
Even in a time of elephantine vanity and greed, one never has to look far to see the campfires of gentle people.
quote by Garrison Keillor

Submitted by Lucian Velea
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Related quotes

When the country goes temporarily to the dogs, cats must learn to be circumspect, walk on fences, sleep in trees, and have faith that all this woofing is not the last word. What is the last word, then?Gentleness is everywhere in daily life, a sign that faith rules through ordinary things: through cooking and small talk, through storytelling, making love, fishing, tending animals and sweet corn and flowers, through sports, music, and books, raising kids — all the places where the gravy soaks in and grace shines through. Even in a time of elephantine vanity and greed, one never has to look far to see the campfires of gentle people.
quote by Garrison Keillor

Submitted by Veronica Serbanoiu
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Deceptive Vanity
I am sure nothing that they did,
Could be said was done in vain.
Although,
It can be said...
The deceptive vanity of others,
Who placed them in that position...
With interests unknown,
Are the ones to direct your venom.
If their ever changing masquerades,
Could identify their greed...
As having a lack of sensitivity.
And that's going to be very difficult to prove.
Since greed is what has been valued.
poem by Lawrence S. Pertillar

Submitted by Poetry Lover
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My Petty Greed
People with petty greed ~ how much do they get
Not all people have big-sized greeds
We very ordinary
bunch of people with petty greed
Don't even have courage to feel big-sized greed
My petty greed has often been met
by petty donors
Twice or so I was saved
by the God on my shelf
After safe escape I gave a smirk
Indulged a bit in intellectual conceit Ah
Escaped narrowly honour is saved
Yet my petty greed was not quenched
Even now I make rounds to petty donors
Ah they too are small-time people
They too live within limits
How can they give their all
Even if they give do I have the guts
to pull all up to the roots.
Can people with petty greed geta full amount
Very ordinary person I
pulled by petty greed
Ever go round and round
Come back home take bath daily
Light the lamp on my shelf
God keep saving me
Very ordinary person, me
haven't even got the courage
to feel big-sized greed.
___ ___________
amar chinchke lov
tr: rajlukshmee debee
poem by Choudhuri Sukumar

Submitted by Poetry Lover
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The basis of tragedy is man's helplessness against disease, war and death; the basis of comedy is man's helplessness against vanity (the vanity of love, greed, lust, power).
quote by Dawn Powell

Submitted by Lucian Velea
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The Complaints Return Upon Themselves
THE COMPLAINTS RETURN UPON THEMSELVES
The complaints return upon themselves
There is only old age under the sun.
Vanity of vanity of vanities
I am the greatest vanity of all.
Even the morning light
That usually wakes my soul
Cannot break the dim foreboding
Of Hell on the horizon.
I will die
I will go down
I know.
But my People
This Land
Will You Save us?
poem by Shalom Freedman

Submitted by Poetry Lover
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Greed
How much do you really want?
If you had it would it really solve your problems?
Do you realise the pain it causes
Struggling for something you may never get
How much would you sacrifice if I told you I could change your life?
You don't have to take on my advice
Don't do something that you might regret
How much do you really need?
Is it justified or is it greed?
If you satisfy your vanity
If you get to where you think you wanna go
How much is it gonna take?
Will you see it through or will you break?
Cos in the end what will you have to show?
Life can be lonely
When all you have are your possessions
Greed becomes your main obsession
Just take it slowly
If what you want ain't what you need
You've become a victim of your greed
How much do you really feel?
Can you recognise when something's real?
Do you live your life by fake ideals?
Do you think that one day you will get the chance?
What happens if you don't achieve
Will it be enough if you believe
You can just rely on destiny
Don't you know your fate is in your hands
How much is enough for you?
When you reach the top what will you do?
Will you look around for something new?
Without the destination will you carry on?
Will you try day after day
Pretend you don't hear what they say?
What would you do if all your pride was gone?
Life can be lonely
When all you have are your possessions
Greed becomes your main obsession
Just take it slowly
If what you want ain't what you need
You've become a victim of your greed
Cos material possessions ain't the world
(Ain't the world)
Nobody ever bought you happiness with diamonds or pearls
(Diamonds or pearls)
You've gotta look at this for what they really are
(What they really are)
Or you'll find yourself wanting more
Going way too far
Life can be lonely
When all you have are your possessions
Greed becomes your main obsession
Just take it slowly
If what you want ain't what you need
You've become a victim of your greed
Life can be lonely
Just take it slowly
If what you want ain't what you need
You've become a victim of your greed
Life can be lonely
When all you have are your possessions
Greed becomes your main obsession
Just take it slowly
If what you want ain't what you need
You've become a victim of your greed
Life can be lonely
Just take it slowly...
song performed by by Liberty X from Thinking It Over

