
One's first step in wisdom is to question everything - and one's last is to come to terms with everything.
quote by Georg Christoph Lichtenberg

Submitted by Lucian Velea
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A Question Anyone
We have in life
a surfeit
of those who step to the mark
to declare
what should and can be done.
Ideas pour
from their open mouths
enunciating in grave tones
and solemn decrees
making claim
to the Wisdom
of the Knowledge Tree.
Regard these not
or follow those
who claim Secret Lore
and urge 'follow me.'
Hard Truth:
Every one claims answers
but cannot tell you what is the question;
every one thinks their answer
if true for them
is also true for you;
from that silly stance recoil.
Every sage can tell you what to do
but none can identify the first step.
All can see the path to follow
but none can answer
if a first step
is consistent with several paths which may follow.
None can answer
if you deny their answers offered,
(which are commonly either or choices)
but note life most often shows either/or
most often is neither/other.
None can tell you what is scientific about the scientific method.
None can separate in a simple sentence the difference between
book learning and common sense.
No sage alive can claim to know why Progress Now
has crashed so low-
despite all the Smart Ones
gone before.
Why is it that ignorance always fills the void
that Knowledge leaves?
Why are there always a surplus of answers
but few good questions?
I don't know
but I know what I don't know
hopefully,
that makes me one step ahead
of those who know the answer
before the question.
I think
those that always know
what they think they know
without ever asking
what is the question
that their knowing
is the answer to-
don't know
anything.
Best to smile faintly,
turn
and leave.
In life,
deep wisdom states:
we must learn to ask our own questions
so that answers are our own answers
drawing upon our own experience.
Ask not what the wise think
but ask instead
what questions did they ask
when it counted
as now,
at the brink.
poem by Lonnie Hicks

Submitted by Poetry Lover
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One Small Step
So many people
Need to go so many miles
How do we move them
To where the answer lies
Reach out to the ocean
Beyond the stars that shine
Weve got to take one small step in time
If we are the dreamers
Then the world must be the dream
Driven to question
All the things weve never seen
We search the horizon
Looking for a sign
Weve got to take one small step in time
One step beyond
All our hopes and our passion
There is the light of the universe flashin
All that it takes is one leap of faith
One small step, (one small step)
One small step in time
Deep in the darkness
(deep in the blackness)
Theres a wind that never dies
(theres a wind that never dies)
Out in the vastness
(out in the vastness)
Theres a road across the sky
(a road across the sky)
Out there is the reason
That we were meant to find
Weve got to take one small step in time
Weve got to take one small step in time
(one small step, one small step)
One small step in time
(one small step, one small step)
One small step in time
(one small step, one small step)
song performed by by Cher

Submitted by Lucian Velea
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Step
I need help
I need help
I dont know who I am no more
Im gonna get some help
Help me
[ singing:
Step! step, step it up baby!
Got a question for you: like, who, what, where, why?
Are we even here?
Or are we following alone like another lost indian looking for his tribe?
Oh dial the phone.
We might as well find someone else.
? ? ?
Grrr! ]
(wails)
I like to apologize to all my wonderful fans
For sticking by me through such troubled times
I love all you so much
I wish I could take you all to the betty ford clinic
Yeah
[ singing:
Step! step it up baby!
We gotta sell instutions of recovery,
We gotta kill distrubutions of the pills I take!
? ? ?
Grr!
Step! step it up baby!
...]
I love all my fans
Through these times of nakedness
If I could Id take any one of you with me
Put you right underneath my pillow
[fade out..]
song performed by by Ministry

Submitted by Lucian Velea
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No Step
I looked out of my window, saw a stencil black,
No step. no step.
There were nervous mothers with children crying in the back.
No step. no step.
Someone bought me my ticket, now Im on the wing.
Hope my angels are watching me, do I hear them sing?
No step. no step.
Those afterburners cut in and kicked us high.
No step. no step.
The thin air shimmered, the sun cut through and burned my eye.
No step. no step.
Someone bought me my ticket, now Im on the wing.
Hope my angels are watching me, do I hear them sing?
No step.
No step no step.
No step no step.
No step no step.
Give me a jet stream schooner or a crew-legged goose.
No step. no step.
Im a clear-air jockey when they turn me loose
No step. no step.
Someone bought me my ticket to the captains seat.
Will the shakes soon leave me, will I find my feet?
No step. no step.
No step. no step.
No step.
song performed by by Jethro Tull

Submitted by Lucian Velea
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On Their Own Terms
On their own terms,
People have a right to do and choose...
As they please.
This should not lead to an argument.
However...
When those terms and choices one chooses,
At the crossing over a threshold into someone's home...
Anyone believing they should be treated,
Based upon their own terms...
Should excuse themselves immediately.
Before they are asked to leave.
Thus making the keeping of their own terms,
An issue not needing to be debated.
poem by Lawrence S. Pertillar

