quotations and passages on refllection

Follow effective action with
quiet reflection. From the
quiet reflection will come
even more effective action.

Peter F. Drucker (also
attributed to James Levin)

Most true happiness comes from one's inner life, from the
disposition of the mind and soul. Admittedly, a good inner life
is difficult to achieve, especially in these trying times. It
takes reflection and contemplation and self-discipline.

William L. Shirer

Only by much searching and mining are gold and diamonds
obtained, and one can find every truth connected with one's
being if that person will dig deep into the mine of his or her soul.

James Allen

Reflection is in many ways a lost art. It is an eyepiece to a world hidden
away, the world within ourselves which is alive with truths and beauties
and darkness we have never glimpsed. It seems sad that we slice our
time too thin for dreaming long dreams and thinking long thoughts.
We've grown uncomfortable with that sort of thing. For a long time
I had been uneasy left alone. I would snap on the television or grab
a book or make brownies. Anything. I suppose we are restless all
alone with ourselves, all alone in a room with a stranger. What if we
face ourselves and find we don't like the person we meet? I didn't
even want to spend much time in prayer because God might
confront me and I'd have to look at myself.

Sue Monk Kidd

The stories of past courage. . . can offer hope, they can
provide inspiration. But they cannot supply courage itself.
For this each person must look into his or her own soul.

John F. Kennedy

Only when the clamor of the outside world is silenced will you
be able to hear the deeper vibration. Listen carefully.

Sarah Ban Breathnach

Seeing within changes one's outer vision.

Joseph Chilton Pearce

The longest journey of any person is the journey inward.

Dag Hammerskjold

By three methods we may learn wisdom:
First, by reflection, which is noblest;
Second, by imitation, which is
easiest; and third by experience,
which is the bitterest.

Confucius

The real person smiles in trouble,
gathers strength from distress,
and grows brave by reflection.

Thomas Paine

There is one art of which man should be master,--the art of reflection.

Samuel Taylor Coleridge

The unexamined life is not worth living.

Socrates

A string of excited, fugitive, miscellaneous pleasures is not happiness;
happiness resides in imaginative reflection and judgment, when the
picture of one's life, or of human life, as it truly has been or is,
satisfies the will, and is gladly accepted.

George Santayana

Reflection must be reserved for solitary hours; whenever she was alone,
she gave way to it as the greatest relief; and not a day went by without a solitary
walk, in which she might indulge in all the delight of unpleasant recollections.

Jane Austen

Glowing moments of peaceful reflection
kindle the growth of our minds and spirits.

unattributed

I sincerely believe that there is a time in life for drifting. There is a time
for sitting back and getting in touch with yourself. Some of our most
interesting illuminations and ideas will come when we take time
to reflect, time to kick back and cruise awhile.

Rudolfo Anaya

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They who will not reflect are ruined people.

Asian Proverb