Chapter 9

╔═══════ ೋღ ✰ ღೋ ═══════╗

"Talk low, talk slow, and don't say too much" -John Wayne (The Art of Being Human tenth edition, Richard Paul Janaro, Thelma C. Altshuler, John Wayne, Page 290, left margin quote one)

1283, Knights Templar Playing Chess, Alphonse le Sage (Alfonso X)

This quote reminds me of how Aaron Burr is portrayed in the Hamilton musical. One of his most repeated and well-known lines is "Talk less, Smile more. Don't let them know who you're against or who you're for". I get the same energy from John Wayne's quote because it seems like he is telling someone to keep their head down and out of trouble just like Aaron Burr did.

I wish more people took this advice and bit their tongue. Just because you have an opinion or something to say doesn't mean it is always appropriate to voice it at that time. Many people disregard the feelings of those around them and care not of how they will react to their words. Some people even speak up just to create controversy and drama.

╚═══════ ೋღ ✰ ღೋ ═══════╝

╔═══════ ೋღ ✰ ღೋ ═══════╗

"A film is a petrified fountain of thought" -Jean Cocteau (The Art of Being Human tenth edition, Richard Paul Janaro, Thelma C. Altshuler, Jean Cocteau, Page 290, right margin quote one)

15th century, Reconstruction of the temple of Jerusalem, France, William of Tyre's Histoire d'Outremer

A picture is worth a thousand words but a film shows so much more. Films show the styles that were popular from the time and the mannerisms of the people from that time. Things like prejudices and biased are also fossiled in old movies. Other things like language dialect and slang are memorialized. With the advance of technology, more and more people are able to make films and they are getting harder to erase from existence. If something is put onto the internet it can never fully be removed.

╚═══════ ೋღ ✰ ღೋ ═══════╝

╔═══════ ೋღ ✰ ღೋ ═══════╗

"Write what you feel, not what you think the audience wants." -Stephen Sondheim (The Art of Being Human tenth edition, Richard Paul Janaro, Thelma C. Altshuler, Stephen Sondheim, Page 301, right margin quote one)

1413, Christine de Pisan instructs her son, Paris, Bedford Master

When you write with a bias in mind you lose a piece of what could have been. Writings don't have to be proper or politically correct, they can be weird and spontaneous. Fitting to the norms for writings and only doing what's popular is boring and can just be predictable. If you want to write something strange and out there you shouldnt feel as if something is holding you back. Writing is subjective, opinions are subjective. You will never be able to please everyone so just write what you want and what will please you.

╚═══════ ೋღ ✰ ღೋ ═══════╝

Chapter 16

╔═══════ ೋღ ✰ ღೋ ═══════╗

"They are not free who drag their chains after them" -French Proverb (The Art of Being Human tenth edition, Richard Paul Janaro, Thelma C. Altshuler, French Proverb, Page 498, right margin quote one)

Date unknown, William Powell Frith The Witch Trial, Author unknown, location unknown

To live and survive freely you have to let go of some of your baggage. You can't remain angry at the world forever it will only bring you down as well. Instead of dwelling on the past we should take what we learned from our past experiences and try and improve on ourselves so we don't make the same mistakes. The chains we gain that we did not cause also need to be let go. You cannot grieve the past forever, you can't change what has happened. Life sucks but you have to try and move on no matter how hard that may feel.

╚═══════ ೋღ ✰ ღೋ ═══════╝

╔═══════ ೋღ ✰ ღೋ ═══════╗

"We don't allow our enemies to have guns. Why should we allow them to have ideas?" -Joseph Stalin (The Art of Being Human tenth edition, Richard Paul Janaro, Thelma C. Altshuler, Joseph Stalin, Page 499, right margin quote one)

5 October 1861, 'Rebel Prisoners in the Dungeon of the State House at Jefferson City, Missouri', Missouri, James A. Guirl

Given the context of who the quote came from we already can assume that this is not a hollow threat. Stalin has the ability to silence anyone who has separate opinions from hum. He truly may want to shape the ways others think and behave

In actuality, this wouldn't really be feasible since it is extremely hard to suppress the opinion of a group of people. People are able to adapt to new situations and blend into the common crowd so you are unable to distinguish friend from foe. Even if you are able to kill someone whose ideas you don't agree with or because you deem them an enemy, that could simply add strength to there ideals and give it traction to spread to the public.

