True Morality

New Morality (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

From certain perspectives, true morality comes from the quality of being able to resist cultural influences.

"Stranger Beside Me" - Ann Rule's Epic Tale Of America's Most Dangerous serial Killer

English: Ted Bundy in custody, Florida, July 1978. Florida Memory Project, Florida Photographic Collection, #N035653 (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

(Some very light spoilers)

I had never heard of Ted Bundy's name until I saw part of his documentary on TV (20/20?) very recently. I was immediately drawn into the story and fascinated by his case for a conscious reason: his look. He didn't look like criminal, rather, he looked handsome, educated, sensitive and extremely charismatic. So I did some research and found a book to read: Ann Rule's Stranger Beside Me.

This is the first true crime book I've ever read and I found it extremely riveting. The most extraordinary part is the fact that Bundy was actually Rule's friend for many years. They both worked as partners in a suicide support center Crisis Clinic in Seattle, WA., and built a warm friendship since then. Rule had no slightest idea that at the time they worked together, Bundy already started his heinous killing. Rule always believed that her friend was a kind, friendly and intelligent young man whom she would want to marry if she was 10 years younger.

Overcome Weakness

The best way (or the first step) to overcome one's weakness is to accept - even embrace - it.

The Worst Misfortune

The worst misfortune one can get, other than natural disasters, wars, fatal diseases, is the misfortune created by the difference between what one wants and who he/she actually is - the greater the difference is, the more unfortunate one would be.

Two Things

There are two things that make one lost: lies and greed;
There are two things that make one intoxicated: alcohol and fame;
There are two things that make one chained: material possession and romantic love;
There are two things that make one awakened: truth and pain;
There are two things that make one change: time and hardship;
There are two things that make one free: wisdom and perspective.

(Translated from original Chinese text:http://blog.sina.com.cn/s/blog_6058fd120102vx4k.html)

1、有两种东西会让人迷失：一是谎言，二是欲望。 
2、有两种东西会让人沉醉：一是酒精，二是名声。 
3、有两种东西会把人束缚：一是物质，二是爱情。 
4、有两种东西会让人觉醒：一是真理，二是苦痛。 
5、有两种东西会让人改变：一是时间，二是苦难。 
6、有两种东西会让人释怀：一是智慧，二是心态。

Personal vs. Impersonal

We'd better live our lives in personal ways, but understand life through impersonal means.

Mistakes

A sick culture mistakes happiness for selfishness, indifference for callousness;
a shallow culture mistakes sternness for meanness, profoundness for depression.

Sternness or Meanness?

Maybe, one sign of shallow culture is mistaking sternness for "meanness".