Just an uplifting bit to read

[Guest]

Our nervous system developed for one sole purpose, to maintain our lives and satisfy our needs. All our reflexes serve this purpose. this makes us utterly egotistic. With rare exceptions people are really interested in one thing only: themselves. Everybody, by necessity, is the center of his own universe.

When the human brain took its final shape, say, 100,000 years ago, problems and solutions must have been exceedingly simple. There were no long-range problems and man had to grab any immediate advantage. The world has changed but we are still willing to sell more distant vital interests for some minor immediate gains. Our military industrial complex, which endangers the future of mankind, to a great extent owes its stability to the fact that so may people depend on it for their living.

This holds true for all of us, including myself. When I received the Nobel Prize, the only big lump sum of money I have ever seen, I had to do something with it. The easiest way to drop this hot potato was to invest it, to buy shares. I knew World War II was coming and I was afraid that if I had shares which rise in case of war, I would wish for war. So I asked my agent to buy shares which go down in the event of war. This he did. I lost my money and saved my soul.

Albert Szent-Györgyi, The Crazy Ape, 1971

 

[minsue]

I was confused at first as to the 'uplifting' part. Needless to say (so why say it??), I was beyond gratified by the last sentence.

Thanks, 'Dita. I really needed that tonight.

 

[shereads]

Selflessness. What a strange concept.

Thanks, Perdita.

 

[sweetnpetite]

Thanks perdita. That was beautiful.

Our nervous system developed for one sole purpose, to maintain our lives and satisfy our needs. All our reflexes serve this purpose. this makes us utterly egotistic. With rare exceptions people are really interested in one thing only: themselves. Everybody, by necessity, is the center of his own universe.

When the human brain took its final shape, say, 100,000 years ago, problems and solutions must have been exceedingly simple. There were no long-range problems and man had to grab any immediate advantage. The world has changed but we are still willing to sell more distant vital interests for some minor immediate gains. Our military industrial complex, which endangers the future of mankind, to a great extent owes its stability to the fact that so may people depend on it for their living.

This holds true for all of us, including myself. When I received the Nobel Prize, the only big lump sum of money I have ever seen, I had to do something with it. The easiest way to drop this hot potato was to invest it, to buy shares. I knew World War II was coming and I was afraid that if I had shares which rise in case of war, I would wish for war. So I asked my agent to buy shares which go down in the event of war. This he did. I lost my money and saved my soul.

Albert Szent-Györgyi, The Crazy Ape, 1971

 

[BohemianEcstasy]

That makes me smile--something I needed tonight. I can only hope for such a spirit to strike me, even though I'd be kicking myself the entire time I did something so selfless, because it's not in my nature. Gracias, Perdita.

Peace,
BohemianEcstasy, the one who went kicking and screaming every week when she went to tutor refugees, some of whom are now good friends of hers.

 

[Boota]

The sentiment of that post is like one way I define honor, in the simplest way I know how. It is being willing to lose for the right reasons.

 

[Guest]

The sentiment of that post is like one way I define honor, in the simplest way I know how. It is being willing to lose for the right reasons.

Boot, you've taught me something. I did not come close to thinking like you when I first read the excerpt. You're right. I've deliberately lost for the common good, but only in family and personal relationships. It's easy too, once you realize you're not really losing anything.

thanks, Perdita

 

[Svenskaflicka]

When the human brain took its final shape, say, 100,000 years ago,

How does this apply to Dubya..?