Reader

“Self persuasion was a concept much loved by evolutionary psychologists. I had written a piece about it for an Australian magazine. It was pure armchair science, and it went like this: if you lived in a group, like humans have always done, persuading others of your own needs and interests would be fundamental to your well-being. Sometimes you had to use cunning. Clearly you would be at your most convincing if you persuaded yourself first and did not even have to pretend to believe what you were saying. The kind of self-deluding individuals who tended to do this flourished, as did their genes. So it was we squabbled and scrapped, for our unique intelligence was always at the service of our special pleading and selective blindness to the weakness of our case.”
― Ian McEwan

“True love makes us feel safe and secure, not anxious or uncertain. Genuine love prioritizes our well-being, not just our convenience. When someone truly loves us, they're accountable for their actions and communicate openly. They make time for us, listen to us, and understand our needs. Exploitation has no place in real love; instead, there's mutual respect and care. If someone's love is genuine, they'll be present and committed, not just making excuses or playing games. In true love, actions speak louder than words, and trust is built, not broken.”
― Shaila Touchton

“When you destroy someone's life with lies and false accusations, God's justice is set in motion. Blaming and creating false stories will ultimately seal your fate. The weight of your deceit will crush you, as the truth comes to light. Every false promise and hope you dangled will turn to dust. Betrayal and backstabbing may seem to work temporarily, but God's judgment will prevail. Your actions will come back sevenfold, bringing suffering and regret. You can't escape the consequences of your evil deeds, for 'whatsoever a man soweth, that shall he also reap' (Galatians 6:7-8).”
― Shaila Touchton

“A relationship is like a bird:
If you set it free, it will thrive.
If you put it in a cage, it will struggle to survive.”
― Mouloud Benzadi