I like to say that before we can create an external space in which to receive people, we have to create an internal space in which to receive them. Parker J. Palmer More Quotes by Parker J. Palmer More Quotes From Parker J. Palmer Death in various forms is sometimes comforting, while resurrection and new life can be demanding and threatening. If I lived as if resurrection were real, and allowed myself to die for the sake of a new life, what might I be called upon to do? Parker J. Palmer real comforting death What passes for political realism may make for lively academic debates. But it often functions, ironically, as a tool of social control, rendering us passive with an analysis that overwhelms and paralyzes us. Parker J. Palmer analysis political tools In classical understanding, education is the attempt to "lead out" from within the self a core of wisdom that has the power to resist falsehood and live in the light of truth, not by external norms but by reasoned and reflective self-determination. The inward teacher is the living core of our lives that is addressed and evoked by any education worthy of the name. Parker J. Palmer determination education teacher Teaching like any truly human activity emerges from one's inwardness. Parker J. Palmer human-activity humans teaching Relational trust is built on movements of the human heart such as empathy, commitment, compassion, patience, and the capacity to forgive. Parker J. Palmer compassion heart commitment We must come together in ways that respect the solitude of the soul that avoid the unconscious violence we do when we try to save each other that evoke our capacity to hold another life without dishonoring its mystery never trying to coerce the other into meeting our own needs. Parker J. Palmer solitude soul trying Truth-telling by a leader can legitimate truth-telling at every level. Parker J. Palmer levels telling-the-truth leader Our equal and opposite needs for solitude and community constitute a great paradox. When it is torn apart, both of these life-giving states of being degenerate into deathly specters of themselves. Solitude split off from community is no longer a rich and fulfilling experience of inwardness; now it becomes loneliness, a terrible isolation. Community split off from solitude is no longer a nurturing network of relationships; now it becomes a crowd, an alienating buzz of too many people and too much noise. Parker J. Palmer loneliness opposites people Good teaching comes from good people. Parker J. Palmer teaching education people
