3/52 – I know not what the future holds, but I know who holds the future
Originally uploaded by Little Thoughts
“Criticism is something you can avoid easily — by saying nothing, doing nothing, and being nothing.” ~ Aristotle
Sometimes others can say it better than you and me. A timely quote or stirring poem can cause us to stop and think. When it comes to inaction I’ve said much in the past here, here, and even in this post about using the fear excuse. But, here are a few who certainly say it better than I.
On saying nothing…
Martin Niemöller’s poem First They Came…
When the Nazis came for the communists,
I remained silent;
I was not a communist.
When they locked up the social democrats,
I remained silent;
I was not a social democrat.
When they came for the trade unionists,
I did not speak out;
I was not a trade unionist.
When they came for the Jews,
I remained silent;
I wasn’t a Jew.
When they came for me,
there was no one left to speak out.
On doing nothing…
“There are risks and costs to action. But they are far less than the long range risks of comfortable inaction.” ~ John F. Kennedy
On being nothing…
“Being busy does not always mean real work. The object of all work is production or accomplishment and to either of these ends there must be forethought, system, planning, intelligence, and honest purpose, as well as perspiration. Seeming to do is not doing.” ~ Thomas Edison
Nothing more needs to be said, right?
