In 1960 I published a book that attempted to direct attention to the possibility of a thermonuclear war, to ways of reducing the likelihood of such a war, and to methods for coping with the consequences should war occur despite our efforts to avoid it.
quote by Herman Kahn
Submitted by Lucian Velea
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Related quotes
Whenever you have a possibility of going in two ways, either for peace or for war, for peaceful methods of for military methods, in the present age there is a strong prejudice for the peaceful ones. War seldom ever leads to good results.
quote by George F. Kennan
Submitted by Veronica Serbanoiu
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Getting Unlonely
It should be easy
To get unlonely
But isn't.
Everything I do
To end my loneliness
Ends in failure
Or misadventure.
To keep on trying
With all my efforts not flying
Is easier said
Than done.
Maybe I should examine
My efforts and methods
And keep on trying
With different ways of vying
To connect with some buds.
poem by Lonely People Champion
Submitted by Poetry Lover
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Low Profile
One's low profile is best to keep,
When the doing of a task one needs to complete...
To ensure a doing of it gets done.
Since many prefer to make announcements,
To then become upset...
If their efforts attempted have not yet kept,
A date set that never happens.
Why?
A seeking to get attention mentioned,
Has become more the priority than the deed.
poem by Lawrence S. Pertillar
Submitted by Poetry Lover
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Who Knew? Did You? Oh...Of Course Not!
I can understand you wish not to see,
My efforts gleam and shine.
I can understand that,
Yes I do!
Because those efforts,
Getting attention I did not pursue...
Are not those of yours,
But mine.
I did not know that would become fact.
I've been too busy toiling with sweat,
To remove obstacles carried...
Too long weighted on my back.
No...
I didn't realize my conscious efforts,
Would one day get attention.
Or attract like that!
Who knew?
Did you?
Oh...
Of course not!
poem by Lawrence S. Pertillar
Submitted by Poetry Lover
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The lion's share of what I hear right now are people who, intentional or accidental, have avoided all jazz prior to 1960. And all the musicians who were successful in the '60s spent their entire lives, prior to 1960, listening to all the musicians these people avoid.
quote by Branford Marsalis
Submitted by Lucian Velea
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A Preference They Have Chosen
The absence of focus,
Of that which approaches others...
Leads them to paying consequences,
An undivided attention could avoid.
Many hurry themselves to conclusions,
To then exclaim...
No one is concerned or shows they do,
Regarding their wellbeing.
Yet the act of that shown to them,
Goes unnoticed...
When their minds are somewhere else.
And that is a preference they have chosen.
poem by Lawrence S. Pertillar
Submitted by Poetry Lover
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Coping with the demands of everyday life would be exceedingly trying if one could arrive at solutions to problems only by actually performing possible options and suffering the consequences.
quote by Albert Bandura
Submitted by Lucian Velea
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Since the Government Has Been Broken
My life,
Has never been a convenience.
It has been a strategic manuevering,
To avoid polarization.
There had been those who attempted,
To block my path with inventive obstacles.
Trying to convince my sense of self,
That my acceptance of who I am...
Was nothing more,
Than a self inflicted sham.
While others who believed I sought attention,
Did their best to ignore my intentions.
And used my skin color as some kind of bait.
To make me feel my fate,
Was in their hands to disintegrate.
Dysfunctions and my choice of interests,
Became for them a focus.
And today these criminal minded beings...
Stand on the edge of an abyss,
As if they are the choice of folks...
To brag about which destruction,
Everyone prefers the most!
My life,
Has never been a convenience.
It has been a strategic manuevering,
To avoid polarization.
Something the country we live in,
Seems not to be able to escape.
Since the government has been broken...
By self interest and debate.
poem by Lawrence S. Pertillar
Submitted by Poetry Lover
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Do not let the Obama administration fool you with all their cunning Alinsky methods. And if you don't know what that method is, I implore you to get the book 'Rules for Radicals,' by Saul Alinsky. Mr. Obama is very well trained in these methods.
quote by Jon Voight
Submitted by Lucian Velea
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On Browning’s Sordello
“SORDELLO'S story,” the Sphinx yawned and said,
“Who would has heard.” Is that enough? Who could,
'Twere not amiss to add, has understood:
Who understood perhaps has profited.
For my part I could tell a tale instead
Of one who, dreaming of no likelihood
Even that the “Book” was going to end for good,
Turned the last page, and lo the book was read.
poem by Dante Gabriel Rossetti
Submitted by Poetry Lover
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Mass communication, radio, and especially television, have attempted, not without success, to annihilate every possibility of solitude and reflection.
quote by Eugenio Montale
Submitted by Lucian Velea
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Liberty is the possibility of doubting, the possibility of making a mistake, the possibility of searching and experimenting, the possibility of saying No to any authority - literary, artistic, philosophic, religious, social and even political.
quote by Ignazio Silone
Submitted by Lucian Velea
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Liberty is the possibility of doubting, the possibility of making a mistake, the possibility of searching and experimenting, the possibility of saying No to any authority--literary, artistic, philosophic, religious, social and even political.
