Ludwig Wittgenstein

I really liked this and thought it was so very true. I love how it said, " The solution of the problem that you see in life is to live in a way that will make what is problematic disappear. The fact that life is problematic means that life doesn't fit into life's shape. So you must change your life, and when it fits into shape, what is problematic disappears". This is a great summary that describes how we need to hit the pitches we are thrown in life and keep moving on. So many people get caught up in the bad things in life they are dealing with and not all the good. They therefore need to allow their life to fit into life's shape and realize all the good that can come from their life. I also like how it said, " The truth can be spoken only by someone who already lives inside it; not by someone who still lives in untruth and only sometimes reaches out from untruth toward it". My dad has always told me actions speak louder than words. This has really rung out to me in everyday life and with those that I associate with. You can really tell of those who are a part of the truth. This is shown through their actions and the way they manifest themselves. This is why I feel that there is no better way to show people the truth than by your example and the way you live your life. This was a great speech. 

Isaac of Nineveh

Wow this was an awesome speech and had some really interesting and true points. I like how is said, and described the love that people have. When it said, "There is love like a small lamp, which goes out when the oil is consumed; or like a stream, which dries up when it doesn't rain. But there is a love that is like a mighty spring gushing up out of the earth; it keeps flowing forever and is inexhaustible". I really like hoe he says this. I think there are people like a lamp, they love only a certain few and get made rather easy. Then there are those have a stream, love others and want to help others but get made on occasion. There are then those like a spring, who love everyone and are always looking for ways to help others, those that change the world. I also like how it says when we pray to forget ourselves and dont fill your prayers with things that will benefit you. Rather we need to realize all that we have. It reads, " At every moment we trust out Father in heaven, whose love infinitely surpasses the love of all earthly fathers and who gives us more than we ourselves could ask for or ever imagine". We have so much that we dont realize all that we are blessed with. We need to take a step back and come to a realization of all we have and look for ways of how to help others. This was a great speech. 

Symeon The New Theologian

I liked this speech and loved how it was simple and short but profound. I liked how it begins, when it reads, " When a man walks into the sea up to his knees or waist, he can see the water all around him. But when he dives into the water, he can no longer see anything outside, and he knows only that his whole body is in the water. This is what happens to those who plunge into the visions of God". I think when someone really has a desire to learn something they really need to read and want to know. They cant be half way in the water but need to fully dive into the truth and wanting to know. Once they immerse themselves in the truth it is much easier to learn and grow allowing yourself to become a better person. I love how it said,"the more a man enters the light if understanding, the more aware he is of his own ignorance". Once a person finds the light it is much easier for him/her to grow and realize how much they have to learn. The light of truth enables the ignorance to be uncovered, which allows learning to take place enriching lives of many. Once we take a step back and realize that truth will only help us, it is much easier to see the whole picture and learn and grow from every life experience. 

Abu Abdallah Al-Harith Al-Muhasibi

I really liked this speech and thought it was cool how it started out. I liked when it said, "When love is established in the heart of a servant of god, there is no place there for remembrance of men or demons or of Paradise of Hell, or for anythings except the remembrance of the Beloved and his grace". I think that as we have good things in our life it is much harder for bad things to over take us when we are associated with good things that uplifting. I also like how it said, " This is the description of the lovers of God, who do righteousness, who are gifted with heavenly wisdom, who are on their guard both day and night, pure in thoughts, those whom God has prepared for his service, whom he has preserved by his care, whom he has invested with his own authority". Those who love God and have a true meaning of what love means really strive to go about doing good and helping others with a positive attitude. They know what love is and therefore want to share the love that God has given them with others around them. I really like how it continues, " They are completely satisfied, for they live the good life, their bliss is eternal and their joy is made perfect and they possess an everlasting treasure within their hearts". I think those that serve others dont need a reward but rather enjoy seeing those who they help serve express joy and happiness. They have a everlasting treasure within their hearts and that is they joy they get from helping others. 

Thomas Traherne 1637-1674

I thought this speech started of with a very profound statement. When it said, " You never enjoy the world aright till you see how a sand exhibits the wisdom and power of God; and prize in everything the service which they do you by manifesting His glory and goodness to your soul, far more than the visible beauty on their surface or material services they can do your body". I think those that really see the beauty of the world are those that can see the simple things of nature. They dont need a masterpiece to see the beauty and realize that beauty is everywhere. I really liked what it said about having respect for other. How much of a difference it would make and how much better the world would be if people followed this passage. " Your enjoyment is never right till you esteem every soul so great a treasure as the savior does". As you look at others with greater respect as the savior does, it allows you to see the good in others and realize everybody has the chance to do good in the world. If everyone esteemed every soul so great a treasure as the savior does, we wouldn't have wars, robberies, murders, and so many things that destroy other peoples lives. I really liked this speech and thought that it had many profound things that we can follow to help make the world a better more enjoyable place to live. 

Abu Sa'id Ibn Abi'l Khayr (967-1049)

I really liked this speech and thought that it had alot of interesting points. I thought it was cool how it said, " But still you think "I Love" and find no rest until you perceive that it is god who loves you and keeps you in the state of loving, and that this is the result of divine love and grace, not of your own endeavor". I think to many people get caught up in themselves when in reality think it is me, me, me. People that get themselves into trouble are those that think I can do it al myself i dont need anyones help, when truly god gives us our opportunities to do good in life. I also like how it said, "then god opens to you the gate of unity and causes you to know that all action depends on god almighty". I really liked when it talked about not talking bad about others. It said, " if men wish to draw near to God, they must seek him in the hearts of men. They should speak well of all men, whether present or absent, and if they themselves seek to be a light to guide others, then, like the sun, they must show the same face to all". I think some people act one way around a certain people and another way around others. When in reality if they are trying to be a light they should be the same around everyone. I loved how it closed, when it reads, " The true man of God sits in the the midst of his fellow-men, and rises and eats and sleeps and marries and buys and sells and gives and takes in the bazaars and spends the days with other people, and yet never forgets God even for a single moment". How true that is, every man who is a man of god never forgets him and keeps him at the top of their list in all their activities. You those who are really men of God through their actions and the way they live their lives. GREAT SPEECH. 

Henry David Thoreau 1817-1862

I really liked this speech and thought it was full of some profound ideas. I loved how it said, " children, who play life, discern its true law and relations more clearly than men, who fail to live it worthily, but who think they are wiser by experience that is by failure". I really like how that was stated. It reminded me of the scripture passage that we must become as a little child to enter into the gates of the kingdom. Little children are so pure, innocent and have such a positive outlook on life. We need to look to children as the example, how to treat others and forgive and forget. I also like how it said, " when we are unhurried and wise, we perceive that only great and worthy things have permanent and absolute existence, that petty fears and petty pleasures are but the shadow of reality". Wow. This is awesome and really shows that we need to take a step back in life and look at what really matters. That although we may get caught up in small or petty things they are just shadows of reality. When we take a step back and are unhurried, we see the things that bring joy and happiness, rather then getting mad and caught up with the tiny things of life. When we get busy step back, calm down and look at life with the same perspective of a child. This was a great speech.