╚═══════ ೋღ ✰ ღೋ ═══════╝

╔═══════ ೋღ ✰ ღೋ ═══════╗

"Physics does not change the nature of the world it studies, and no science of behavior can change the essential nature of man, even though both sciences yield technology with a vast power to manipulate their subject matters" -B.F Skinner (The Art of Being Human tenth edition, Richard Paul Janaro, Thelma C. Altshuler, B.F Skinner, Page 501, right margin)

1309, 'Woman teaching geometry', Paris, Melicain Master

Sometimes things are just the way they are and there is no way to change that fact. It's not necessarily a bad thing but it can very be aggravating. You can use sciences to explain how and why things are happening but for people and for nature we can act spontaneously and erratically. This is something that is rather charming about life, you can't just be handed a book on how life is and what will happen. Everything is subjective and will change depending on the person and how they think and act. Sure you can use psychology to manipulate and change someone's behavior but not even that always works or if it does

╚═══════ ೋღ ✰ ღೋ ═══════╝

Chapter 15

╔═══════ ೋღ ✰ ღೋ ═══════╗

"Eating meat is primitive, barbaric, and arrogant" -Ingrid Newkirk (The Art of Being Human tenth edition, Richard Paul Janaro, Thelma C. Altshuler, Ingrid Newkirk, Page 479, right margin quote two)

1405, Русский, Gaston Phoebus

I really am opposed to this quote. I do not like people who think like this since there are still many logical reasons that people still eat meat. It's hard to argue the philological reasons for people who are that against eating meat. I believe what you eat is your choice and is none of my business. Humans are omnivorous so we are fine eating anything we want. Just because you do not agree with someone's diet doesn't give you the excuse to insult someone calling them primitive, barbaric, and arrogant.

╚═══════ ೋღ ✰ ღೋ ═══════╝

╔═══════ ೋღ ✰ ღೋ ═══════╗

"Nature is the art of God" -Dante Alighieri (The Art of Being Human tenth edition, Richard Paul Janaro, Thelma C. Altshuler, Dante Alighieri, Page 480, left margin quote one)

1883, A Boyar Wedding Feast, Washington D.C, Konstantin Makovsky

Nature is the world's most beautiful creation. I have always loved how different terrains look when they are untouched by man. Forests, deserts, beaches, everything, and anything. I know little about how nature relates to the Christian god but I do love researching other religions. In other religions nature is closely to the gods and goddesses themselves. It is a celebrated and protected thing that is truly seen as art.

╚═══════ ೋღ ✰ ღೋ ═══════╝

╔═══════ ೋღ ✰ ღೋ ═══════╗

"Study nature, stay close to nature it will never fail you" -Frank Lloyd Wright (The Art of Being Human tenth edition, Richard Paul Janaro, Thelma C. Altshuler, Frank Lloyd Wright, Page 480, left margin quote two)

1480, The garden of earthly delights, Hertogenbosch, Hieronymus Bosch

Ignoring the importance of our environment is literally destroying our planet. We need to pay more attention to what we consume and release into the air. Every little thing we do can harm the planet so its important for us to limit our carbon footprint. The more we respect, study, and take part in nature the healthier it will be and will benefit us in return.

╚═══════ ೋღ ✰ ღೋ ═══════╝

Chapter 14

╔═══════ ೋღ ✰ ღೋ ═══════╗

"All of us share a willingness to bear the misfortunes of others" -Francois de La Rochefoucauld (The Art of Being Human tenth edition, Richard Paul Janaro, Thelma C. Altshuler, Francois de La Rochefoucauld, Page 445, right margin quote one)

1848, William Powell Frith The Witch Trial, State unknown

Mostly everyone has some selflessness in them. We are usually willing to listen to others burdens more then we are willing to face our own. This helps us form relationships with people and empathize with their current situations. Communities and cultures can be formed and supported with this type of attitude.

However, can not be said for everyone. Some people simply do not care what goes on in peoples personal life and cannot be bothered to deal with it. This can be due to someones upbringing or because they are a more standoffish person naturally. There is also the rare case that someone may be a sociopath or psychopath.

╚═══════ ೋღ ✰ ღೋ ═══════╝

╔═══════ ೋღ ✰ ღೋ ═══════╗

"Death is not the worst evil, but rather, when we wish to die and cannot" -Sophocles (The Art of Being Human tenth edition, Richard Paul Janaro, Thelma C. Altshuler, Sophocles, Page 460, right margin quote two)

1883, A Boyar Wedding Feast, Moscow, Konstantin Makovsky

Depending on what you mean by the worst evil this quote can mean a multitude of things. If they mean it in the sense that it is a great tragedy and/or a burden then I agree with this quote. Longing for death is nothing that is truly evil or something to be ashamed about. It is a common problem that needs to be addressed in modern life since demonizing suicidal thoughts is nothing but harmful. Just because someone does not have the means to go through with their thoughts also doesn't make them any less of a person. It's truly sad how overlooked and dismissive people are to mental illness.