Ignazio Silone in The God That Failed (1950)
Submitted by Lucian Velea
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Men since the beginning of time have sought peace. Various methods through the ages have been attempted to devise an international process to prevent or settle disputes between nations. From the very start workable methods were found in so far as individual citizens were concerned, but the mechanics of an instrumentality of larger international scope have never been successful. Military alliances, balances of power, Leagues of Nations, all in turn failed, leaving the only path to be by way of the crucible of war. The utter destructiveness of war now blocks out this alternative. We have had our last chance. If we will not devise some greater and more equitable system, Armageddon will be at our door.
quote by Douglas MacArthur
Submitted by Veronica Serbanoiu
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Through meditation and by giving full attention to one thing at a time, we can learn to direct attention where we choose.
quote by Eknath Easwaran
Submitted by Lucian Velea
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I read a book
I read a book
Not to enhance my looks
I read a book
Maybe to avoid being a crook
I read a book
Not just to learn how to cook
I read a book
To ascertain how to defend my rights
Not just to acquire knowledge
Reading a book I pledge,
Is one of the roads to the light
I read a book
To understand how a kings territory
Is defended with pieces such as the rook
I read a book
So there will be no questions asked
When I count correctly what you took
I read a book
So that I play not ignorant
Now on life I’ve a different outlook
I read a book
So if I come up with all the right answers
I will know for sure it is not merely a fluke
Copyright 2006 - Sylvia Chidi
poem by Sylvia Chidi
Submitted by Poetry Lover
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There Is a Pleading
For generations,
Their expected harvest
Has decreased in value and worth.
The advice given was not acceptible.
Experts could not convince them...
Methods outdated
Were deflating any interest in their purpose.
But still they could not believe...
Beautiful flowers
Can not grow amongst
The nurturing of weeds.
And methods their grandparents used,
Had long been mothballed!
And still there is a pleading,
To have more meetings
To find ways 'they' accept...
To save crops 'they' say are precious!
poem by Lawrence S. Pertillar
Submitted by Poetry Lover
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You Are Nobody With Claims to Make
You are nobody,
With claims to make...
Unless you have sacrificed,
To lay down,
Some beneficial good deeds.
Even 'then' those who have done it,
Are not seeking attention...
To have themselves pleased.
Too often people like these,
Sit in proclaimed self grandiose eloquence...
Convinced their efforts,
Are overdue for praise.
In an expectation to appease their own needs.
Under-rated and overlooked,
By those ungrateful...
Some self serving,
Have gone out of their way!
You are nobody,
With claims to make...
Unless you have sacrificed,
To lay down,
Some beneficial good deeds.
Even 'then' those who have done it,
Are not seeking attention...
To have themselves pleased.
But those with desires to be 'somebody'...
Will prepare to make their proclamations,
Heard by using bullhorns.
If it means disturbing a tranquility!
To arouse a public with their embellished falsities.
'May I have everyone's undivided attention!
Thank you.
If not for my loyal and devoted disposition...
None of you would have known,
Who to see or where to go...
Enabling you to receive your coupons.
Useful to redeem for discounts...
On your purchased necessities.
To which I am sure they are enjoyed.
It was I who initiated that movement.
And deserve your welcomed applause.
If so given.
Only with deep felt humility...
Do I come to satisfy your curiosities.
And yes...
Although I am reluctant to admit this,
It was I who initiated that movement.
Carry on.
Carry on.
Carry on!
There is no need to overwhelm yourselves,
With bewilderment!
Afterall...
I am not running for any electable office,
Suddenly discovered open and available...
To have someone fearlessly represent you.
With understated humility.
IF that possibility in your future should occur!
I am not.
I repeat...
I would not be so incline to accept such an offer.
And even if I should be so approached,
By an assigned committee concluding their research...
Of my qualifications and background.
And...
As a coincidence,
I have brought along a few copies of my bio...
With testimonies and references attached!
For those who may express an interest when time allows,
To televise any suggested interview wished...
I will submit,
To be thusly scrutinized in such a manner.
But let me remind anyone within the sound of my voice...
That I...
Am only here,
For you!
YOU are my only concern! '
~Who is that? ~
*I have no idea!
Not a clue whatsoever.
But I will say this...
He is certainly going out of his way,
To be remembered.*
~I thought those coupons were printed,
For anyone to use in the local newspaper? ~
*They are.
At least once a week! '
poem by Lawrence S. Pertillar
Submitted by Poetry Lover
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Controlled By the Physicality of Things
Reprisals?
From them?
Forget it.
Most of them are illiterate.
The others are illegitimate.
Comprising an atmosphere of dysfunction!
And the people are controlled,
By the physicality of things.
I know you've gone out of your way,
To ignite 'some' response to your efforts.
Your passion is to be admired.
I suggest you not try to comprehend.
They consider any offense done to them,
As a compliment of attention that's given.
Why are you laughing?
What I say to you is not a joke!
You will be the one targeted to get upset.
The one provoked.
Trust me when I say this...
Don't show it!
That really sets them off.
They then will believe,
You think you are better than they are!
Why are you laughing?
Keep that humor.
You are going to need it!
If I were you,
I'd do more observing.
The others whose footsteps you follow,
Attempted the same thing.
Now they are addicted to prescribed medications.
A few have been spotted talking to themselves.
Some of them have been seen in full conversations.
While answering telephones they don't have,
In conducted conference calls.
Why are you laughing?
They are the ones who run this place.
poem by Lawrence S. Pertillar
Submitted by Poetry Lover
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There are many methods for predicting the future. For example, you can read horoscopes, tea leaves, tarot cards, or crystal balls. Collectively, these methods are known as 'nutty methods.' Or you can put well-researched facts into sophisticated computer models, more commonly referred to as a complete waste of time.
quote by Scott Adams
Submitted by Lucian Velea
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