From Milton’s Paradise Lost – Eve’s dream of temptation:
happy though thou art, Happier thou mayst be, worthier canst not be: Taste this, and be henceforth among the gods
The dream is one of ambition, of dissatisfaction with mere happiness and a vision of being godlike. This is the philosophy upon which 21st century life is built.
“We exchange something very precious for money: our life energy. Do we want to spend our time and energy earning money and contributing to the market economy, or fostering creative pursuits, our relationships, and community, and contributing love?”
Twelve by Twelve: A One-Room Cabin Off the Grid and Beyond the American Dream by William Powers
“The change I am talking about appeals to me precisely because it need not wait upon “other people.” Anyone who wants to do so can begin it in himself and in his household as soon …
“My poetry is basically a poetry of praise. It’s an affirmation of the world, of the beauty of the world, and, at the same time, it’s a protest against cruelty. I cannot accept the cruelty of the world … “
— Czeslaw Milosz