who listen are content with having heard them.  – Charles Wagner, “The Simple Life”

Sorry, I couldn’t find a good link on Wagner. I discovered this little book years ago in a used bookstore Virginia Beach. Wagner, a French cleric, released his little book “The Simple Life” in America at the start of the twentieth century. Americans embraced it and even Teddy Roosevelt heralded it’s value. This book was highly influential as a catalyst in the return to simplicity movement in America.

Quote of the Day

After posting that Paul Johnson quote the other day, I thought I might share some quotes I like. I’ll act like there will be one every day, but knowing my poor history at follow-through there will be some new quotes offered “on occasion.”

I’ve begin many a talk with the following quote:

“If a thing is worth doing, it is worth doing badly.” G.K. Chesterton

This quote usually disarms the audience. “What?” Chesterton realizes that you don’t have always be the best at everything you try. He was concerned even in his day that there was a dangerous trend to “professionalizing” life. Instead of playing ball in the back yard, people pay experts to play. Instead singing, we buy CDs. Instead of telling our stories, we watch TV. In other words, we are in danger of giving the living of life over to others while we just sit back and watch.

Far better to jump in the ring. Trying living life firsthand. Even if we aren’t the best, and even if we don’t win awards, we at least are living.

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