The illimitable freedom of the human mind has proven over time to be a double-edged sword. When counterpoised by purity of heart, this freedom emancipates man from the strictures of human nature and liberates his finest creative impulses. When backed by a troubled heart, however, this freedom opens the door the worst atrocities man has …
Tag: greg hake
Homage of Reason
"Question with boldness even the existence of God; because, if there be one, he must more approve of the homage of reason, than that of blindfolded fear." Thomas Jefferson to Peter Carr, 10 August 1787 A man is no good to God or his fellow man if he obeys blindly, without reason. There are those, …
Nearer to Truth
"The man who never looks into a newspaper is better informed than he who reads them, inasmuch as he who knows nothing is nearer to truth than he whose mind is filled with falsehoods and errors." - Thomas Jefferson, letter to John Norvell, Jun. 11, 1807 Were progress to be marked by a relative proximity …
Perfect Resignation
Thomas Jefferson once wisely observed that: The most fortunate of us, in our journey through life, frequently meet with calamities and misfortunes which may greatly afflict us; and, to fortify our minds against the attacks of these calamities and misfortunes should be one of the principal studies and endeavors of our lives. As was befitting …
Momentary Life
Momentary Life, a poem by Gregg Hake Momentary life, Inquietudes at every gate﹣ Implore, entice, like sirens Whose seductive charm Gives no quarter. Must we load ourselves with more?
Free and Moral Agent
"I never submitted the whole system of my opinions to the creed of any party of men whatever, in religion, in philosophy, in politics, or in anything else, where I was capable of thinking for myself. Such an addiction is the last degradation of a free and moral agent. If I could not go to …
Dare to Give
"Give what you have. To someone, it may be better than you dare to think." - Henry Wadsworth Longfellow A friend recently shared some of her private writing with me and I must say, I was quite impressed! So often what holds people back from sharing their gifts is a fear of rejection, but there …
The Womb of the Heart
"Nothing is so mistaken as the supposition that a person is to extricate himself from a difficulty by intrigue, by chicanery, by dissimulation, by trimming, by an untruth, by an injustice. This increases the difficulties tenfold; and those who pursue these methods get themselves so involved at length that they can turn no way by …
Out of the Labyrinth
"Though you cannot see, when you take one step, what will be the next, yet follow truth, justice, and plain dealing, and never fear their leading you out of the labyrinth, in the easiest manner possible. The knot which you thought a Gordian one will untie itself before you." - Thomas Jefferson Of all the …
Virtuous Dispositions
"Encourage all your virtuous dispositions, and exercise them whenever an opportunity arises, being assured that they will gain strength by exercise, as a limb of the body does, and that exercise will make them habitual." - Thomas Jefferson When I think about the day I am about to face I never look at it as …
Gregory Hake 