Personally before I got diagnosed with my anxiety disorder or my depression no one would listen to me. I had bouts of sadness as young as elementary school were I fantasied a world without me in it, how much easier it would be for everyone else. My mother would tell me I wasn't sad and when I finally was baker acted and DCF made my mom get me a social worker did I finally feel like I was valid. I always felt broken like there was something wrong with me... Still to her and others in my family it doesn't matter how my brain works, I shouldn't be sad someone else has it worse in the world. I've wished for death and was unable to obtain it but I think the greatest evil was the lack of support in my family and school circles when I tried to reach out for help. No one wants to listen to you until its to late.

╚═══════ ೋღ ✰ ღೋ ═══════╝

╔═══════ ೋღ ✰ ღೋ ═══════╗

"You only live once, and usually not even then." -Michael O'Donoghue (The Art of Being Human tenth edition, Richard Paul Janaro, Thelma C. Altshuler, Michael O'Donoghue, Page 460, right margin quote one)

1490, Book of Hours, France, Artist is an unknown miniaturist

People don't always live their lives to its fullest potential. Some simply drag their feet or just exist in the background. If you live in someones shadow or have someone control your life then do you truly live? You have to be true to yourself and what you want and desire. It is easy to not fully experience life because you chose to sacrifice your happiness for someone else.

╚═══════ ೋღ ✰ ღೋ ═══════╝

Chapter 13

*Note* I kinda went a little personal in the last two quotes sorry about that I'm okay don't worry about me professor
╔═══════ ೋღ ✰ ღೋ ═══════╗

"Love must be as much a light as a flame" -Henry David Thoreau (The Art of Being Human tenth edition, Richard Paul Janaro, Thelma C. Altshuler, Henry David Thoreau, Page 416, left margin)

1900, God Speed, London, Edmund Blair Leighton

Love shouldn't just be platonic or just sexual. I mean there are people who have those relationships and it works out for them but those are usually just temporary. A common and much-needed thing in all healthy relationships is respect, passion, and attraction to that person. Love is an odd mix of everything under the sun and we can't choose who we fall in love with. It's the world's weirdest gamble and that is okay. The mystery of love is what makes it so enticing and attractive to so many people. So relying love on one thing alone makes it dull and has it lose its spark.

╚═══════ ೋღ ✰ ღೋ ═══════╝

╔═══════ ೋღ ✰ ღೋ ═══════╗

"It is in the love of one's family only that heartfelt love is known" -Thomas Jefferson (The Art of Being Human tenth edition, Richard Paul Janaro, Thelma C. Altshuler, Thomas Jefferson, Page 419, right margin quote one)

1660, The Satyr and the Peasant Family, Warmond, Jan Steen

I don't like this quote... Not everyone has the stereotypical nuclear family that is oozing with love. If we are solely going off of biological family this quote couldn't be farther from the truth. I've seen families throw malice at their family members for their sexuality, religion, fashion sense, and choice of partner. There is no endless cloud of love in all families and the love some families give you isn't unique. You don't need a family to feel that sense of community. I believe well and true that family is who we choose. It doesn't matter if someone is blood to you they have the ability to love you like one of their own.

╚═══════ ೋღ ✰ ღೋ ═══════╝

╔═══════ ೋღ ✰ ღೋ ═══════╗

"Children begin by loving their parents. After a time they judge them. Rarely, if ever they forgive them." -Oscar Wilde (The Art of Being Human tenth edition, Richard Paul Janaro, Thelma C. Altshuler, Oscar Wilde, Page 419, right margin quote two)

circa 1635, Portrait of a family, Haarlem, Frans Hals

If I had to pick a quote from this entire chapter that I related to more it is this quote. As children, our parents are gods in our eyes, what they say is the law. Even when they are being awful to us we can't help but love them dearly. Growing up and taking off those rose-tinted glasses is the most jarring thing I've ever experienced in my life. What you think is normal isn't... What you believed to be punishment could have been abuse.

