Sapientia

Non-violence should be the fi rst, foremost, intuitive, and persistent response to oppression and violence, and should always be used to protect oneself. However, other people need protection as well, and it is not Astrivian to let violence and suffering last without an attempt to stop or ease it. For those who find themselves powerless, which is all of us at some point, Astrivians are there to lend aid. Even still, selfless acts of sacrifice should be made before any physical retaliation. We do not take sides; we merely try to ease the suffering. If the oppressors starve a people, give the hungry food to eat. If they try to kill by exposing them to the cold, give the shivering blankets and clothing. If one must attack one side or the other, remember they are not demons or devils but people like you. Do not wish them harm or damnation, and do all possible to fight without fighting.

Quotations

These quotes are meant to inspire and clarify, not define the various traditions. There is no order to the quotations under the specific tradition. While this may make it difficult to search, the scattering is meant to portray a larger concept: there is no order or hierarchy amongst world religions.Similarly, some quotes are not even from sacred or spiritual texts in the traditional sense; inspiration can come from any source.

Our sources are listed at the end along with the ISBN’s of our texts. We encourage all readers to consult the original source (preferably in the original language) for their own spiritual guidance and clarification.

Feel free to add comments with your own favorite quotations.

“To free a neck

(from the burden of dept or slavery),

or to feed in times of famine

the orphan near in relationship,

or the poor in distress;

and to be of those who believe,

and urge upon one another to be persevere,

and urge upon each other to be kind.

They are the people of the right hand [of God].”

(Al-Qur’ān, 90:13-18 )

Jesus speaking: “’Blessed are the peacemakers, for they shall be called sons of God.’”

(The Bible, Matthew 5:9)

“Finally, and this is the last straw, the judgment of most people is based not on the merits of a case but on the fortune of its outcome; they think that only things which turn out happily are good. As a result, the first thing an unfortunate man loses is his good reputation. I (Boethius) cannot bear to think of the rumors and various opinions that are now going around; I can only say that the final misery of adverse fortune is that when some poor man is accused of a crime, it is thought that he deserves whatever punishment he has to suffer.”

(Boethius, p. 14)

Jesus speaking: “’You have heard that it was said to those of old, “You shall not murder, and whoever murders will be in danger of the judgment.”

‘But I say to you that whoever is angry with his brother without a cause shall be in danger of the judgment. And whoever says to his brother, “Raca!” shall be in danger of the council. But whoever says “You fool!” shall be in danger of hell fire.

‘Therefore if you bring your gift to the altar, and there remember that your brother has something against you,

‘leave your gift there before the altar, and go your way. First be reconciled to your brother, and then come offer your gift.’”

(The Bible, Matthew 5:21-24)

“You have been told that, even like a chain, you are as weak as your weakest link.

This is but half the truth. You are also as strong as your strongest link.

To measure you by your smallest deed is to reckon the power of ocean by the frailty of its foam.

To judge you by your failures is to cast blame upon the seasons for their inconstancy.”

(Gibran, The Prophet, p. 86)

Jesus speaking: “’Blessed are the meek for they shall inherit the earth.’”

(The Bible, Matthew 5:5)

Jesus speaking: “’Blessed are the merciful, for they shall obtain mercy.’”

(The Bible, Matthew 5:7)

“Weapons are the tools of fear;

a decent man will avoid them

except in the direst necessity

and, if compelled, will use them

only with the utmost restraint.

Peace is his highest value.

If the peace has been shattered,

how can he be content?

His enemies are not demons,

but human beings like himself.

He doesn’t wish them personal harm.

Nor does he rejoice in victory.

How could he rejoice in victory

and delight in the slaughter of men?

He enters a battle gravely

with sorrow and with great compassion,

as if he were attending a funeral.”

(Tao te Ching, ch. 31)

“Not ignoring what is good, I am quick to perceive a horror, and could still be social with it—would they let me—since it is but well to be on friendly terms with all the inmates of the place one lodges in.”

(Moby Dick, p. 16)

“In fact, he who is really free through knowledge is a slave because of love for those who have not yet been able to attain to the freedom of knowledge.”

(Nag Hammadi, The Gospel of Philip, p. 155)

“Oftentimes I have heard you speak of one who commits a wrong as though he were not one of you, but a stranger unto you an intruder upon your world.

But I say that even as the holy and the righteous cannot rise beyond the highest witch is in each one of you,

So the wicked and the weak cannot fall lower than the lowest which is in you also.

