"Remembering that I'll be dead soon is the most important tool I've ever encountered to help me make the big choices in life. Because almost everything - all external expectations, all pride, all fear of embarrassment or failure - these things just fall away in the face of death, leaving only what is truly important.
Remembering that you are going to die is the best way I know to avoid the trap of thinking you have something to lose. You are already naked. There is no reason not to follow your heart.
Your time is limited, so don't waste it living someone else's life. Don't be trapped by dogma - which is living with the results of other people's thinking. Don't let the noise of others' opinions drown out your own inner voice."
Steve Jobs, Commencement speech at Stanford University, 2005
9 comments:
Thank you for posting this quote...I'm "stealing" it and reposting it on my blog.
The problem I have with this is the assurance Steve Jobs has in assuming that all other peoples dogma is wrong, and that one can be so trusting of their heart.
Where there are conflicting views most will be wrong but at least one view will be the truth.
If the human heart is to be so trusted why are the prisons so full?
I say don’t let the noise of others opinions drown out your search for the truth, for the truth will set you free. (paraphrase of John 8:32)
What a speech! This will get him remembered for a long time.
Not sure what the rest of the speech was about, but this snippet appears to be all about 'me' (or I!) There is great value in the individual - my own thoughts, creativity, uniqueness, my dreams. But this cannot be the foundation otherwise what is truly important is... to do what you want, not necesarily what is right.
There are many reasons to not follow your heart if your heart is corrupt or even just imperfect. And remembering that there is no justice without judgement is a good way to avoid the trap of thinking that we can do as we please with impunity.
Dear Mr. Kevin Parry,
To promote skepticism/critical thinking I wrote some questions for the Christian believer. Mefiante from South African Skeptics made a good translation. She is now working at the last part. The most sophisticated questions. Are you able to put the link to these questions at your blog.
Thank you very much,
Piet - Rotterdam - Netherlands.
The original questions
http://www.freethinker.nl/forum/viewtopic.php?f=31&t=8382
The translation
http://www.freethinker.nl/forum/viewtopic.php?f=31&t=10033
The first one who did this, was Jonathan. This is a good example.
http://www.limbicnutrition.com/blog/tough-questions-for-believers/
I actually had a comment/question. I've been skeptical about Christianity for awhile now, and have been trying to figure out exactly what to think about it. I just had some food for thought that I wanted to share and hear some feedback on.
So, I was thinking about how people say that there is no 100% surefire way to prove that God exists, that you have to rely mostly on your own faith in God to truly believe.
Now, people also say that even in Christianity itself, there are so many branches and sects of it that have their own differences and beliefs, some slight and some larger.
There is also the belief in Christianity that God is the 100% only way to 'immortality' of the soul, so to say. To true life after death. But if this is true. then how can we really know for sure that we are doing our '100%' to get into heaven, based off of all the different sects of Christianity that there are? How do we know if it's even really attainable since it is so hard to tell which specific road of Christianity so to say, is the right one to follow? Because even though Christians believe that Jesus is the way to God and heaven, and yet there is only a specific way to follow him, how do we know that we are following him correctly?
Sorry if this is confusing. But I would love to hear your thoughts on this.
Hi danica.k
Thank you for your comment. You ask a very good question, but I don't know if I will be able to help, as I'm no longer a Christian myself. I think your question is more directed at Christians, so maybe you will be able to find good responses if you post on a Christian forum, perhaps?
Speaking as an atheist, I can say that for myself, I don't know for sure if God exists or not. However, I suspend belief until convincing evidence is found that supports the many claims that Christians make about their religion.
Best of luck!
Kevin
Thank you Kevin. I will probably go online and ask a Christian what their views are on this.
Just stumbled on your blogsite....very very very soothed by it and the others you link to. Want to share my nascent wayward Preacher's Kid blog with you...
http://www.clergykids.blogspot.com/
Love this Christmas post. You have put into words EXACTLY how I feel at this time.
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