I do not have the best family life honestly and I don't know if I personally will ever forgive my parents for what they have done to me and my siblings while we were growing up. I don't want to get to specific in this post since you are a mandated reporter and all ma'am but, drugs and partners involved in drugs were always chosen over us children. Parents aren't always right and seeing them for who they are in like a stab in the gut. You feel like you did something wrong as a child to push them to act the way they do. You feel like you should have been a better kid and they would have loved you more... Just broken beyond repair. Even now as an eighteen-year-old this affects me in life, I am terrified that no one will care for me that I am and always will be a burden like I was to my parents. A child's love for their parents can just be well... destructive...

╚═══════ ೋღ ✰ ღೋ ═══════╝

Chapter 11

╔═══════ ೋღ ✰ ღೋ ═══════╗

"Good laws lead to the making of better ones; bad ones bring about the worse." -Jean-Jacques Rousseau (The Art of Being Human tenth edition, Richard Paul Janaro, Thelma C. Altshuler, Jean-Jacques Rousseau, Page 375, right margin)

1635, The surrender of Breda, Rome, Diego Velázquez

Good laws do lead to better laws or simply exist as they are. There isn't much to say about the good laws their not the interesting part of this quote. The bad laws bring about the worse in law enforcement and the people. People with bad morals will capitalize on the mistakes made in the laws and exploit them for their own gain. It is hard to fight back against them since legally they have a ground to justify their misgivings. I don't feel like this is always the case though. Bad laws point out the flaws in the systems help outline what needs to be done.

╚═══════ ೋღ ✰ ღೋ ═══════╝

╔═══════ ೋღ ✰ ღೋ ═══════╗

"They deem him their worst enemy who tells them the truth" -Plato (The Art of Being Human tenth edition, Richard Paul Janaro, Thelma C. Altshuler, Plato, Page 362, left margin quote three)

1840, Bayard sur le pont de Garigliano, Paris, Henri Félix Emmanuel Philippoteaux

People always say the truth hurts and there is some truth to that. It makes sense if someone dislikes a person who tells things as it is no matter what the situation is. There is a time and a place to sugarcoat words and if you do not understand when you need to not be blunt you may be seen as arrogant and just dislikable. If someone is your emeny then they really will not sugarcoat their words which will further cement their place in your mind as a foe not a friend. The moral of the story don't be a uh donkey

A little unrelated but this quote also makes me think of Charlie's Ants comic strip that became a meme (I added the strip down below). It was a pretty good meme but it's dead now...

Unknown date of creation or where it was made. Made by Charlies Ants

╚═══════ ೋღ ✰ ღೋ ═══════╝

╔═══════ ೋღ ✰ ღೋ ═══════╗

"Everybody always did our thinking for us" -Winifred Jourdain (The Art of Being Human tenth edition, Richard Paul Janaro, Thelma C. Altshuler, Winifred Jourdain, Page 380, left margin)

Late Medieval, Alexander III and Ollamh Rígh, Scotland, Artist Unkown

Laws, religion, and society shape the way we act and think. Ever since we are born we are born influenced by external factors and our parental figures. It isn't necessarily a bad thing since a lot of those laws and norms are there for reasons. A world that is just total anarchy would be insanely chaotic. I chose the illustration of a king for this quote since monarchs were usually seen as divine beings whose words were law. They decided how those under them would behave.

To some extent we need someone to guide our thoughts at the beginning of life but as we grow if people keep trying to fully control your thoughts and actions you lose your individuality. Other cultures are born into shame from others due to our ancestors teaching us their prejudices against them and we continue to spread the hate to later generations. Sadly that is still very common today and it is frowned upon for someone to think for themselves or simply do as they please.

╚═══════ ೋღ ✰ ღೋ ═══════╝

Chapter 6

╔═══════ ೋღ ✰ ღೋ ═══════╗

"In a world of peace and love music would be the universal language." -Henry David Thoreau (The Art of Being Human tenth edition, Richard Paul Janaro, Thelma C. Altshuler, Henry David Thoreau, Page 156, left margin)

13th century, Christian and Muslim playing ouds Catinas de Santa Maria by king Alfonso X, Europe, Alfonso X, "The Wise"

Even if you don't understand someone's language you can always appreciate their music. The sounds of the instruments can be alluring enough to coax you to want to stay and listen. I love listening to German music and any music that's sung in a Celtic language, even though I don't fully know what they are saying yet. I am trying to learn though!

In a world that is just filled with peace and love music could be shared with everyone and cultures could peacefully share their folk stories and traditions. Music is the reason I got so excited to learn Gaeliege and find out more about my heritage. Songs can get others interested to learn about the stories of another culture.

