Natasha Josefowitz

All men are brothers, we like to say, half-wishing sometimes in secret it were not true. But perhaps it is true. And is the evolutionary line from protozoan to Spinoza any less certain? That also may be true. We are obliged, therefore, to spread the news, painful and bitter though it may be for some MORE >

Neutrality helps the oppressor, never the victim. Silence encourages the tormentor, never the tormented.” Elie Wiesel, Romanian-born American writer, professor, political activist, Nobel laureate and Holocaust survivor (b. 1928) In other words, speak up when seeing a wrong. This is so true today when people who witness harassing say nothing; they are no better than MORE >

Little girls are cute and small only to adults. To one another they are not cute. They are life-sized.” Margaret Atwood, Canadian poet, novelist, essayist, inventor, teacher, and environmental activist (b. 1939) How often we are fooled by being able to observe only from our very limited perspective, not aware that there are many other MORE >

Love truth, but pardon error.” Voltaire, French Enlightenment writer, historian and philosopher (1694–1778) We cannot get to the truth without having made mistakes along the way. It is a road paved with stumbles; some should not only forgive, but celebrate the attempt.

There is no greater agony than bearing an untold story inside of you.” Maya Angelou, American poet, singer, memoirist and civil rights activist (1928-2014) We are social beings and sharing one’s joys and sorrows increases the joy and diminishes the sorrow.

The best portion of a good man’s life: his little, nameless, unremembered acts of kindness and of love.” William Wordsworth, English romantic poet (1770–1850) Our acts of kindness increase blood flow to our brains and makes us healthier and thus increases longevity.

There are two kinds of light—the glow that illuminates, and the glare that obscures.” James Thurber, American cartoonist, author, journalist and playwright (1894–1961) I wonder whether the glare that obscures is the glare of celebrity which makes people erroneously believe that they are indeed worthy.

Compassion, in which all ethics must take root, can only attain its full breadth and depth if it embraces all living creatures and does not limit itself to mankind.” Albert Schweitzer, philosopher, physician, musician, Nobel laureate (1875–1965) This is being applied today to our domestic animals—not keeping chickens in small cages, calves in tight stalls, MORE >

There is an eloquence in true enthusiasm that is not to be doubted.” Washington Irving, American writer, historian and diplomat (1783-1859) Whenever one is enthusiastic, one is having fun and wants to share that fun.

Whenever anyone has offended me, I try to raise my soul so high that the offense cannot reach it.” Rene Descartes, French philosopher, mathematician and scientist (1596–1650) What also works for me is to feel compassion for the offending person who must feel upset or angry in order to want to offend.