…the cell is an ideal place to learn to know yourself, to search realistically and regularly the process of your own mind and feelings. In judging our progress as individuals we tend to concentrate on external factors such as one’s social position, influence and popularity, wealth and standard of education. These are, of course important in measuring one’s successs in material matters and it is perfectly understandable if many people exert themselves mainly to achieve all these. But internal factors may be even more crucial in assessing one’s development as a human being. Honesty, sincerity, simplicity, humility, pure generosity, absence of vanity, readiness to serve others – qualities which are within easy reach of every soul – are the foundation of one’s spiritual life. Development in matters of nature is inconceivable without serious introspection, without knowing yourself, your weaknesses and mistakes.


Nelson Mandela - From a letter to Winne Mandela in Kroonstad Prison, February 1975 - in Conversations with Myself

From the outset, Standard Oil was permeated by an us-versus-them attitude that emanated from the top AT moments, Rockefeller made it sound as if he and his colleagues were a band of early Chrsitians, misundrestood by the pagans. In this moralistic frame of mind, he was bound to see his opponents as benighted, misguided people, 'governed by their narrow jealousies and unwarranted prejuidces' and unaware that the old gods were now obsolete. Rockefeller developed an inverted worldview, accusing his critics of exactly the same sins of which they accused him. Far from seeing himself as a rascal or bully, the Standard Oil chieftain prsented himself as a respectable gentleman who attempted in vain to reason with wicked independents. In his correspondence, Rocekfeller betrayed a characteristicc manner of referring to his rivals: they were selfish people forever stirring up trouble or creating annoyances, like so many mischievous children who needed a good stiff spanking from father. never conceding any legitimacy to dissent, Riocekfeller denigrated his critics as blackmailers, sharpsters and crooks. he was now dangerously impervious to criticism.

Titan, Ron Chenow - page 155

All other religions offer as salvation some form of liberation from ordinary humanness. Salvation is seen as escape from the shackles of individuality and physical embodiment into some kind of transcendent spiritual existence. Biblical salvation lies not in an escape from this world but in the transformation of this world. You will not find hope for the world in any of the religious systems or philosophies of humankind. the biblical vision is unique. That is why when some say there is salvation in other faiths too, I ask them "what salvation are you talking about?" No faith holds out a promise of eternal salvation for the world - the ordinary world - that the cross and resurrection of Jesus do.