Mary-Jean Harris > Mary-Jean's Quotes

“Be yourself; everyone else is already taken.”
― Oscar Wilde

“If you have a soul of a warrior, you are a warrior. Whatever the color, the shape, the design of the shade that conceals it, the flame inside the lamp remains the same. You are that flame.”
― Cassandra Clare, Clockwork Angel

“The moon and sun are travelers through eternity. Even the years wander on. Whether drifting through life on a boat or climbing toward old age leading a horse, each day is a journey, and the journey itself is home.”
― Basho

“Do not seek to follow in the footsteps of the wise; seek what they sought.”
― Matsuo Bashō

“Real poetry, is to lead a beautiful life. To live poetry is better than to write it.”
― Basho

“Knowing others is intelligence;
knowing yourself is true wisdom.
Mastering others is strength;
mastering yourself is true power.”
― Lao Tzu, Tao Te Ching

“A good traveler has no fixed plans and is not intent on arriving.”
― Lao Tzu

“Music in the soul can be heard by the universe.”
― Lao Tzu

“If you understand others you are smart.
If you understand yourself you are illuminated.
If you overcome others you are powerful.
If you overcome yourself you have strength.
If you know how to be satisfied you are rich.
If you can act with vigor, you have a will.
If you don't lose your objectives you can be long-lasting.
If you die without loss, you are eternal.”
― Lao Tzu, Tao Te Ching

“To attain knowledge, add things everyday. To attain wisdom, remove things every day.”
― Lao Tse

“To a mind that is still the whole universe surrenders.”
― Lao Tzu

“Do you imagine the universe is agitated? Go into the desert at night and look at the stars. This practice should answer the question.”
― Lao Tzu

“You were born with wings, why prefer to crawl through life?”
― Rumi

“My soul is from elsewhere, I'm sure of that, and I intend to end up there.”
― Mawlana Jalal-al-Din Rumi

“silence is the language of god,
all else is poor translation.”
― Rumi

“Yesterday I was clever, so I wanted to change the world. Today I am wise, so I am changing myself.”
― Rumi

“Two there are who are never satisfied -- the lover of the world and the lover of knowledge.”
― Rumi Jalalud-Din, مثنوی معنوی

“Start a huge, foolish project, like Noah…it makes absolutely no difference what people think of you.”
― Rumi

“Moonlight floods the whole sky from horizon to horizon;
How much it can fill your room depends on its windows.”
― Rumi, The Essential Rumi

“Above the cloud with its shadow is the star with its light.”
― Pythagoras

“As long as men massacre animals, they will kill each other. Indeed, he who sows the seeds of murder and pain cannot reap the joy of love.”
― Pythagoras

“I'm trying to think, don't confuse me with facts.”
― Plato

“Flow with whatever may happen, and let your mind be free: Stay centered by accepting whatever you are doing. This is the ultimate.”
― Zhuangzi

“The wise man knows that it is better to sit on the banks of a remote mountain stream than to be emperor of the whole world.”
― Zhuangzi

“Let your heart be at peace.
Watch the turmoil of beings
but contemplate their return.

If you don't realize the source,
you stumble in confusion and sorrow.
When you realize where you come from,
you naturally become tolerant,
disinterested, amused,
kindhearted as a grandmother,
dignified as a king.
Immersed in the wonder of the Tao,
you can deal with whatever life brings you,
And when death comes, you are ready.”
― Chuang Tzu

“Forget the years, forget distinctions. Leap into the boundless and make it your home!”
― Chuang Tzu

“During our dreams we do not know we are dreaming. We may even dream of interpreting a dream. Only on waking do we know it was a dream. Only after the great awakening will we realize that this is the great dream.”
― Zhuangzi, The Butterfly as Companion: Meditations on the First Three Chapters of the Chuang Tzu

“How I long to see
among dawn flowers,
the face of God.”
― Basho, Haiku

“Winter garden,
the moon thinned to a thread,
insects singing.”
― Matsuo Basho

“How much I desire!
Inside my little satchel,
the moon, and flowers”
― Bashō Matsuo