Joseph Stalin

Everybody has a right to be stupid, but some people abuse the privilege.

The only way a kid is going to practise is if it’s total fun for him… and it was for me.

The Pope! How many divisions has he got?

The only real power comes out of a long rifle.

In the Soviet army it takes more courage to retreat than advance.

The leaders come and go, but the people remain. Only the people are immortal.

Thou shalt not commit adultry is a command which makes no distinction between the following persons. They are all required to obey it: children at birth. Children in the cradle. School children. Youths and maidens. Fresh adults. Older ones. Men and women of 40. Of 50. Of 60. Of 70. Of 80. Of 100. The command does not distribute its burden equally, and cannot. It is not hard upon the three sets of children.

There are more tears shed over answered prayers than over unanswered prayers.

In a mind clear as still water, even the waves, breaking, are reflecting its light.

Before enlightenment; chop wood, carry water. After enlightenment; chop wood, carry water.

When an ordinary man attains knowledge, he is a sage; when a sage attains understanding, he is an ordinary man.

Prosperity is the blessing of the Old Testament; adversity is the blessing of the New.

Learning Zen is a phenomenon of gold & dung. Before you learn it, it’s like gold; after you learn it, it’s like dung.

No matter how hard the past, you can always begin again.

Being neededdoes not entail selfish pride or unhealthy attachment to the worldly esteem of others. Rather, it consists of a natural human hunger to serve our fellow men and women.

When the student is ready the teacher will appear.

You believe in a book that has talking animals, wizards, witches, demons, sticks turning into snakes, burning bushes, food falling from the sky, people walking on water, and all sorts of magical, absurd and primitive stories, and you say that we are the ones that need help?

A man is but the product of his thoughts; what he thinks, he becomes.

Those who are free of resentful thoughts surely find peace.

Christ and The Church: If he were to apply for a divorce on the grounds of cruelty, adultery and desertion, he would probably get one.

Where ignorance is our master, there is no possibility of real peace.