╚═══════ ೋღ ✰ ღೋ ═══════╝

╔═══════ ೋღ ✰ ღೋ ═══════╗

"Music provides a kind of pleasure which human nature cannot do without" -Confucius (The Art of Being Human tenth edition, Richard Paul Janaro, Thelma C. Altshuler, Confucius, Page 161, right margin)

1889, Russian Boy with Balalaika, Russia, Wilhelm Amandus Beer

Music isn't just a good pass time for people it also helps people with exceptionalities. Music therapy is an amazing way to treat people with memory issues, schizophrenia, Alzheimer's, and ADHD. Out university is one of the few universities in the state that offers a degree in music therapy. On a downside to that is the program is really selective and can be hard to actually get into.
Personally, I don't know where I would be without music. I have ADHD so I have a hard time focusing on doing anything that involves reading or writing without having something in my ear playing. I love to read and write so without music I wouldn't have a huge part of who I am. Music has also helped me cope with other health and family issues that I don't wish to get into details about.

╚═══════ ೋღ ✰ ღೋ ═══════╝

╔═══════ ೋღ ✰ ღೋ ═══════╗

"Our sweetest songs are those that tell the saddest thoughts" -Percy Bysshe Shelley (The Art of Being Human tenth edition, Richard Paul Janaro, Thelma C. Altshuler, Percy Bysshe Shelley, Page 170, left margin)

 around 1583-1666, Jester with lute, Haarlem, Frans Hals

This quote is completely true I'm just not sure why we like sad music. Songs with sadder undertones or just straight-up sad lyrics seem to be more appealing. They make us think and feel so maybe that's why we like them so much. Humans are just big loving babies at times, a lot of people just want to help others feel good or seek out problems. Others I guess just like sad songs because it gives them an excuse to feel sad without having to think about their own personal issues that may be making them sad. Music is a good escape tool but even I find myself listening to sad songs when I want to cheer up.

╚═══════ ೋღ ✰ ღೋ ═══════╝

Chapter 5

╔═══════ ೋღ ✰ ღೋ ═══════╗

"I'm sure marble puts up a good fight too. It's dead, and it resents being hammered into life" -Henrik Ibsen (The Art of Being Human tenth edition, Richard Paul Janaro, Thelma C. Altshuler, Henrik Ibsen, Page 119, right margin quote two) 

1498–1499, The Pietà, Rome, Michelangelo di Lodovico Buonarroti Simoni

Marble is beautiful but difficult to carve in marble. Both the sculptor and the stone resents being hammered. The sculptor has to physically hammer away at the marble, forcefully but carefully. The marble just exists as a stone and doesn't have any actual human emotions. Marble simply is what it is so it doesn't soften or change for the sculptor. I suppose this is the literal way of saying it 'resents being hammered into life' because it literally just wants to exist how it is.

╚═══════ ೋღ ✰ ღೋ ═══════╝

╔═══════ ೋღ ✰ ღೋ ═══════╗

"Man is the measure of all things" -Protagoras (The Art of Being Human tenth edition, Richard Paul Janaro, Thelma C. Altshuler, Protagoras, Page 110, left margin quote two) 

14c, Liber ethicorum des Henricus de Alemannia, single sheet. Scena: Henricus de Alemannia con i suoi studenti, Italy, Laurentius de Voltonlina

When I hear this quote I am reminded of a mother telling their child that they are measuring their patience. Mankind pushes the world to its limit finding its boundaries and still toying with it. It is an issue of how destructive and murderous humans can be. We are the villains in the story of the natural world. Humans also explore and measure nature for good. We discover new things all the time and prove what is possible with what we have.

This can also be interpreted as literally mankind measuring things. Many always seem to feel the need to describe everything. We have a measurement for nearly everything from mathematics to even the Schmidt pain index we try to define our world. Things that people aren't able to describe are often chalked up to gods work.

╚═══════ ೋღ ✰ ღೋ ═══════╝

╔═══════ ೋღ ✰ ღೋ ═══════╗

"I don't think it's very useful to open wide the door for new artists; the ones who break down the door are more interesting" -Paul Schroeder (The Art of Being Human tenth edition, Richard Paul Janaro, Thelma C. Altshuler, Paul Schroeder, Page 148, left margin quote one)

14-15c, De mulieribus claris/ peintresse Thamar. Woman painter, Author unknown

I personally agree with this quote. It is a dangerous thing to join something just because you are comfortable with it. I don't believe things should be handed to people it removes all sense of originality and effort on that person's part. To make a name for yourself you should go against the social norm and decide who you want to be rather than attempt to fit the mold. Art isn't about simply existing it is about everything and nothing at the same time.

