We are born knowing nothing and with much striving we learn but a little; yet all the while we are bound by laws that hearken to no plea of ignorance, and measure out their rewards and punishments with calm indifference.
quote by Paul Elmer More

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Related quotes
There are in nature neither rewards nor punishments, there are consequences.
quote by Robert G. Ingersoll

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Rewards and punishments are the lowest form of education.
quote by Chuang Tzu

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There are no rewards or punishments - only consequences.
quote by William Ralph Inge

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Writing has laws of perspective, of light and shade just as painting does, or music. If you are born knowing them, fine. If not, learn them. Then rearrange the rules to suit yourself.
quote by Truman Capote

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In nature there are neither rewards nor punishments; there are consequences.
quote by Robert Green Ingersoll

Submitted by Lucian Velea
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Mortal Man Calls Himself Immortal!
There are some risks in all things that we do,
Be they evil/ righteous; earthly/ divine;
Rewards come; punishments threaten your way;
Ecstasy in some manner has some fine!
Whatever man decides has its own faults;
Whatever God denies has its blessings;
Some things man does, Providence halts;
Imperfect are the things done by earthlings!
Whatever Nature does is best by far;
Whatever man may plan have their hazards;
And yet, we don’t know why God made each star?
And in the same way, why are born the Bards?
Although God made man the best evolved mortal,
Alas! Man still calls himself immortal!
8-20-2003
poem by John Celes

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We are dissipating superstition, ignorance and fear. We are forging courage, will and knowledge. Every striving toward enlightenment is welcome. Every prejudice, caused by ignorance, is exposed.
quote by Nicholas Roerich

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The bizarre world of cards is a world of pure power politics where rewards and punishments are meted out immediately.
quote by Ely Culbertson

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Admitting weakness seems to be such a severe psychic threat for Bush that when he makes a mistake it's safer just to reinforce it. The strategy creates a perverse system of rewards and punishments.
quote by Tina Brown

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By The Fire... (Part Four)
it is not ignorance we should fear,
but our addiction to ignorance,
fueled by indifference and self centeredness...
the door is not locked, unless we lock it.
the chains are not real, until we don them,
and parade around like they're jewelry!
poem by Eric Cockrell

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Born To Be Free! ! !
Born to be free! ! !
But, the obstacles of this world have engulfed themselves all around me.
Born to be free! ! !
But hatred had been the main cause being practised by mankind than love.
Born to be free! ! !
But, mankind had introduced what is called racism all around us.
Born to be free! ! !
But, mankind is not ready to accept the positive laws of the Creator.
Born to be free! ! !
But, there are wars everywhere on this earth.
Born to be free! ! !
But, you've hated me already in your heart without any reason.
Born to be free! ! !
But, earth's own problems are more than i can bare.
Born to be free! ! !
But, what i know is not what the Babylon System is teaching me.
Born to be free! ! !
But, the painter of tomorrow has no brush in his or her hand today.
Born to be free! ! !
But, when will the world learn to live in peace?
poem by Edward Kofi Louis

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Our time is now
Days continue to pass, still no future in sight
took a left at the fork, i should have turned right
oh how i wish i could see, the beginning to the end of time
and defy the laws of our human mind
instead stuck i stay, forced to live day by day
but is it really such a curse? striving to make each day better than the worst, realizing were not promised tomorrow, this is a thought ment to borrow
what if the future i saw, was bitter and dead
a thought as this would confuse the head
maybe find a feeling of inevitability, and refuse every responsibility
then lie down and wait, to let this impending future become your fate
perhaps your future was the other way around
walking on the sky instead of the ground
would you try as hard to find your light, or dive from a plane that never took flight, because you were blinded by your future shinning so bright
living day by day is a curse? i believe the opposite, reverse
so before from reality you are torn, in seeking the future i must worn
the only rewards are sickle and thorn,
for our time is now, thats why we were born.
'Death is the future for us all, we walk a lifetime, untill we fall' E.A.F
poem by Ethan A. Francis

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It Is Fair Enough
when i write something about what i do not know
and you read and feel that i am writing about what i do not know
and we become two persons
knowing fully well that we are on some things that we do not really know
wanting to know and trying to know
i think it is fair enough
we begin always from the acceptance of our ignorance
indeed a good beginning
and from there we make the little steps toward this knowing
of what we are, who we are and where we are going
because in truth, one must reserve a space, open the window
to let the wind come and fill the spaces of this void this ignorance
poem by Antonio Liao

