I am drawn to thee -
even now that thou art gone...
I am drawn to thee!
Thou art gone, dear sir -
the earth mourns at thy passing...
but thy spirit, soars!
Thou art gone,
but not quite...
---<--@
Vaclav Havel (19361005-20111218) - recalled by God, of natural causes - Czech poet, patriot, enlightened leader of the Czech Republic, loyal son of the Czech people, singer of hope, exemplar of peace, friend of all free nations of the earth - via con Dios.
On purposeful politics: "True politics, worthy of the name — and the only kind I will practice — is the politics of service to one's neighbor. Service to the community; service to those who will succeed us ... If you are modest and do not lust after power, not only are you suited to politics, you absolutely belong there."
On globalization: "An amalgamation of cultures is taking place. ... We are in a phase when one age is succeeding another, when everything is possible and almost nothing is certain."
On hope and persistence: "The only lost cause is one we give up on before we enter the struggle."
On revolution and retribution: "Violence is well-known to breed violence, which is why most revolutions have degenerated into dictatorships, devouring their own offspring - not knowing that they were digging their own graves and confining society in a vicious circle of revolutions and counter-revolutions."
On a keeping a sense of humor: "Anyone who takes himself too seriously always runs the risk of looking ridiculous; anyone who can consistently laugh at himself does not."
"Work for something because it is good, not just because it stands a chance to succeed."