No one can pave the road for art only set examples of what can be. Individualism is important in art, No one wants to see the same painting a thousand times over. People like to think and be in awe of art and it's up to the artist to make art like that. Pushing down social barriers for artistic statements can help you make a name for yourself.

╚═══════ ೋღ ✰ ღೋ ═══════╝

Chapter 4

╔═══════ ೋღ ✰ ღೋ ═══════╗

"If you would not be forgotten as soon as you are gone, either write things worth reading or do things worth writing" -Carson McCullers (The Art of Being Human tenth edition, Richard Paul Janaro, Thelma C. Altshuler, Carson McCullers, Page 70, left margin quote three) 

1860,  The Poet Chatterton,  John Joseph Barker:, Auckland Art Gallery

Once you write something it exists forever unlike us. This is especially true if you post it on the Internet or upload it to any sort of cloud.  It's good to strive to be so influential that you are written about as well. We are all able to discover scientific breakthroughs or make technological advancements for the rest of the world. Hopefully, you go down in written history as a hero and not a villain. Soldiers, Priests, Activists, Politicians will all be remembered forever in the common world, for the best or worst

When you write it doesn't have to be about something that's currently happening or philosophy you believe in. Journals and Diaries become popular to historians in the future to note how people in the past acted. So why not go ahead and be remembered in history as you are! They may even teach about you in a class one day. Even if its something like creative writing that serves no purpose but a creative outlet for you writing is an amazing pastime and can be enjoyed by others. We don't need stories about magic and fantasy themes but the public idolizes them. You can be an amazing author even if it is not popular in your time period.

Personally, I don't feel the need to be remembered in history I just want to be able to make an impact in some peoples lives. Which is fine not everyone fears being forgotten. Your name could live on by verbal stories portraying your kind or rude deeds. Being written about isn't the only way to stop being forgotten. But there is so much writing nowadays that being written about or writing may never be seen again. With technology, there is an abundance of information.

╚═══════ ೋღ ✰ ღೋ ═══════╝

╔═══════ ೋღ ✰ ღೋ ═══════╗

"The poet speaks to all men of that other life of theirs that they have smothered and forgotten." -Dame Edith Sitwell (The Art of Being Human tenth edition, Richard Paul Janaro, Thelma C. Altshuler, Dame Edith Sitwell, Page 74, left margin quote two)

1887,  The young adventures, France, Charles Théodore ((Frère Bey) Frère

When we grow older we are taught that a lot of our normal wants and emotions are wrong and shameful. Whether that be from religion or social norms we change and forget how we use to act.

What the philosopher Friedrich Nietzsche said about Christianity applies to this very well. He often spoke about how it was wrong that Christianity taught you that your natural emotions of envy were wrong and that you must suppress and ignore them. To be an obedient person meant to be mindlessly submissive to one that you hate. These are not our natural instincts and not how we naturally feel.

Poetry can take all that hidden emotion that you have bawled up and express it without shame. It's easy to break apart our beliefs at times and point out the flaws in them by simply using words and rhymes. Poetry sometimes makes us sit and evaluate what we are reading and like a lot of writing it shows us a new perspective.

╚═══════ ೋღ ✰ ღೋ ═══════╝

╔═══════ ೋღ ✰ ღೋ ═══════╗

"The storyteller takes over to recount the event, and this is the one who survives, who outlives all the others. It is the storyteller in fact that makes us what we are." -Chinua Achebe (The Art of Being Human tenth edition, Richard Paul Janaro, Thelma C. Altshuler, Chinua Achebe, Page 92, left margin)

1849-1896ish, English: The storyteller, Ricardo Villegas Cordero

Stories are made from wonder and are remembered for generations. There are many families that pass down their own family or communities stories as well as making urban legends.The stories outlive those who tell them and carry the message or moral with them. Take fairy tails as an example. Originally tales like Cinderella and Snow White were just tales passed down from generations (and eventually written out by the Grimm brothers) and are still well known today. Although pieces of the stories were changed to fit a new generation and make it more digestible they still exist. The violence in both of the stories were lowered so they resonate with modern families they still have the same overall plot. In Cinderella, it is a mistreated stepdaughter who finds her prince charming at a ball. The main differences is small things like her stepsister's eyes not being picked out by birds or her stepmother being forced to wear burning shoes until she died as punishment. These tales long outlived those who first told them and the same can be said for many tales.

