mark…

“The custom of leaving coins with the deceased traced its history to the Roman Empire when coins were placed into the mouths of fallen soldiers to pay for passage and protection across the River Styx. In naval history, sailors placed coins under the masts of sailing ships to pay the “ferryman” for safe passage into the afterlife.”
― Chad Robichaux, Silent Horizons

“remember the words of John the Apostle. He said, ‘If any man loves the world, the love of God the Father is not in him.”
― Stephen King, Never Flinch

“We would, over generations, get used to a small pain or injustice until it became normal enough to ignore. I imagine this must be why we had come to accept certain insults, like our food being refused, that probably felt like a crime to whoever first noticed it. Even the threat of another firman was something Yazidis had gotten used to, although that adjustment was more like a contortion. It hurt.”
― Nadia Murad, The Last Girl: My Story of Captivity, and My Fight Against the Islamic State

“Why do you think so many people recommended we talk to you?” “That’s a fair question,” Felix replied. “Before I answer, I want to ask: You mentioned you’re a single mom, and I imagine there’s a lot to juggling motherhood and a career. This might seem unusual, but I’m wondering: What would you tell someone who’s getting a divorce?” The woman went silent for a beat. “I guess I’ll play along,” she said. “I have lots of advice. When I separated from my husband—” Felix gently interrupted. “I don’t really need an answer,” he said. “But I want to point out that, in a room filled with professional colleagues, and after less than an hour of conversation, you’re willing to talk about one of the most intimate parts of your life.””

— Supercommunicators: How to Unlock the Secret Language of Connection by Charles Duhigg”
― Charles Duhigg