Wednesday, August 20, 2008

My Top Ten from Atheist’s table

These thoughts (which you will read below) are not mine... Alas they are so well known and carry so much of depth that I can’t even fabricate it. They are my Top Ten Favorites from great atheists of all time... a take on life & humanity

Number 10, Samuel Butler:

"Man, unlike the animals, has never learned that the sole purpose of life is to enjoy it."
We fell into this existence almost like thieves. It was never promised or ordained for us. The evolutionary miracle of miracles that we got to exist at all! And we promptly set about inventing all manner of things to bring ourselves the most misery humanly possible. I don’t say we Indians lead from front but surely we are not far behind.

Number 9, David Russell:
"Everything is worth precisely as much as a belch, the difference being that a belch is more satisfying."
I like his films and then learnt he was an atheist...

Number 8, Mark Twain:
"In his private heart no man much respects himself."
And how could he? From the time he is sucking his right thumb he is told he is weak, low, sinning, dirty, offending, downright stinky, told this life is a mere dress rehearsal for something better, and in need of some kind of miraculous salvation. This is our noble way of ensuring excellence in humanity.

Number 7, Oscar Wilde:
"To love oneself is the beginning of a lifelong romance."
And Oscar awards were named after him!!!

Number 6, Ingmar Bergman:
"We live in a Newtonian world of Einsteinian psychics ruled by Frankenstein logic."
Got to read this one twice to understand it...maybe more I like it merely by the flow of words and poetic license it carries.

Number 5, James Branch Cabell:
"MUNDIS VULT DECIPI" (The world wants to be deceived)
And will pay handsomely for its deception. Prophets, poets, priests, politicians, psychics and gurus need I say more...

Number 4, William Shakespeare:
"Nothing is good or bad, but our thinking makes it so."
Truly, one of the most important concepts ever penned from one the great who held it. What the world believes at any given moment is simply the prevailing popular opinion subjected to change with the next tide.

Number 3, Francis Bacon:
"Man prefers to believe what he prefers true."
Pretty much similar to Shakespeare's sentiments, Bacon's statement is really the short history of the world. Evolving into scary environs, man set about inventing a swirling dust cloud of illusions to barricade himself from the harshness of life.

Number 2 Mark Twain:
"Such is the human race...often it does seem such a pity that Noah...didn't miss the boat."
Who can argue with that?

Number One Anonymous

“Shaani Gadhi do baar thukti hai” – A smart female donkey gets humped twice.
On serious note I think it also means we set ourselves up for lifelong disappointment and misery when we fail to live up to our fantasy life...

That’s my take it will be good to know your favorites as well.

1 comment:

Anonymous said...

The First one... i guess we know who used to say that... sahi cheez yaad dilaai bhai...back to good old college days....

Rahul