Δαφνη Ευτυχια Αρθουρος

[Happy Beltane to all my Pagan friends celebrating that today! Happy Labour Day (most places outside the US) / International Workers' Day, to everyone who does work for a living or politically supports those who do! And to my Orthodox family and friends, a blessed Easter! Χριστος Ανεστη! Christ is risen! Here's a small collection of quotations for today's collection of holidays.]

"Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest." -- The Gospel According to Matthew, 11:28 (KJV)

"For the historian's test of greatness is not, 'What did he accumulate?' It is not, 'What did he build up to tumble down on his head?' — not that at all, but this: Was the world different because he lived? Did he start men to think along fresh lines with a vigor and vitality that persisted after him? By this test Jesus stands first." -- H. G. Wells (b. 1866-09-21, d. 1946-08-13), in American Magazine (I don't know what date)

"In regards to the price of commodities, the rise of wages operates as simple interest does, the rise of profit operates like compound interest.

"Our merchants and masters complain much of the bad effects of high wages in raising the price and lessening the sale of goods. They say nothing concerning the bad effects of high profits. They are silent with regard to the pernicious effects of their own gains. They complain only of those of other people." -- Adam Smith (b. 1723-0-05 (Julian) / 1723-06-16 (Gregorian), d. 1790-07-17), An Inquiry into the Nature and Causes of the Wealth of Nations (1776)

"Mirth seems to explode around us as we approach the season of Beltane. Nature seems to be slipping on her best dress and looking for a good time. [...] Mirth is an expression of gratitude to whatever gods you believe it. It is enjoyment of the gift the universe has given you. To ignore it is to waste that precious gift and thumb your nose the gods, God, the Universe, or whoever you believe gave it to you. In this way, mirth may be the highest and most spiritual virtue I can think of. So dance, sing, feast, make music, and love. For the sake of the gods, open up a bottle of mirth any time you can!" -- Tim Titus, "Virtues of the Goddess: Mirth", 2016-04-27

"For Pagans, especially those who identify as Wiccans or Witches, our bodies, this life, and the Earth are sacred. In the tradition of 'Remember thou art Goddess,' this physical world and this current life are expressions of the divine, so why not have just as much fun as the gods do? Why not celebrate them? As far as I'm concerned, that should apply to all faiths. I'm not here to tell other religions what to do, but it seems to me that if your God created you as well as sex, dancing, wine, and other sources of fun, then it's probably alright if you utilize His creation." -- ibid.