Evil is committed without effort, naturally, fatally; goodness is always the product of some art.
..Men do not sufficiently realize that their future is in their own hands. Theirs is the task of determining first of all whether they want to go on living or not. Theirs is the responsibility, then, for deciding if they want merely to live, or intend to make just the extra effort required for fulfilling, even on this refractory planet, the essential function of the universe, which is a machine for the making of gods.”
In countries where there is a mild climate, less effort is expended on the struggle with nature and man is kinder and more gentle.
Someone has said that it requires less mental effort to condemn than to think.
What is written without effort is in general read without pleasure.”
As we observe children, we see the vitality of their spirit, the maximum effort put forth in all they do, the intuition, attention and focus they bring to all life’s events, and the sheer joy they experience in living.
Again, it may be said, that to love justice and equality the people need no great effort of virtue; it is sufficient that they love themselves.
It is a surprising fact that those who object most violently to the manipulation of behaviour nevertheless make the most vigorous effort to manipulate minds.
I have made a ceaseless effort not to ridicule, not to bewail, not to scorn human actions, but to understand them.
To listen is an effort, and just to hear is no merit. A duck hears also.
Art is the symbol of the two noblest human efforts: to construct and to refrain from destruction.