Great wisdom is generous; petty wisdom is contentious. Great speech is impassioned, small speech cantankerous.
Chuang Tzu in On Leveling All Things
Submitted by Lucian Velea
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Great wisdom is generous; petty wisdom is contentious.
quote by Chuang Tzu
Submitted by Lucian Velea
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Understanding and Knowledge
Those who know don’t talk;
Those who talk don’t know;
Those who speak don’t write;
Those who write don’t speak.
Those who think don’t actions;
Those who actions don’t think;
Those who think don’t judge;
Those who judge don’t do.
Small understanding is no match for great understanding;
Small knowledge cannot understand great knowledge knows.
Great wisdom has great understanding;
Great knowledge has wise sayings.
Great knowledge and understanding is wide and vast;
Small knowledge and understanding is trivial and cramped.
Great speech blaze forth as a huge fire;
Small speech is empty and trivial.
We understand what is appropriate;
Because of what we understand to be inappropriate.
We understand right;
Because of our understanding of wrong.
Use the light of wisdom to see,
Beyond the world of right and wrong.
One can only really understand things,
By understanding one’s true self.
(extracted and translated from Tao Te Cheng Book)
© Nov 2011 Lawrence Hiung
poem by Lawrence Hiung
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Robert Frost
Robert Frost,
Your wisdom is great,
And you know all there is to know,
And we appreciate what you teach us.
To me, you are the grandfather I never had,
For you are great,
And you give great advice,
And you are wise,
And you seek the greatness in everyone.
You are a mentor to me and many others,
And your wisdom knows no bounds.
We cannot thank you enough
For the insight you have provided.
Thank you for everything you have done
And all the great poems you have left behind.
poem by James Roberts
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Man
What a finest piece of art is man
Anabolic in strength practicable in wisdom
From the time immemorial the birth of Adam
Creation of everything till Mohammad(SAW) the totem of wisdom
Being vicegerant on earth and shepherd afterward
To correct the fallacy with miraculous speech of wisdom
All art and craft are superficial or none-the-less comparable
Unto the height of his majestic conundrum
poem by Hafiz Qasim
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Wisdom's Way
Wisdom is calling souls today, to come to God in Wisdom's way,
While Wisdom sends forth her call, upon this world, to every soul,
For Wisdom has prepared for us, a house built on Righteousness,
Built up with seven pillars strong; being complete for every throng.
Wisdom has prepared her feast, for those with plenty, to the least,
While she has set her table for all, for both the great and the small,
Wisdom has sent out her invitation, to all souls without reservation,
Her invitation for all to come, regardless of where are you are from.
She calls the simple to partake, but foolishness they must forsake,
As wicked ways all must spurn, to come to Wisdom and truly learn,
With wisdom being their selection, they must be open to correction,
Learning from every past mistake, as Wisdom's feast, they partake.
As scoffers come along our way, rejecting what Wisdom has to say.
All filled with arrogance and pride, by them, wisdom shall be denied,
Correcting then in Wisdom's name, brings upon one hurt and shame,
For hate the scoffer will project, toward one who chooses to correct.
Will you today heed Wisdom's call, to seek The Lord Who's over all?
Leaving old ways, that you know, so through Wisdom you can grow,
Changing to a life of Righteousness, this as you follow Christ Jesus,
As Wisdom shall multiply your days; with a long life, to God's praise.
(Copyright ©07/2012)
Never give in - never, never, never, never, in nothing great or small, large or petty, never give in except to convictions of honour and good sense. Never yield to force; never yield to the apparently overwhelming might of the enemy.
Winston Churchill in Speech, Harrow School (1941)
Submitted by Lucian Velea
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Speech is conveniently located midway between thought and action, where it often substitutes for both.
John Andrew Holmes in Wisdom in Small Doses
Submitted by Lucian Velea
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Wisdom From Above
The Word of God is so very clear, yet, so many men have no fear,
Within their hearts, of The Lord, and so God’s Word goes ignored;
A fear that begins wisdom for all, men everywhere great and small,
Wisdom which opens eyes to see, Truths from the Lord of Eternity.
The Lord revealed Himself to Israel, revealing His Purpose and Will,
And today the Lord’s Revelation, is available to every single nation,
For God spoke through His Son, not just to Israel, but to everyone,
God’s Son was revealed to all men, in a world that was condemned.
My friend, this day as in ages past, only Heavenly Wisdom will last,
A wisdom, which you will receive, when God’s Truth you do believe,
The Wisdom from The Lord above, greater than what men speak of,
Far surpassing the wisdom of men, that, Christ Jesus will condemn.
With this Wisdom, you will heed, the words of Truth which you read,
And as the Spirit opens your eyes, worldly wisdom you will despise,
Embracing Truths of God’s Word, over empty wisdom you’ve heard,
As The Spirit of God does impart, Truth and Wisdom into your heart.
Man’s worldly wisdom my friend, God makes foolishness in the end,
As God frustrates their empty ways, for The Lord’s Glory and Praise;
This all begins through Godly fear, of The Lord, Who is so very near,
And God’s Wisdom, you will see, leads a heart to New Life, Eternally.
(Copyright ©05/2010)
Great doubts deep wisdom. Small doubts little wisdom.
