Robert

“It is not our place to render a verdict on the state of another person's soul, and we will be far more effective (and better Christians) when we give people the benefit of the doubt. To simply assume that someone with doubts is guilty of some grave moral transgression or to cause that person to feel in any way unfaithful or unworthy merely because of his questions displays a lack of charity.”
― Patrick Q. Mason, Planted: Belief and Belonging in an Age of Doubt

“Mormonism is superb at providing not only the blueprint but also the scaffolding whereby individuals, families, and communities can construct houses of exemplary, faithful living by building up on the rock of Christ and his revelation to the modern church. Simply put, Mormonism produces good and useful people—people who are kind, generous, devoted, talented, compassionate, courteous, mindful, and accomplished.”
― Patrick Q. Mason, Planted: Belief and Belonging in an Age of Doubt

“Ah, comrade, thought the Count. Now, there was a word for the ages... When the Count was a boy in St. Petersburg, one rarely bumped into it. It was always prowling at the back of a mill or under the table in a tavern, occasionally leaving its paw marks on the freshly printed pamphlets that were drying on a basement floor. Now, thirty years later, it was the most commonly heard word in the Russian language.
A wonder of semantic efficiency, comrade could be used as a greeting, or a word of parting. As a congratulations, or a caution. As a call to action, or a remonstrance. Or it could simply be the means of securing someone’s attention in the crowded lobby of a grand hotel. And thanks to the word’s versatility, the Russian people had finally been able to dispense with tired formalities, antiquated titles, bothersome idioms—even names! Where else in all of Europe could one shout a single word to hail any of one’s countrymen be they male or female, young or old, friend or
foe?”
― Amor Towles, A Gentleman in Moscow

“Medicine has become the art of managing extreme complexity.”
― Atul Gawande, The Checklist Manifesto - Atul Gawande: How to Get Things Right