George Carlin Quote

The paradox of our time in history is that we have taller buildings but shorter tempers, wider Freeways,but narrower viewpoints. We spend more, but have less, we buy more, but enjoy less. We have bigger houses and smaller families, more conveniences, but less time.

We have more degrees but less sense, more knowledge, but less judgment, more experts, yet more problems, more medicine, but less wellness.We drink too much, smoke too much, spend too recklessly, laugh too little, drive too fast, get too angry, stay up too late, get up too tired, read too little, watch TV too much, and pray too seldom.

We have multiplied our possessions, but reduced our values. We talk too much, love too seldom, and hate too often. We've learned how to make a living, but not a life. We've added years to life not life to years.

We've been all the way to the moon and back, but have trouble crossing the street to meet a new neighbor. We conquered outer space but not inner space. We've done larger things, but not better things.

We've cleaned up the air, but polluted the soul. We've conquered the atom, but not our prejudice. We write more, but learn less. We plan more, but accomplish less. We've learned to rush, but not to wait. We build more computers to hold more information, to produce more copies than ever, but we communicate less and less.

These are the times of fast foods and slow digestion, big men and small character, steep profits and shallow relationships. These are the days of two incomes but more divorce, fancier houses, but broken homes.

These are days of quick trips, disposable diapers, throwaway morality, one night stands, overweight bodies, and pills that do everything from cheer, to quiet, to kill. It is a time when there is much in the showroom window and nothing in the stock room. A time when technology can bring this letter to you, and a time when you can choose either to share this insight, or to just hit delete...

Remember; spend some time with your loved ones, because they are not going to be around forever.

Remember, say a kind word to someone who looks up to you in awe, because that little person soon will grow up and leave your side.

Remember, to give a warm hug to the one next to you, because that is the only treasure you can give with your heart and it doesn't cost a cent.

Remember, to say, "I love you" to your partner and your loved ones, but most of all mean it. A kiss and an embrace will mend hurt when it comes from deep inside of you.

Remember to hold hands and cherish the moment for someday that person will not be there again.

Give time to love, give time to speak! And give time to share the precious thoughts in your mind.

AND ALWAYS REMEMBER: Life is not measured by the number of breaths we take, but by the moments that take our breath away.

If you don't pass this to at least 8 people....Who cares?


~George Carlin

The ironic thing is, George Carlin is a staunch athiest comedian who consistently insisted that "There is no God" and that "Thou shalt keep thy religion to thyself".

I was temporarily disoriented after reading this, because whilst the non-christian friend that showed this to me had felt enlightened, empowered and encouraged... my only reaction was "so what?".

Although inspiring, his words can at the most only evoke/arouse feelings (and i may stress that these are temporary) of happiness. It doesn't quite answer the questions that really matter (why do we exist so? and for what purpose? where is the meaning in everything we do, when it will all pass away?).

It's only when we see things from God's perspective that we can truly know peace, this peace that comes from knowing we were created by God to glorify Him. You see, it wouldn't matter if we rectified everything George Carlin pointed out above; if there were no God, if there was no predetermined purpose to all that exists, if everything we have came to be by chance, wouldn't everything be hopelessly meaningless?

So yup. This only reminded me yet again that everything we do, we do for the glory of God. It is something that I easily forget in the relentless bustling of mundane everyday life-- getting caught up in the competitiveness of academics, working hard towards my goal of becoming a doctor, indulging in YouTube and listening to radio in my free time-- so much so that I slip into living for myself instead of using time wisely to carry out God's purposes.

Pretty sure all of us have that terrible tendency. Pray that we'll diligently resist it.