If a university official's letter accusing a speaker of having a proclivity to commit speech crimes before she's given the speech - which then leads to Facebook postings demanding that Ann Coulter be hurt, a massive riot and a police-ordered cancellation of the speech - is not hate speech, then there is no such thing as hate speech.
quote by Ann Coulter
Submitted by Lucian Velea
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Dictators Nationalistic Drumbeat War Rhetoric
it is wise
before commenting
on the merits
of a cartoon
to hold
the tongue
view the cartoon
ascertain
all intrinsic merit
wisdom inherit
within themes images
classical themes
may contain
great wisdom modern
cartoons may prove
more repetitions
bang bang meaningless
images of violence
once masters
of wisdom instructed
in great tales
of wisdom now
hollow reads spawn
violence to sown
crafted violence
for dictators
nationalistic wars
poem by Terence George Craddock
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Silence at the proper season is wisdom, and better than any speech.
quote by Plutarch
Submitted by Lucian Velea
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The King's Speech
That afternoon session
made such a big difference
from glorious days of the past
when youngsters and elders
in crowds gathered for a film and its cast.
The audience were small
but the film appealed to all
and once the lights were switched off
much of England's history
and the kingdom's stories
were lively unfolded.
There was a great suspense
around the movie room
focusing on George VI - so tense-
all awaiting the king's speech
after disturbing, moving scenes
of the speech therapist's endeavours
and tender family love.
A gracious protective lady,
a wife excelling in kindness
outshining her look motherly
along with the therapist, staff and all people
impatiently followed that speech
coming out in a first broadcast
without any breach! ...
February,2011
poem by Maria C. Costa
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Bible in Poetry: James 3
Taming the Tongue:
1Don’t you presume to be teachers,
Because you know that we who teach
Will be God judged much more strictly.
2 We stumble in so many ways.
If one is faultless in his speech,
He is a perfect man always,
Able to keep body in check.
3 When we put bits into horse-mouth,
To make it obey our commands,
We can turn the whole animal.
4 Or take ships as an example:
Although they are so large in size,
And are driven by strong winds on seas,
They’re steered by just a small rudder
Wherev’r the pilot wants to go.
5 Likewise the tongue is small a part
Of body, but it makes great boasts.
A spark though small starts forest-fires!
6 The tongue also is a fire,
An evil among body-parts.
It will corrupt the whole person,
And sets the whole life-course afire,
And itself set on fire in hell.
7All kinds of beasts, birds, reptiles and
Sea-creatures have been tamed by man,
8 No man can tame the tongue at all.
It is a restless evil great,
Afilled with deadly poison much.
9 By tongue we praise our God, Father,
With it we curse all men, women,
Who have been made in God's likeness.
10 The same mouth praises and curses.
My dear brothers, this should not be.
11 Can fresh-water and salt-water,
Both flow together from same spring?
12 Can a fig tree ev’r bear olives,
Or a grapevine ever bear figs?
Nor can salt spring give fresh water!
Two Kinds of Wisdom:
13 Who is wise and understanding?
Let him show it by his good life,
By deeds done with humility,
That comes from wisdom from above.
14 But harbor if you sour envy,
And selfish ambition in hearts,
Don’t boast about or deny truth.
15 Such 'wisdom' comes not from heaven:
Is earthly and of the devil.
16 Where you have envy, selfishness,
Ambition, you find disorder,
And every evil practice too.
17 But wisdom that comes from heaven,
Is first of all pure, peace-loving,
Considerate, submissive too,
Full of mercy and much good fruit,
Impartial and sincere as well.
18 Those peacemakers who sow in peace,
Raise harvest of mere righteousness.
poem by John Celes
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Free speech is meant to protect unpopular speech. Popular speech, by definition, needs no protection.
quote by Neal Boortz
Submitted by Lucian Velea
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Language is legislation, speech is its code. We do not see the power which is in speech because we forget that all speech is a classification, and that all classifications are oppressive.
quote by Roland Barthes
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Wisdom is the right use of knowledge. To know is not to be wise. Many men know a great deal, and are all the greater fools for it. There is no fool so great a fool as a knowing fool. But to know how to use knowledge is to have wisdom.
quote by Charles Haddon Spurgeon
Submitted by Lucian Velea
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You Are Born
Knowledge is in need of action when you recite it from the heart,
Rote memory is required, but the limbs from the prior souls also, for you are one born.
The mothers have given birth to you, your father is godly for he is good,
Let his soul be at one with Him, the conquest of knowledge is from him though, for you are born.
The families of eternity shall bear you all along, testing your thoughts forever,
The thanks given is the superior deed, of worship, of speech, of tomorrow, for you were born.
The excellence of wisdom is so great that the Lord shall question you on wise men
And the men of wisdom reply to Him Alone, learning is on tiptoe, for it is born.
The storage of thoughts will supply good deeds enough to succeed over those in wealth,
A major event happened to be with supplication to throw, for we are all born.
Those who practice the whole number of pages need small tests,
Big examinations are like those from God, and He questions the souls of woe since we were born.
Any more thinking of the same subject needs moderate leanings, the whole of the mind
And the soul are employed, and those in illness shall never winnow since they were born.
The philosophy and scholarship best described by the discussions is little
Compared to my heart’s thought and point - to look at Hell’s volcano, ever since you were born.
poem by Naveed Akram
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A Reprobate Mind
An eloquent speech,
Of words of wisdom;
I have fed you with milk and not with meat.
I am from the land of poems,
Love and peace to you who reads;
We are still carnal and,
Not many wise and noble men are called.
The Yahdaim require a sign and,
The Greeks seek after wisdom;
But this poem is like a Succourer to you.
Owe no man anything,
Except to love one another;
By so doing you will perform the law.
Let your armour of light overcome the works of darkness,
Like their fitting retribution with a reprobate mind.
poem by Edward Kofi Louis
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Strength and wisdom are not opposing values.
Bill Clinton in 2004 democratic convention speech
Submitted by Lucian Velea
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