“It is wonderful how much time good people spend fighting the devil.
If they would only expend the same amount of energy loving their fellow men,
the devil would die in his own tracks of ennui.” - Helen Keller
If they would only expend the same amount of energy loving their fellow men,
the devil would die in his own tracks of ennui.” - Helen Keller
The first thought that I had when I read this...was, so true. Probably, simply because it was said by the great Helen Keller. But as I think about it some more, I do not agree. At all.
The devil does not really need any provocation. He is just evil at the core, and cannot really help it. If he was bored, he would wreak more havoc to get attention instead of leaving the peaceful folks peacefully and happily live their lives. So the good people HAVE to spend time fighting the devil. That their loved ones get neglected in the process, is just sad :(
Am thinking of Gandhi's family, saw the movie "Gandhi, My Father" some time back. I felt really sorry for his son. In trying to save the nation, his father completely neglected him. In all his failed and convoluted attempts at success, all I could see was this all-consuming urge to prove his worth to his father. Not to anyone else, only to his very own father. The bar that was set as a side-effect of the "greatness" of his father was probably too high for this mere mortal. I felt so sorry for him.
And look what this post started with, and where it ended. I need to reign in my thoughts :)
12 comments:
luved ur post..hellen keller is one of my all time gr8 inspirations..and ur true that the devil is always within..sons of gr8 ppl always have to face the competition wit their own dad or mom..take the case of Abhishek Bachchan or Esha Deol..
try checking out my blog and try commenting on the posts..i really liked ur blog thats y am following u..try returning the favour..
www.headacheandtension.blogspot.com
I liked the post for some reason....i also end up thinking like this a lot many times.
I never liked gandhi anyway. I think he had a personal agenda alongside..resting with all that he did. But then again, thats just my opinion.
Coming to the quote. She says as if its a bad thing to fight the devil ? So is one supposed to be doing what the devil wants him to? This quote beats me. :|
Thanks Prateek.
Well Abhishek and Esha at least have their parents' support. This fellow didn't have that, which is why I felt sorry for him.
Will check your blog soon.
Ria, yeah, we all do get philosophical at times :)
Ella, I am pretty neutral about Gandhi. Whichever way he did it, he at least did something for the country, and was successful too!
Yep, the quote totally doesn't make sense, na? Devil doesn't get bored like that :)
Yeah, agree. Will give him that. whatever he did, worked out for the mass.
Touche.
Well, the same is true for Einstein's or even Gautam Buddha.
They both were great philosophers and scientist's. People admire them for different reasons. But they both failed as a father and a husband.
I guess, great men/women who make such huge contribution to the world balance out their contribution by paying personal costs...else they wouldn't be what they are!
They are people with some shortcomings like the rest of us.
Thus, emphasizing, that we all have the potential to be like them as well.. but are we willing to accept the cost, like they did!
Tanu,
I never doubted Gandhi's greatness, just feeling bad for his son. After all, it was not HIS choice that his father choose the path he did. And I feel worse for him because, according to the movie, Gandhi was never even nice to him.
As for giving things up and bearing a "personal cost", they all just did what they felt like doing. Domesticity did not appeal to them. Giving up domesticity, without thinking about what is to be of the children they leave behind, is probably one of the most selfish thing a person can do.
Hey K, I read the post and have got a question for you.
Do you think devil is born like that or they become?
Nice post. I agree that when people set out to work for the bigger picture, thjey have less time for their families - which can indeed have devastating repercussions.
waoooo it was nice visit here!!
plz welcome to my blog...i hope u hv good time over there ..!!
Jai HO Mangalmay HO
Post a Comment