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How Do You Measure Up?
If you measure yourself by ambition,
There will always be someone more ambitious than you.
If you measure yourself by money,
There is always someone wealthier than you.
If you measure yourself by power,
There is always someone more powerful than you.
If you measure yourself with material things,
There is always someone with more stuff than you.
If you measure yourself by where you are in life,
There is always someone farther down the path than you.
If you measure yourself by appearance,
There is always someone that appears than you.
If you measure yourself by God,
Then we are all the same.
We are all wonderfully and beautifully made.
God is love.
And love has no end.
So in God's heart,
You will always measure up!
poem by Ryan Lee Morris

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I Am Calm In The Pain
I AM CALM IN THE PAIN
I am calm in the pain,
And calm in the rejection,
And calm through the insult,
And calm through the anger,
And calm calm calm,
Though I feel so deeply
How I have failed
I am calm
Very calm
So calm
Until suddenly
In the middle of the morning prayer
I begin to cry to God
Cry with a terrible crying
And then when the prayer done
Calm calm calm calm calm.
poem by Shalom Freedman

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Sonnet- Success Will Come
Don't lose your heart if failures come with ease;
Build up courage and try again-succeed;
Let failures not disturb your mental peace;
Delayed if mirth is sure to well exceed.
Rewards may come to some in ways unknown;
Rewards may miss the truly talented;
Rewards may make a person sometimes clown;
All flowers aren't born to be well-scented.
Though failures come, our duty we must do;
Let Nature take its time and course it must;
Results could be very untoward too;
Our human eyes cannot avoid road-dust.
The patient man will soon succeed in life;
But one knows not, how long can last one's strife.
poem by John Celes

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Honyenuga
If you want to think, then learn how to be at peace;
If you want ot be at peace, then learn how to be merciful;
If you want to be merciful, then learn the laws of life!
For life is full of the laws of the living.
Honyenuga my friend, let us be one like the 'Adomi Bridge';
And let your love shine to me like the Morning Star.
poem by Edward Kofi Louis

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Against Which To Measure
One can’t know happiness
Unless one knows about sadness
One can’t know about pleasure
Without knowing of pain
You have to have something
Against which to measure
Like the dryness of dust measured
Against cool rivulets of rain
Without the presence of evil
Would we know what is good
To not know of cruelty
Would we know what we should
Knowing only of kindness
Of naught but good things
Enjoy bees sweet honey…
Yet not know of bee’s stings
Would you know what you had
Be it travails or treasure
No…not without experience …
Against which to measure
poem by David Whalen

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Cog in the machine
I'm a cog in the machine
A machine fuelled
By indifference and greed
Going nowhere
But moving the whole
I turn as I'm told
I'm young but already old
I don't question-I do
Must conform
Be a part of this block
That only starts
And never stops
Without going forward
Serving my sentence:
Life inside a clock
Time is running out…
Tic-Toc
Tic-Toc
I'm a cog in the machine
Spinning on my axis
Riveted on the axle
Of a psychotic vision
I fit the mould
My life already sold
Part of the mechanical dream
That isn't my own
Surrounded but alone
In the midst of a mindless flock
No sentience
In a world
Without conscience
Time is running out…
Tic-Toc
Tic-Toc
I'm a cog in the machine
Spinning on my axis
Going nowhere
But moving the whole
Destined to be worn
Since the day I was born
Knowing that what I am
Isn't greater than the whole
Where Proximity
Has no intimacy
Resigned to rest
When I'll be replaced
Knowing my death
Will be met
With indifference
Time is running out…
Tic-Toc
Tic-Toc
I'm a cog in the machine
A machine fuelled by indifference and greed
Riveted on the axle
Of a psychotic vision
Daring to dream
A dream of my own
Should the box open
A mishap, a chance,
A crack in the casing
A lottery winning
Like a misaligned coil
That would spring me out
Of this box
So that the cog
Becomes the wheel
Free to mock
Life inside a clock
Indifference
Indifference is a blatant unkindness,
Far worse than anger and hatred.
With indifference you can get away
From victims, their anguish and miseries.
With indifference you can be well safe
From interruptions to your work and joy.
Neighbours are of no consequence
Nor are their lives meaningful.
Anger is creative; it brings changes.
Hatred is creative; it brings effects.
Indifference is not no-intrusion.
Indifference is destructive and inhuman.
06.10.2006
poem by Rm. Shanmugam Chettiar

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