Submitted by Poetry Lover
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Practice Every Step
Practice every step.
Do not second guess what it takes.
Practice every step.
Practice every step.
There's no sleeping for someone who has a place to go,
So...
Practice every step.
Practice every step.
Focus on that goal,
And tighten on your hold,
And...
Practice every step.
Practice every step.
Practice every step.
Do not second guess what it takes.
Practice every step.
Practice every step.
Every journey taken,
Must be thought of as a race...
And,
Practice every step.
Practice every step.
There's no other way to straighten out a crooked road,
So...
Practice every step.
Practice every step.
No matter what you're told,
There will be some doubts and woes...
But you,
Practice every step.
Yes you,
Practice every step.
Woes you hold will eventually go,
So...
Practice every step.
Practice every step.
Practice every step.
Practice every step.
poem by Lawrence S. Pertillar

Submitted by Poetry Lover
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It's not just a question of conquering a summit previously unknown, but of tracing, step by step, a new pathway to it.
quote by Gustav Mahler

Submitted by Lucian Velea
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I think in terms of family, in terms of relationships, in terms of work, competition to be the favorite, to be the noticed, to be the one - I don't know if it exists for all personalities, but I know for sure it did with me.
quote by Marcia Gay Harden

Submitted by Veronica Serbanoiu
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I think in terms of family, in terms of relationships, in terms of work, competition to be the favorite, to be the noticed, to be the one - I don't know if it exists for all personalities, but I know for sure it did with me.
quote by Marcia Gay Harden

Submitted by Lucian Velea
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I found I wasn't asking good enough questions because I assumed I knew something. I would box them into a corner with a badly formed question, and they didn't know how to get out of it. Now, I let them take me through it step by step, and I listen.
We did not speak in terms of strategy, in terms of overall economies, in terms of production and territorial conquest. We spoke of the impact of the bomb on the homes and the hopes of men and women.
quote by Philip Morrison

Submitted by Lucian Velea
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Strength, Courage, Wisdom
Inside my head there lives a dream that I want to see in the sun
Behind my eyes there lives a me that Ive been hiding for much too long
cause Ive been, too afraid to let it show
cause Im scared of the judgment that may follow
Always putting off my living for tomorrow
Its time to step out on faith, Ive gotta show my faith
Its been illusive for so long, but freedom is mine today
Ive gotta step out on faith, its time to show my faith
Procrastination had me down but look what I have found, I found
Chorus
Strength, courage, and wisdom
And its been inside of me all along,
Strength, courage, and wisdom
Inside of me
Behind my pride there lives a me, that knows humility
Inside my voice there is a soul, and in my soul there is a voice
But Ive been, too afraid to make a choice
cause Im scared of the things that I might be missing
Running too fast to stop and listen
Its time to step out on faith, Ive gotta show my faith
Its been illusive for so long but freedom is mine today
Ive gotta step out on faith its time to show my faith
Procrastination had me down but look what I have found, I found
Chorus
Strength, courage, and wisdom
And its been inside of me all along,
Strength, courage, and wisdom
Inside of me
Bridge
I close my eyes and I think of all the things that I want to see
cause I know, now that Ive opened up my heart I know that
Anything I want can be, so let it be, so let it be.
Chorus
Strength, courage, and wisdom
Its been inside of me all along,
Strength, courage, wisdom
Its been inside of me all along, everyday Im praying for
Chorus
Strength, courage, and wisdom
To find me, yeah,
Strength, courage, and wisdom
Inside of me
Vamp
I found it in me, I found it finally
Im sure to keep it cause I like it, I say thank you
song performed by by India Arie

Submitted by Lucian Velea
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Strength, Courage, & Wisdom
Inside my head there lives a dream that i want to see in the sun
Behind my eyes there lives a me that i've been hiding for much too long
cause i've been, too afraid to let it show
cause i'm scared of the judgment that may follow
Always putting off my living for tomorrow
It's time to step out on faith, i've gotta show my faith
It's been illusive for so long, but freedom is mine today
I've gotta step out on faith, it's time to show my faith
Procrastination had me down but look what i have found, i found
Chorus
Strength, courage, and wisdom
And it's been inside of me all along,
Strength, courage, and wisdom
Inside of me
Behind my pride there lives a me, that knows humility
Inside my voice there is a soul, and in my soul there is a voice
But i've been, too afraid to make a choice
cause i'm scared of the things that i might be missing
Running too fast to stop and listen
It's time to step out on faith, i've gotta show my faith
It's been illusive for so long but freedom is mine today
I've gotta step out on faith it's time to show my faith
Procrastination had me down but look what i have found, i found
Chorus
Strength, courage, and wisdom
And it's been inside of me all along,
Strength, courage, and wisdom
Inside of me
Bridge
I close my eyes and i think of all the things that i want to see
cause i know, now that i've opened up my heart i know that
Anything i want can be, so let it be, so let it be.
Chorus
Strength, courage, and wisdom
It's been inside of me all along,
Strength, courage, wisdom
It's been inside of me all along, everyday i'm praying for
Chorus
Strength, courage, and wisdom
To find me, yeah,
Strength, courage, and wisdom
Inside of me
Vamp
I found it in me, i found it finally
I'm sure to keep it' cause i like it, i say thank you
song performed by by India Arie

