Quotes

Quotes about Zen


Following his brief inaugural address to the Congress, President George Washington and his party walked over to St. Paul's Church for divine services. His prayer that afternoon was: 'Almighty God, we make our earnest prayer that Thou wilt incline the hearts of the citizens to cultivate a spirit of subordination and obedience to government; to entertain a brotherly affection and love for one another and for their fellow-citizens of the United States at large.'

George Washington

Bad officials are elected by good citizens who do not vote.

Andrew Lack

First in war, first in peace, first in the hearts of his fellow citizens.

Gen. Henry Lee

His work well done, the leader stepped aside Spurning a crown with more than kingly pride. Content to wear the higher crown of worth, While time endures, "First citizen of earth."

James Jeffrey Roche

When now, unsparing as the scourge of war, Blasts follow blasts and groves dismantled roar; Around their home the storm-pinched cattle lows, No nourishment in frozen pasture grows; Yet frozen pastures every morn resound With fair abundance thund'ring to the ground.

Robert Bloomfield

His breath like silver arrows pierced the air, The naked earth crouched shuddering at his feet, His finger on all flowing waters sweet Forbidding lay--motion nor sound was there:-- Nature was frozen dead,--and still and slow, A winding sheet fell o'er her body fair, Flaky and soft, from his wide wings of snow.

Frances Anne "Fanny" Kemble (Mrs. Butler)

With little wit and ease to suit them, They whirl in narrow circling trails, Like kittens playing with their tails. [Ger., Mit wenig Witz und viel Behagen Dreht jeder sich im engen Zirkeltanz Wie junge Katzen mit dem Schwanz.]

Johann Wolfgang von Goethe

Some are soon bagg'd but some reject three dozen. 'Tis fine to see them scattering refusals And wild dismay, o'er every angry cousin (Friends of the party) who begin accusals, Such as--"Unless Miss (Blank) meant to have chosen Poor Frederick, why did she accord perusals To his billets? Why waltz with him? Why, I pray, Look yes least night, and yet say No to-day?"

Lord Byron (George Gordon Noel Byron)

The tighter you squeeze, the less you have. The best leaders of all, the people know not they exist. They turn to each other and say We did it ourselves. The mind that does not understand is the Buddha. There is no other. •Ma-Tsu You cannot describe it or draw it. You cannot praise it enough or perceive it. No place can be found in which to put the Original Face; it will not disappear even when the universe is destroyed. •Mumon Learning Zen is a phenomenon of gold and dung. Before you understand it, it's like gold; after you understand it, it's like dung. •Zen Saying No thought, no reflection, no analysis, no cultivation, no intention; let it settle itself. •Tilopa When you pass through, no one can pin you down, no one can call you back. •Ying-An There are no mundane things outside of Buddhism, and there is no Buddhism outside of mundane things. •Yuan-Wu The only Zen you find on the tops of mountains is the Zen you bring up there. •Robert M. Pirsig Man stands in his own shadow and wonders why it's dark. •Zen Proverb Sit quietly, doing nothing, spring comes, and the grass grows by itself.

Ma-Tsu

Learning Zen is a phenomenon of gold and dung. Before you understand it, it's like gold; after you understand it, it's like dung.

Zen Saying

ZENITH, n. The point in the heavens directly overhead to a man standing or a growing cabbage. A man in bed or a cabbage in the pot is not considered as having a zenith, though Horizontalists hold that the posture of the body was immaterial.

Ambrose Bierce

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