13 books
—
54 voters
Whereas previously South Africans had traveled abroad furtively, hiding their national identity for fear of being rebuffed, now they walked tall, wearing their country’s flag on their lapels and stuck prominently on their luggage, blazoning
...more
“MYSTERIES, YES
Truly, we live with mysteries too marvelous
to be understood.
How grass can be nourishing in the
mouths of the lambs.
How rivers and stones are forever
in allegiance with gravity
while we ourselves dream of rising.
How two hands touch and the bonds
will never be broken.
How people come, from delight or the
scars of damage,
to the comfort of a poem.
Let me keep my distance, always, from those
who think they have the answers.
Let me keep company always with those who say
"Look!" and laugh in astonishment,
and bow their heads.”
― Evidence: Poems
Truly, we live with mysteries too marvelous
to be understood.
How grass can be nourishing in the
mouths of the lambs.
How rivers and stones are forever
in allegiance with gravity
while we ourselves dream of rising.
How two hands touch and the bonds
will never be broken.
How people come, from delight or the
scars of damage,
to the comfort of a poem.
Let me keep my distance, always, from those
who think they have the answers.
Let me keep company always with those who say
"Look!" and laugh in astonishment,
and bow their heads.”
― Evidence: Poems
“I feel I change my mind all the time. And I sort of feel that's your responsibility as a person, as a human being – to constantly be updating your positions on as many things as possible. And if you don't contradict yourself on a regular basis, then you're not thinking.”
―
―
“Freedom of the mind requires not only, or not even specially, the absence of legal constraints but the presence of alternative thoughts. The most successful tyranny is not the one that uses force to assure uniformity but the one that removes the awareness of other possibilities.”
― The Closing of the American Mind
― The Closing of the American Mind
“It is entirely possible to feel someone’s pain, acknowledge their suffering, hold it in our hands and support them with our presence without depleting ourselves, without clouding our judgment. But only if we are honest about our own feelings.”
― In Shock: My Journey from Death to Recovery and the Redemptive Power of Hope
― In Shock: My Journey from Death to Recovery and the Redemptive Power of Hope
“If you haven't read hundreds of books, you are functionally illiterate, and you will be incompetent, because your personal experiences alone aren't broad enough to sustain you.”
― Call Sign Chaos: Learning to Lead
― Call Sign Chaos: Learning to Lead
Steve’s 2025 Year in Books
Take a look at Steve’s Year in Books, including some fun facts about their reading.
More friends…
Polls voted on by Steve
Lists liked by Steve





























































