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. 

Ralph Waldon Emerson 1803-1882

This was an awesome speech and had some awesome points within it. I really liked how it said, " the world looks like a multiplication-table, or a mathematical equation, which turn it how you will, balances itself ". How true that is, everywhere you look there is good and bad in some way, shape or form. Where there are trees and flowers so will there be weeds. Where there are good people, so are there bad people. There are bad people, I think, to help the good people learn patience, kindness to everyone no matter how mean they are. I also like how it said, "Every act rewards itself, or in other words integrates itself, in a twofold manner". Or in other words for every action there is a consequence. When you are good to others, they will in turn help others, and everyone can enjoy the attitude of helping other. The same thing goes for those who steal and hurt others. Someday they will be punished and they will have to deal with the consequences of their actions. This was a very good speech and had alot of positives points that are great for everyone to take into account. 

The Hermetic Writings 3rd Century

Wow. I really liked the message of this writing. I liked how it said, " Realize that nothing is impossible for you; recognize that you too are immortal and that you can embrace all things in your mind". How true that is. Nothing can stop you if you have the right attitude. If you want to bad enough you can accomplish anything. Nothing is impossible, if you want to become a millionaire, work hard, if you to be a certain profession, do well in school and you can accomplish anything. I liked how is said, " wanting to know God is the road that leads to God, and it is an easy road to travel". As we have a desire to become like God and be better as a person, it is easier to move forward in what we choose to do. It then says, " God will come to meet you everywhere, he will appear to you everywhere, in all times and places when you least expect it". Although we dont realize it, God is everywhere. He created the world and all things within it. He is there for us in everything we do and wants what is best for us. He puts different tools in our life to help us out and make us better people. This was a great speech and had some awesome insight. 

Heraclitus 6th-5th Century B.C.E

I really liked some of the points in the speech and thought they had awesome meaning. I liked how it started the speech of by saying,"all things flow". I think it is up to us a person to decide if we will make all things flow. Or if we will get upset and out of order if everything doesn't go our way. It is our responsibility as individuals to take control of our life and as a result make things flow, no matter what comes our way. It then goes on to say, " the sun is new everyday". Everyday is a new day. We can learn, forget tomorrow and better our lives and the people we are day by day. They sun is new everyday and we too can change and be a new person everyday. I loved how it said, " opposition brings together, and from discord comes perfect harmony".  As we are able to associative ourselves with others that have different perspectives and are opposite we become more well-rounded as people. The more things that we are a part of that are opposite from ourselves, we are able to know how to react and treat others that are different. In turn this opposition helps us to become better, more knowledgeable people. I thought that the second to last line had the most meaning. It said, " to men, some things are good and some things are bad. But to God, all things are good and beautiful and just". Although it is so easy to have a negative attitude towards different things, it is our choice how we will see and appreciate things. God knows that all things are just and beautiful and knows the importance and reason for each and everything. We need to have a better attitude towards all things allowing us to see the importance, with the same eye that God sees things. This was a great speech and very important. 

Abu Hamid Al-Ghazali 1058-1111

I really like how this speech starts off. It reads, " All beauty is loved by those who are able to perceive beauty, for the perception of beauty is a delight in itself ". When people are able to become more aware of beauty they come to a greater appreciation or the many beautiful things. It then goes on to talk about all of the many things with beauty, the birds, trees, plants, running water, flowers, etc. It then says, " It cannot be denied that where beauty is perceived it is natural to love it, an if it is certain that god is beauty, he must be loved  by those whom his beauty and his majesty are revealed". We see the many beautiful things that god has made and know that he is the creator and maker of all beauty. We come to an appreciation that god has made all these beautiful things for our good and how much he wants us to do good. Everything that is good is from god. It reads, " In truth, there is nothing good or beautiful or beloved in this world that does not come from his lovingkindness and is not the gift of his grace, a draught from the sea of his bounty". Although it may be hard to realize that all good things come from god, as we do, it will be easier to look for the positive instead of the negative. This will allow us to come to realize that god wants the best for us and in doing so he gives us his friends, family and this beautiful world to learn and grow. Great speech. 

Muhammad 570-632

One thing that I found very interesting was that Islam meant, "surrender to god". When you do this your life really does change and you have a whole different perspective in how you look at life, others and the world in which you live. I really liked how it said that, "all that is in the heavens and in the earth magnifies god". In other words everything that is good comes from god, in some way or another. The beauty of the trees comes from god, the sparkling lakes and rushing rivers, all aspects of good are from god. Animals come from god, people come from god, all positive things come from god. I also like how it said, " Do not despise the world, for the world too is god". Wherever you turn is God's face". Pretty much god is everywhere. He knows the desires and thoughts that you have, whether they be good or whether they be bad. He knows who we are as people and can help us when we struggle. He may put people in our path to uplift us or may help us in other ways, but he knows who we are as individuals. I really like the last two sentences of the speech. It closes it off and really makes you come to think. He says, " Whoever knows himself knows god". "True religion is surrender". As we come to an understanding off our self and out potential we realize who god really is and the important role he can play in our lives. Lastly as we surrender our lives to god and do good with our lives and actions, this is when we truly come to know about god and his religion. This was a great speech.