Wednesday, October 11, 2006

Satyamaev Jayate...






















Photo by - Endevourme

A letter written by Abraham Lincoln to his son's teacher-

He will have to learn,
I know, that all men are not just,
all men are not true.
But teach him also that for every scoundrel
there is a hero;
that for every selfish Politician,
there is a dedicated leader...

Teach him for every enemy there is a friend,
Steer him away from envy,
if you can, teach him the secret of quiet laughter.
Let him learn early that the bullies are the easiest to lick...
Teach him, if you can, the wonder of books...
But also give him quiet time to ponder
the eternal mystery of birds in the sky,
bees in the sun, and the flowers on a green hillside.

In the school teach him it is far honourable
to fail than to cheat...
Teach him to have faith in his own ideas,
even if everyone tells him they are wrong...
Teach him to be gentle with gentle people,
and tough with the tough.

Try to give my son the strength
not to follow the crowd
when everyone is getting on the band wagon...
Teach him to listen to all men...
but teach him also to filter
all he hears on a screen of truth,
and take only the good that comes through.

Teach him if you can,
how to laugh when he is sad...
Teach him there is no shame in tears,
Teach him to scoff at cynics
and to beware of too much sweetness...

Teach him to sell his brawn and brain
to the highest bidders
but never to put a price-tag on his heart and soul.

Teach him to close his ears to a howling mob
and to stand and fight if he thinks he's right.
Treat him gently, but do not cuddle him,
because only the test of fire makes fine steel.

Let him have the courage to be impatient...
let him have the patience to be brave.
Teach him always to have sublime faith in himself,
because then he will have sublime faith in mankind.

This is a big order, but see what you can do...
He is such a fine fellow, my son!

28 comments:

Junius said...

the pic is Mahatma Gandhi memorial on Gandhi hill in vijaywada :-)

Aditi said...

nice words..the only thing i wonder about is the part about having faith in one's own ideas even if everyone tells them they are wrong..

Anonymous said...

two of the greatest men of all time... Gandhi and Lincoln

Junius said...

#aditi
if u know that u r right, why to be afraid...?...

#tarini
nice to see that atleast in comments u r still there :-)
ya gr8 ppl really!

divya said...

beautiful..just one word comes to my mind-amazing!!

Rose said...

Hmm... Reading this after a loooong time..

U shud blog more often.. Had missed your luvly pics and heartfelt write-ups..

:)

..Me

Anonymous said...

Wow...I've never seen this! Great stuff...

Shruti said...

amazing words...
what a humble man he was...

Aditi said...

@ endevourme
because every coin has two sides and because even hitler thought he was right
..=)

Priyamvada_K said...

Beautiful letter. Thanks for posting.

Priya.

Neer said...

very true!!

Arti Honrao said...

Beautiful words!
Template change huh! I never liked this template of bloggers :(
But posts are Amazing :x


GBU
Arti

Junius said...

#divya
hi...thanks for coming here!

#rose
hmmm...nice to see you back!
finally out of all those numbers haa..?...


#kuan gung
hi...thanks!
'satyamev jayate' means 'truth always wins'

#shruti
Err...who was?

#aditi
but...but...then you wont be able to take decisions at all!
and...history is written by winners...

#priyamvada_k
hi...thanks for coming here!

#neers
thanksalot :-)

#arti honrao
haha...thats choice of asmita!
neway, thanks :-)

ketki said...

i've read the photo earlier
but the pic is nice!

Junius said...

#appu
hehe, would be interesting ;-)

#shama & diya
future teacher...?....
gr8, i mean its really good, if u think being teacher as a career option :-)

#ketki
hey thanks!
there is a library, small kids train etc there on the hill...
nice to visit :-)

Life said...

hey i wonder everytime u post the pics where i have spent my 20yrs of life. From which city are u buddy ????...guntur , vijayawda or some near by one

Junius said...

#vikas
hehe...no da,
i am not from AP anywhere...
its just that i roam around all places
and post whatever pics i have... :D!

Neer said...

whoa!! amazing man, this guy!

neermathalam said...

beautiful dear...

Junius said...

#neers
2nd comment...?...

#neermanthalam
thanks :-)

Has to be me said...

Beautiful words...so meaningful too!
Happy Diwali!

Pranay said...

Sublime....
Such great words....

Aditi said...

Happy diwali!

Junius said...

#has to be me & aditi
so nice of u 2 :-)
wish you the same...

#pranay
hey welcome here :-)
keep coming..

Anonymous said...

Reminds me of a poem ny Longfellow...love Gandhi...we have a statue of him here...

Junius said...

#kuan gung
hey thank u for coming here,
yes GURU of peace :-)

Anonymous said...

It's a small for for some...while beyond others...maybe something in between to start?

Junius said...

#kuan gung
i think if we dont follow the truth,
in the end we have to suffer :-)