Submitted by Lucian Velea
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Vicious Greed
this concrete jungle, a playground of sorts
this starved mind jumping with engaging thoughts
so many rules that you don't have to follow
so many people lost in the chaos, that blindly follow
double standards and freedoms stolen
an institutionalized living, growing swollen
generated illness and dangerous corporations
manipulated people and divided nations
greed fueled anger and vanity fulled hate
children starving with poisoned plates
so sort this world so badly sorrowed
before living endangered on time we've borrowed
don't worry about tomorrow the day is not here
the need of fragile host should simply be clear
but for us to achieve a perfect enlightenment
everyone must work for an equal entitlement
to save the planet would be to fix our race
just take a look at a crowded public place
the human people should be one of kindness
not driven by stupidity, everyone mindless
greed is uncontrollable while man is incoherently childish and vicious
poem by Lance Mead

Submitted by Poetry Lover
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Vanity Kills
Have you heard the latest? (you love you)
Have you seen who just walked in (vain vain vain vain)
(uh huh, you love you) right over there
Shes so vain vain vain vain
Vain vain vain vain
Im glad youve found someone who loves you
But sad to say that someone is you
And now perhaps youll both be happy
Guess that makes two just you and you
Someone who cares so much about you
But does that someone have to be you
Bom bom bom bom bom bom bom bom yeah
Bom bom bom bom bom bom bom bom yeah
Vanity kills, it dont pay bills
Vanity kills, you love you
Vanity kills, it dont pay bills
Vanity kills, it kills
So glad I found you glancing in the mirror
Gazing deeply at loves patron saint
Admire the frame, survey the scenery
Or are you just inspecting the paint
Temptations strong modestys so weak
High on yourself humble you aint
Bom bom bom bom bom bom bom bom yeah
Bom bom bom bom bom bom bom bom yeah
Vanity kills, it dont pay bills
Vanity kills, you love you
Vanity kills, it dont pay bills
Vanity kills, you love you
Vanity kills, it dont pay bills (no way)
Vanity kills, you love you
Vanity kills, it dont pay bills
Vanity kills, it kills
So vain, vain vain vain
You love you (yeah)
Give it, give it us, give it us
So vain, so vain, so vain
Vanity kills, it dont pay bills
Vanity kills, you love you
Vanity kills, it dont pay bills
Vanity kills, you love you
Vanity kills, it dont pay bills
Vanity kills, you love you
Vanity kills, if the blast dont get you
Then the fallout will
You love you
song performed by by Abc

Submitted by Lucian Velea
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Wallow in the Greed
If you could know how much I earn,
I'm sure to see you blush!
To earn the stipend that I do
Will mean therefore, I look at you
From high above in my success
And say to you, 'Poor thing, God bless.'
The greedy bastard that I am –
I love to drown in bling!
Unlike you – so bloody poor, and
Picking coins up off the floor!
But sorry mate, I'm not to blame –
The fact your bank account is lame!
Come and see my flashy car,
Awash inside with leather –
I saw the battered wreck you drive,
Spewing out its oily smog!
Your banger, friend, is such a dog –
Clanking out its dialogue.
I shall die in gleaming wealth,
Floating out in gentle stealth –
Having bought an excellent health.
As for you, my hard-up mate,
You'll fade away a slave to fate,
Surviving on the welfare state.
Copyright Mark R Slaughter 2009
Greed, greed, greed, greed
Greed, greed, feed the greed.
poem by Mark R Slaughter