Submitted by Lucian Velea
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Baby Step Back
Now it looks to me like the same old place
In the sky it looks like rain
The same old town with the same old streets
The address has not change
You can find me there
With the door shut tight
And the one wish that remains
Baby step back baby step back
Either step up or step back
No you know I dont write no bad checks
I have no wish to repent
Ive seen a few
But whatever I do
I dont cause no accidents
Whiskey and wine help me pass the time
I dont leave no evidence
Baby step back baby step back
Either step up or step back
Baby step back baby step back
Either step up or step back
Still I dont kneel down
I was born to fight
So youd best leave me alone
Maybe Ill get much more than I need
Or much less than I should own
Last of all let me say it again
Either step up or step on
Baby step back baby step back
Either step up or step back
Baby step back baby step back
Either step up or step back
Baby walk back baby walk back
Either walk on or walk back
Baby step back ...
song performed by by Gordon Lightfoot

Submitted by Lucian Velea
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All In All
All in all the wisdom call, you shall be young, you shall be free
Watching for the signals that some easily
Take it as a point of love, a reference place to where you are
Every step a step to set you free
All for the sake and the calling of light
Ask as you give, as you measure in time
All in all this will to give, this sacrament,
This need to live
Take it a step to bring love easily
All in all the wisdom call, you shall be young,
You shall be free
Waiting for the waiting to be free
Talk is the easy send, everyone heard
Ask as you seek the clear, ask and you can
This play is of a myriad of conscience sitting
This day is of a special way of love relating
This sight is in it, this way is in it, the dream is of the positive to make
You
Wonder
How did heaven begin?
This time is in it, this thought is in it, this light is in it,
When you see, you get it
All in all the wisdom call, you shall be young, you shall be free
Take it as it comes so easily
Well be there beside the sign, this wherewithal, this will to be,
Brining all the love thats meant to be
All in all we shall be young, we shall be free, we shall be there
All in all this time is meant to be
song performed by by Yes

Submitted by Lucian Velea
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All In All
All in all the wisdom call, you shall be young, you shall be free
Watching for the signals that some easily
Take it as a point of love, a reference place to where you are
Every step a step to set you free
All for the sake and the calling of light
Ask as you give, as you measure in time
All in all this will to give, this sacrament,
This need to live
Take it a step to bring love easily
All in all the wisdom call, you shall be young,
You shall be free
Waiting for the waiting to be free
Talk is the easy send, everyone heard
Ask as you seek the clear, ask and you can
This play is of a myriad of conscience sitting
This day is of a special way of love relating
This sight is in it, this way is in it, the dream is of the positive to make
You
Wonder
How did heaven begin?
This time is in it, this thought is in it, this light is in it,
When you see, you get it
All in all the wisdom call, you shall be young, you shall be free
Take it as it comes so easily
Well be there beside the sign, this wherewithal, this will to be,
Brining all the love thats meant to be
All in all we shall be young, we shall be free, we shall be there
All in all this time is meant to be
song performed by by Yes

Submitted by Lucian Velea
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By the late '70s I had come to question the point of a great deal of what we were doing, in terms of the CIA's overall charter.
quote by Aldrich Ames

Submitted by Lucian Velea
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Examine each question in terms of what is ethically and aesthetically right, as well as what is economically expedient.
quote by Aldo Leopold

Submitted by Lucian Velea
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Belief In God On Their Own Terms
most people believe in God on their own terms
accept God on terms meaning only on their own terms
adapt religious belief to suit first their own terms
God is the same today yesterday tomorrow
God’s commandments are also the same
God never changed his divine commandments
the world changed watered down the law
to suit its own desires its own evil
never forget evil is not sanctioned by God
poem by Terence George Craddock

Submitted by Poetry Lover
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So I was always passionate about it and felt that it was sort of the golden thread inside me in terms of what I was supposed to do in terms of work but I think I have relaxed a lot in terms of the actual experience and actually enjoy it more and enjoy the people more.
quote by Barbara Hershey

Submitted by Lucian Velea
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