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Struggle and The Purpose of Life

David Price
4 min readNov 4, 2023

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Ron francis (b.1954)

…The great achievements of inner life begin with the small ones, in practical existence. I take the stairs and not the elevator, I get up from the table with a sense of hunger and I don’t starve, I don’t put the air conditioning or heating on maximum, I bear a bit of heat or cold. Indulging the body in its desire for comfort means pushing the spirit into the fog of obscurity.

…Without struggle, there is no construction. Without construction, there is no sense. Here comes desperation, depression and panic attacks…

Susanna Tamaro (1957), More Fire More Wind

We suffer when we write from the popular delusion of inspiration or flow. That expectation tells us we’re screwing up. To forge a piece of language that might reach another human heart is labor. Start over every second.

— Mary Karr

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A Splendid Torch

This is the true joy in life, the being used for a purpose recognized by yourself as a mighty one…

I am of the opinion that my life belongs to the whole community, and as long as I live it is my privilege to do for it whatever I can.

George Bernard Shaw

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Maybe if we all learn to silence the noise of the world, the mystery might open its

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David Price
David Price

Written by David Price

I write about creativity, loving, language learning and psycho/spirituality. I’m a longtime painter and reader.

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