╚═══════ ೋღ ✰ ღೋ ═══════╝

Chapter 3

"When the best leaders work is done, the people say. 'We did it for ourselves'" -Lau-Tzu (The Art of Being Human tenth edition, Richard Paul Janaro, Thelma C. Altshuler, Lau-Tzu, Page 41, right margin quote two)

13th century, Author unknown, France

To lead isn't to dictate, it's important that a leader is aware of this and can properly balance the workload amongst a group. A good leader doesn't need to take the reigns and order his men around to do all the work, or on the contrary, do all the work himself. A good leader is able to assign people roles that they are most suited for and can train others to fill in the spots that are needed. Maintaining this proper balance gives workers a sense of pride and accomplishment making them believe they could have done it without the guiding hand of their leader. This statement still holds true today and I see it all the time in group activities, work, and even video games.

The 'sort of' opposite of this is also applicable in the real world. A good leader with bad followers won't get recognized for their good deeds as a leader but rather their faults. They will be blamed and ridiculed for every little human mistake they make. But that's just the cost of leading a pack of incompetent individuals.



"I've always preferred mythology to history. History is truth that becomes an illusion. Mythology is an illusion that becomes reality" -Jean Cocteau (The Art of Being Human tenth edition, Richard Paul Janaro, Thelma C. Altshuler, Jean Cocteau, Page 61, right margin quote two)

The Fable of Aráchnē- 1656, Las Hilanderas, Italy, Diego Velázquez

History can honestly be bland and mundane. It is easier to read about how a god or goddess was angry with an opposing king and caused a war between the two then two kings angry over land share. History can also be subjective. Many cultures are wiped out, ignored, and demonized so we are taught incorrectly about them. After all, history is written by the victors

The story of Arachnia in Greek mythology is a good example of how an illusion became a reality. The story is about a woman who was an amazing weaver. She weaved so well people would comment on how she was as talented as the gods. Athena, the goddess born lady, was a jealous one and challenged Arachnia to weave her a story of the gods' sins and secrets and to tell it true (in some tellings she challenges her to a sew-off). In the end, Arachnia sews a beautiful tapestry and completes her challenge revealing the secrets of the gods and proving she could weave as well as any. Athena became enraged and warped Arachnias body into a weaving one, a spider. Some believe this is how spiders were made, a beautiful illusion that is much more interesting than going over evolution and natural causes for the predator to actually exist. The story gives a nice and easy way to learn about the origin of the animal. This story is also where we get the word arachnid for spiders. So the story that holds no actual scientific merit still was influential enough to merit the actual study to be named after it.



"Dreams are private myths. Myths are public dreams" -Joseph Campbell (The Art of Being Human tenth edition, Richard Paul Janaro, Thelma C. Altshuler, Joseph Campbell, Page 43, right margin quote one)

18th century, Aurora and Titonus, Italy, Francesco de Mura

I like the idea that myths are public dreams because many myths readout like odd fever dreams. Many myths simply don't make sense and have many plot holes in them, others seem to be an odd way to rationalize reality (like Arachnia). When you dream it is your own little story. Whether you choose to believe in them or not is your choice. You may believe you are clairvoyant and that your dreams help you predict the future, that would be your own personal belief and myth. If you are to make your dreams public or beliefs on the matter public and they catch on then they may become a myth or a fairy tale, making your dream a public dream.

You could also do what I love to do and take your weird dreams and make them into stories. Even if you don't believe what you dream is true the creativity of the human mind is amazing and I love to see what people unconsciously make up.

Chapter 2

"You miss all the fun if you obey all the rules." -Katharine Hepburn (The Art of being human, Katharine Hepburn, Page 18, Left margin quote two)

17th Century, Market Scene with a Pick-pocket, France, Louise Moillon

Ever since a young age, we are stubborn and refuse to abide by the rules. Why go home at curfew when you can go ride your bike over the hills? Why miss a party when no one will notice you gone? No one is perfect and sometimes the most enjoyable options are the ones we aren't allowed to do. We need to break from the mold at least slightly or people become bland and just plain mundane. It may lead to people simply being lazy because they only strive for what's asked from them and not what they can achieve. Every person has a unique personality and a nice blend of interests, hobbies, preferences. I may art while you love sports, Or you may like math while I like history. We can not be who we are meant to be if we listen to everything everyone tells us to. 

This quote reminds me of one of my favorite quotes 'Rules are mostly made to be broken and are too often for the lazy to hide behind.' (Douglas MacArthur, 1962, MacArthur Close-Up, p. 137) . Of course, they both don't refer to all rules, there will always be certain rules that can not be broken, whether they be social or legal depends on where you are from. But you can't hold all rules on a pedestal. 