And as a single leaf turns not yellow but with the silent knowledge of the whole tree,

So the wrong-doer cannot do wrong without the hidden will of you all.

Like a procession you walk together towards your god-self.

You are the way and the wayfarers.

And when one of you falls down he falls for those behind him, a caution against the stumbling stone.

Ay, and he falls for those ahead of him, who though faster and surer of foot, yet removed not the stumbling stone.”

(Gibran, The Prophet, p. 41)

“There is no greater illusion than fear,

no greater wrong than preparing to defend yourself,

no greater misfortune than having an enemy.”

(Tao te Ching, ch. 46)

“Through trust in Providence neglect not to use means.”

(God’s Breath, Book of Rumi, p. 174)

“But you may argue that evil men are capable of action, I will not deny it, but such capability is the product of weakness, not of strength.”

(Boethius, p. 80)

Jesus speaking: “’But I say to you, love your enemies, bless those who curse you, do good to those who hate you, and pray for those who spitefully use you and persecute you.’”

(The Bible, Matthew 5:44)

“Knowing the divine and doing wrong to no person is the fight for reverence.”

(Hermetica, Corpus Hermeticum X, v. 19)

“O you who believe,

stand up as witness for God in all fairness,

and do not let the hatred of a people

deviate you from justice.

Be just: This is the closest to piety…”

(Al-Qur’ān, 5:8 )

Jesus speaking: “’You have heard that it was said, “An eye for an eye and a tooth for a tooth.”

‘But I tell you not to resist an evil person. But whoever slaps you on your right cheek, turn the other to him also.

‘If anyone wants to sue you and take away your tunic, let him have your cloak also.

‘And whoever compels you to go one mile, go with him two.

‘Give to him who asks you, and from him who wants to borrow from you do not turn away.’”

(The Bible, Matthew 5:38-42)

“It follows that if something is found to be imperfect in its kind, there must necessarily be something of that same kind, which is perfect. For without a standard of perfection we cannot judge anything to be imperfect.”

(Boethius, p. 61)

“Even so, when a messenger

brought to you what did not suit your mood

you turned haughty,

and called some imposters

and some others you slew.”

(Al-Qur’ān, 2:87)

“And do not let your hatred

of a people who had barred you from the Holy Mosque

lead you to aggression.

But help on another in goodness and piety,

and do not assist in crime and rebellion…”

(Al-Qur’ān, 5:2)

“The Tao doesn’t take sides;

it gives birth to both good and evil means

The Master doesn’t take sides;

she welcomes both saints and sinners.”

(Tao te Ching, ch. 5)

“O people of the Book,

do not be fanatical in your faith…”

(Al-Qur’ān, 4:171)

“A man who does evil to someone will not be able to worship God.”

(Nag Hammadi, The Sentences of Sextus, p. 507)

“It is God’s business to save whom he wants; on the other hand, it is the business of the pious man to beseech God to save everyone.”

(Nag Hammadi, The Sentences of Sextus, p. 507)

Sources

Bhagavad Gita. (c. 500 B.C.E to 100 C.E.; trans. 2000). (Stephen Mitchell trans.). New York: Harmony Books.

ISBN: 060960550X

Boethius (524 C.E; trans. 1962). The Consolation of Philosophy. (Richard Green trans.). New Jersey: Macmillan Publishing Company.

ISBN: 002346450X

Gibran, Kahlil. (first printed 1923, this edition: 2001). The Prophet. New York: Alfred A Knopf.

ISBN: 0394404289

Hermetica. (1992). (Brian P. Copenhaver, Trans.). London: Cambridge University Press.

ISBN: 0521425433

Lao Tzu. (original composition date unknown, possibly c. 500 B.C.E; trans. 1991). Tao Te Ching. (Stephen Mitchell trans.). New York: Harper Perennial.

ISBN: 0060916087

Melville, Herman. (first printed: 1851, this edition: 1967). Moby Dick. London: England. W.W. Norton & Company.

ISBN: 039309670X

Miller, J, Kenedi, A. (Eds.). (2000). God’s Breath: Sacred Scriptures from Around the World. New York: Marlowe & Company.

ISBN: 1569246181

Muhammad. (trans. 1993). Al-Qur’ān. Princeton: Princeton University Press.

ISBN: 0691074992

Rudolph, Kurt. (1987). Gnosis: the Nature and History of Gnosticism. San Francisco: Harper San Francisco.

ISBN: 0060670185