February 9: Thoughts for the Day

Posted on February 9, 2014 by John Swinburn

“Few will have the greatness to bend history itself, but each of us can work to change a small portion of events. It is from numberless diverse acts of courage and belief that human history is shaped. Each time a man stands up for an ideal, or acts to improve the lot of others, or strikes out against injustice, he sends forth a tiny ripple of hope, and crossing each other from a million different centers of energy and daring those ripples build a current which can sweep down the mightiest walls of oppression and resistance.”
~ Robert F. Kennedy

About John Swinburn

"Love not what you are but what you may become."― Miguel de Cervantes
This entry was posted in Thoughts For the Day. Bookmark the permalink.

2 Responses to February 9: Thoughts for the Day

  1. John Swinburn says:
    February 9, 2014 at 3:55 pm

    I doubt all, as well, my friend. I love Niebhuhur’s statement; how very true and so terribly troubling.

  2. juan says:
    February 9, 2014 at 3:07 pm

    Kennedy’s words are vital: “ripples build a current which can sweep down the mightiest walls of oppression and resistance.” I actually believe that, despite being spoken from a man of a patrician class.

    Kennedy was mimicking Thoreau, though the bearded gent protected his idealism by working as house-painter, and a gatherer of scrub; he wanted to keep himself separate and pure.

    I doubt all, these days, John … even Obama, who I voted for twice.

    The statement you give is increasingly vital to us!

    “Man’s capacity for justice makes democracy possible; but man’s inclination to injustice makes democracy necessary” Niebuhur (circa 1964).

    http://www.hrc.utexas.edu/multimedia/video/2008/wallace/niebuhr_reinhold.html

I wish you would tell me what you think about this post...

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.