"Problems are only opportunities in work clothes." -Henry J. Kaiser (The Art of being human, Henry J. Kaiser, Page 24, Left margin quote two) 

~1660-1663, Self-portrait as a Lutenist, Netherlands,, Jan Steen, Thyssen-Bornemisza Museum,

I should probably start this off by saying why I chose a photo of a bard. From what is taught about medieval bards they were clever and quick on their feet. Although their job was simply to play music and sing many bards would double as spies or simply seek out problems so they may have the ability to blackmail someone with the issues they caused/shared with the bard. Those charlatans managed to use their charisma to manipulate any situation so that it may benefit them. Immortal? Yes of course but it was a job and they did a rather good job. 

You should never bow your head when under pressure. Look around at your surroundings and see how you can make the best of what you have even if you have to break a few rules.

"Other things may change us, but we start and end with family" -Anthony Brandt (The Art of being human, Anthony Brandt, Page 25, Right margin ) 

1579, Scenes from the Life of the Artist's Family, Rome, Federico Zuccari

I take issue with this quote because I can be a rather literal person. Not everyone starts with family some are born to no parents or simply abandoned. We do not always start with family but that does not mean we cannot find our own. An ideal life is to have a kind and supportive family but not everyone is so fortunate.  The family doesn't have to be blood it can be close friends or a significant other. Family can be animals  'The blood of the covenant is thicker than the water of the womb.' (I can't find a proper source for this quote) is a good example of what I'm trying to say. The blood we shed with others forms stronger bonds then family at times. Even when some people start with the family the family you end up with may with a whole different set of people.

Chapter 1

"The ancient Greeks... were convinced that an explanation of, and definition for, Beauty was as concrete and discoverable as the answer to why the days got shorter in winter" - Bruce Maddox (The Art of being human, Bruce Maddox, Page 5, Right margin quote two)

1882, Ancient Greek Female Costume.  London: Sampson Low, Marston, Searle, & Rivington

I agree with the premonition that beauty is in the eye of the beholder. What was beautiful to the greeks would not be beautiful to say someone from an African tribe or a native American. Different cultures shape who, what, how, has beauty and why it's considered beautiful. The Greeks may have been able to perfect their own definition for beauty but that would vary person by person. Personally, I don't even know what I find beautiful so the idea that one concrete thing can be beauty is bizarre. Everyone holds themselves differently and looks better wearing/doing certain things. Also, one's personality contributes to how we perceive them. A supermodel may be demonized as a horrible person because she bad mouthed a disabled person or went on to disrespect someone's culture. The beauty that the public once recognized her for turns to resentment and recognition of a spoiled and shallow human being. Physical beauty is not all there is to the world.



"The most beautiful thing we can experience is the mysterious. It is the source of science" -Albert Einstien (The Art of being human, Albert Einstien, Page 11 right margin quote one)

after 1456, Portrait of Jean Miélot. France 

Mystery sparks wonder in people. If you stare into the unknowing it's just human nature to poke at it and attempt to define it. People are stubborn they don't like not knowing things, it scares them. Mysteries are dangerous and make people go against what their cultures shape them to believe. Even in a utopia, a man will attack to show he is not apart of a machine and that there is more to life then just what is given. The thoughts that something else lies past your current world make people try and create those things. I find it a wonderful thing it makes us creative, and inquisitive! Without the instinct to know a little about everything we would be stuck in the past with little technologies and possibly no religions or arts. What would we need humanities for if we didn't want and wonder what could be?



"Reading is to the mind what exercise is to the body" -Joseph Addison
 (The Art of being human, Joseph Addison Page 10 left margin quote one)

                  1850 and 1855, Monk in White, Seated, Reading. France                       

I have been a bookworm for as long as I can remember. The experiences books can give you are unmatched and irreplaceable. Books give your mind somewhere to drift off to and think about things that would be hard to think about on your own. Once you begin to read you find out new interests that engulf you. Personally, I found out I love psychology and mythology. I love to read about ancient religions and how they believed the gods watched over them. Languages, History, Gods, reading about any of that expands your knowledge and truly is what exercise is to the body.

I believe this quote also correlates to the previous quote about the beauty of mystery. Reading can lead to so many questions that provoke you to read more on the topic or others. I know personally, I have fallen down the rabbit hole of trying to figure out how the hierarchy works in the old Irish Celtic culture before the British caused a large famine and then went on to look at their gods and other traditions. The same can be applied to science because a scientist may read a study about how X is impossible and become infatuated with solving X until eventually they come up with a solution or discover something completely unrelated