Age was respected among his people, but achievement was revered. As the elders said, if a child washed his hands he could eat with kings.
Interpretation
Achievements are valued more than age among certain cultures, indicating that meritocracy is essential.
This quote emphasizes the importance of achievement and merit over mere age or seniority within a community. It reflects a cultural perspective where the contributions and successes of individuals, regardless of their age, are celebrated and acknowledged, suggesting that respect is earned through actions rather than simply given due to one's age.
In practice
In a discussion about cultural values during a leadership seminar.
In fact, I thought that Christianity was very a good and a very valuable thing for us. But after a while, I began to feel that the story that I was told about this religion wasn't perhaps completely whole, that something was left out.
Writers don't give prescriptions. They give headaches!
Mr. Brown had thought of nothing but numbers. He should have known that the kingdom of God did not depend on large crowds. Our Lord Himself stressed the importance of fewness. Narrow is the way and few the number. To fill the Lord's holy temple with an idolatrous crowd clamoring for signs was a folly of everlasting consequence. Our Lord used the whip only once in His life - to drive the crowd away from His church.
It is the storyteller who makes us what we are, who creates history. The storyteller creates the memory that the survivors must have - otherwise their surviving would have no meaning.
Writing has always been a serious business for me. I felt it was a moral obligation. A major concern of the time was the absence of the African voice. Being part of that dialogue meant not only sitting at the table but effectively telling the African story from an African perspective - in full earshot of the world.
An angry man is always a stupid man.
Speak of the moderns without contempt and of the ancients without idolatry; judge them all by their merits, but not by their age
Even in dreams, you could not fall forever.
Knowledge is of more value than gold
In a futile attempt to erase our past, we deprive the community of our healing gift. If we conceal our wounds out of fear and shame, our inner darkness can neither be illuminated nor become a light for others.
With gentleness overcome anger. With generosity overcome meanness. With truth overcome deceit.
Consciously or not, we are all on a quest for answers, trying to learn the lessons of life. We grapple with fear and guilt. We search for meaning, love, and power. We try to understand fear, loss, and time. We seek to discover who we are and how we can become truly happy.
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