Submitted by Poetry Lover
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Setting Stages
There is only one explanation,
That reveals the setting stages of today's insanity.
Vanity, greed and the feeding fed of feelings,
To achieve superiority.
And a right to defend what one pleases,
To describe as an entitlement.
There is no escaping from minds intensed,
With an intent to be seen better than others.
No matter who suffers unjust and undeserving atrocities.
And deluded with beliefs humanity is dispensable,
To anyone capable of possessing 'bling'.
As if obsessed to play the role of God.
There is only one explanation,
That reveals the setting stages of today's insanity.
Vanity, greed and the feeding fed of feelings,
To achieve superiority.
And a right to defend what one pleases,
To describe as an entitlement.
poem by Lawrence S. Pertillar

Submitted by Poetry Lover
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Have pride and vanity
Service and sacrifice can be the base
For your pride and not your caste or creed.
Have pride that you have helped someone rise
And not that you have conquered someone.
Pride is that one feels about oneself high.
Show vanity for your simplicity;
Show not vanity for your affluence.
Show vanity for your affinity;
Show not vanity for your elegance.
Vanity is that one shows oneself high.
11.07.208
poem by Rm. Shanmugam Chettiar

Submitted by Poetry Lover
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Oh Vanity
Oh vanity oh vanity
You only like to read
About beauty
Little about pain
Or hateful disdain
Am I so vain
Am I so shallow
To refuse a
Dark place to go
I'll lend a hand
To those in need
I'll give my love
While looking up
Is this not positivity
Not vanity
poem by Harriet James

Submitted by Poetry Lover
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The Night Will Soon Be Lost
THE NIGHT WILL SOON BE LOST
The night will soon be lost
Another night of so many already gone
Who knows how many left?
I have seen far more nights
Than I will ever see again
Mostly it’s done
I have some nights left
But not so many
That I should waste it wholly
On frivolity
I’ll try now
To write a poem down
So this night
Will not have been wholly in vain
But who knows
Vanity of vanity of vanity
Perhaps for all nights and all poems- vanity
I am writing this poem down nonetheless
It flows as if it knows it has real life within it
I don’t know now how long this night will last
Or how many nights I have left
I have written a poem
Will G-d save it as if it were not vanity to vanity?
I do not know.
poem by Shalom Freedman

Submitted by Poetry Lover
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Greed is Good
“Greed is good! ” they say
Some say “Greed is great! ”
Will they say that when the masses
Are bashing down their gate?
Will they still pray to their god ‘Greed’
When they find that it’s too late?
All the starving children
They don’t think greed is good
They would rather have each day
A sufficiency of food
All the freezing homeless
How great is greed to those?
A bit of tin to shelter in
Would please them (I suppose)
What good is greed to anyone
When it is served with hate?
I’d rather have a shred of humanity
Sitting on my plate
poem by Neil Milliner

Submitted by Poetry Lover
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The Seven Sins again
>
> Do we as a people really know or care
> Concerning the seven sins?
>
> Those sins are apart of our every day life.
> Those sins are apart of our strife.
> I've heard the first was vanity or pride
>
> Now that is an hell of a ride...
> Be it physical or spiritual, how would
> One keep his/her feet on the ground?
>
> Sanity what a big role...
> Does God have pride? Then I am lost.
> What mean the word boss?
>
> Those seven sins has really cost,
> Things to be...
> Unfree and that will include me.
Was it pride that set Eve free
And made Adam give up his freedom of will?
Still...
I must appeal...
I am not ill...
But the seven is a thrill...for real,
What envy you? and who...why?
And do you cry?
The have and the have nots...
Gluttony would that be?
Are all seven just pure envy?
Lust not and bust...
Lust not and rust...
The wrath of lust not is have not,
Either way you go...
Whatever door...rich or poor,
Kindness and anger in the long run meet,
Good or bad we sit and eat.
Sometimes eating out of greed...
God speed...
Is lust greed or pride?
Or just sloth...denied?
A natural, physical and spiritual guide.
'Man she looks good'
Gluttony in the hood.
'He is so fine'...or just signs of the time,
Lust is not mine.
poem by whisperkwane Lamb

