(Originally posted on March 30, 2012)
“To be hopeful in bad times is not just foolishly romantic. It is based on the fact that human history is a history not only of cruelty, but also of compassion, sacrifice, courage, kindness.
“What we choose to emphasize in this complex history will determine our lives. If we see only the worst, it destroys our capacity to do something. If we remember those times and places — and there are so many — where people have behaved magnificently, this gives us the energy to act, and at least the possibility of sending this spinning top of a world in a different direction.
“And if we do act, in however small a way, we don’t have to wait for some grand utopian future. The future is an infinite succession of presents, and to live now as we think human beings should live, in defiance of all that is bad around us, is itself a marvelous victory.”
– Howard Zinn
The above came from Wisdom Quotes. It encapsulates much of what I believe and I wanted to share it with you.
Russ
Russ Towne's A Grateful Man 
What a timely post Russ. With the frenzy that is sweeping across the world in recent days, it is so easy to become discouraged, disgusted and disillusioned. But through such quaking tragedies, must mankind learn and mature. Thank you for these awesome words. May we imprint them in our hearts and live magnificently through these days. Sharon
Thank you, Sharon. I believe that you wonderfully model living magnificently with a big heart through these days. Thank you for showing the world how to do it!
Russ
It’s beautiful. Thank you for sharing it. 🙂
My pleasure, Diana! I’m glad you liked it.
Russ
What a grand way of looking at it: “The future is an infinite succession of presents”… Yes, Russ, I believe it, too. What a present this quote is to us. Thank you!
Thank you for your comment, Jan!
Russ