Friday Filosophy v.11.26.2021

Friday Filosophy v.11.26.2021

Ludwig Philipp Albert Schweitzer; 14 January 1875 – 4 September 1965) was an Alsatian polymath. He was a theologian, organist, musicologist, writer, humanitarian, philosopher, and physician. A Lutheran, Schweitzer challenged both the secular view of Jesus as depicted by the historical-critical method current at this time, as well as the traditional Christian view. He received the 1952 Nobel Peace Prize for his philosophy of “Reverence for Life“, becoming the eighth Frenchman to be awarded that prize. His philosophy was expressed in many ways, but most famously in founding and sustaining the Albert Schweitzer Hospital in Lambaréné, which up to 1958 was situated in French Equatorial Africa, and after this in Gabon. Our Friday Filosophy v.11.26.2021 shares thoughts and ideas from this extraordinary man.

I was influenced by Dr. Schweitzer in my teens when I read his book titled “My Childhood and Youth.” He devoted his life to the well-being of the people in Africa. A wonderful example for anyone and everyone.    

  • Happiness is the key to success. If you love what you are doing, you will be successful.
  • An optimist is a person who sees a green light everywhere, while a pessimist sees only the red stoplight… the truly wise person is colorblind.
  • Think occasionally of the suffering of which you spare yourself the sight.
  • In everyone’s life, at some time, our inner fire goes out. It is then burst into flame by an encounter with another human being. We should all be thankful for those people who rekindle the inner spirit.
  • I don’t know what your destiny will be, but one thing I know: the only ones among you who will be really happy are those who will have sought and found how to serve.
  • Do something wonderful, people may imitate it.
  • Ethics is the activity of man directed to secure the inner perfection of his own personality.
  • Happiness is nothing more than good health and a bad memory.
  • The true worth of a man is not to be found in man himself, but in the colors and textures that come alive in others.
  • A man can do only what he can do. But if he does that each day he can sleep at night and do it again the next day.
  • Man is a clever animal who behaves like an imbecile. 
  • Everything deep is also simple and can be reproduced simply as long as its reference to the whole truth is maintained. But what matters is not what is witty but what is true. 
  • Wherever a man turns he can find someone who needs him. 
  • Seek always to do some good, somewhere. Every man has to seek in his own way to realize his true worth. You must give some time to your fellow man. For remember, you don’t live in a world all your own. Your brothers are here too. 
  • The willow which bends to the tempest, often escapes better than the oak which resists it; and so in great calamities, it sometimes happens that light and frivolous spirits recover their elasticity and presence of mind sooner than those of a loftier character.
  • Success is not the key to happiness. 
  • The African is my brother but he is my younger brother by several centuries. 
  • My life is my argument.

The Time is Now.

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