Submitted by Poetry Lover
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Of Greed And Corruption
Of greed and corruption we are all too aware
It's happening in your suburb and the big World out there
Many in high places into corporate crime
And more honorable than them in jail serving time
On the scales of justice one must cast a doubt
Big time corporate crims seldom ever caught out
Money speaks every language some are known to say
In the twenty first century it does seem that way
Of greed and corruption the whispers abound
Amongst influential people criminals to be found
To buy their way out of trouble they seldom do fail
The power of their money can keep them from jail
And of greed and corruption we hear every day
Whoever did tell us that crime does not pay?
poem by Francis Duggan

Submitted by Poetry Lover
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Attributes
Tears of sorrow and tears of joy,
Highly recommended to overcome your broken heart;
However, some people put the best outside while,
Others put the best inside! !
Vanity upon vanity!
And like the muse of a Virgin Park and a Virgin River;
But to conduct s surveillance on my mind is like,
Knowing the number of the bones and sinews in me.
He's got my face and my light!
She's got my blues and my light,
You've got me muse and my light,
They've got my work and my light;
But, don't let the steps you make with your sole hurt your soul.
First time with the story and second time around with my attributes!
But, the desire of my love is replayed again and again;
And this very stone shall be the head of this place.
poem by Edward Kofi Louis

Submitted by Poetry Lover
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No More Time
========
Look around this place and see just what is happening
Tomorrow we will suffer for the way that we have been
Its our own lives we're shortening
While everyone pretends that there is nothing to explain
Poisons & neglected relics out live us & always will be
Justified by what we gain
No more time
Mans greed corrupt & unconcerned
No more time look around you will we ever learn
As bought time ticks away we must think carefully and choose
Forget about our future or learn to live with limitations
Knowing what we've got to lose
So many things to work for many more to work against
Everything disposable resources unreplacable
All profits at our world expense
No more time
Mans greed corrupt & unconcerned
No more time look around you will we ever learn
Mass produced solutions idealistic luxury
Facts & figures always quited calculated to mislead us
Always taken literally
People making so much money wanting only more
Causing so much misery taking from a place
That no one bothers to restore
No more time
Mans greed corrupt & unconcerned
No more time will we ever learn
song performed by by Xentrix

Submitted by Lucian Velea
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No More Time
========
Look around this place and see just what is happening
Tomorrow we will suffer for the way that we have been
Its our own lives we're shortening
While everyone pretends that there is nothing to explain
Poisons & neglected relics out live us & always will be
Justified by what we gain
No more time
Mans greed corrupt & unconcerned
No more time look around you will we ever learn
As bought time ticks away we must think carefully and choose
Forget about our future or learn to live with limitations
Knowing what we've got to lose
So many things to work for many more to work against
Everything disposable resources unreplacable
All profits at our world expense
No more time
Mans greed corrupt & unconcerned
No more time look around you will we ever learn
Mass produced solutions idealistic luxury
Facts & figures always quited calculated to mislead us
Always taken literally
People making so much money wanting only more
Causing so much misery taking from a place
That no one bothers to restore
No more time
Mans greed corrupt & unconcerned
No more time will we ever learn
song performed by by Xentrix

Submitted by Lucian Velea
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If I Could Only Bear My Own Silence
IF I COULD ONLY BEAR MY OWN SILENCE
If I could only bear my own silence
If I could only be quiet and still
If I could only let the world say itself
Without my commentary,
If I could only be wise enough
To know all my words
‘Vanity of vanity of vanity.
’
Oh again and again and again
As now
I must say that I am -
But in this world of billions now
And billions more before
And billions more after
Why me?
Why my name?
‘Vanity of vanities’
All aloud again.
poem by Shalom Freedman

Submitted by Poetry Lover
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