Pick battles big enough to matter, small enough to win.

Commercial interests with their advertising industry do not want people to develop contentment and less greed.  Military interests in economic, political, ethnic or nationalist guises, do not want people to develop more tolerance, nonviolence and compassion.  And ruling groups in general, in whatever sort of hierarchy do not want the ruled to become too insightful, too independent, too creative on their own, as the danger is that they will become insubordinate, rebellious, and unproductive in their alloted tasks.

The purpose of education is not the accumulation of information in order to compete for success.  Education is the experience of being fully present to oneself and the world; it is transformation toward wholeness.

"...Nothing ever goes away until it has taught us what we need to know."

It isn't that we say, "It doesn't matter about me all that much, but if I changed the world, it would be better for other people." It's less complicated than that. We don't set out to save the world; we set out to wonder how other people are doing and to reflect on how our actions affect other people's hearts.

The cat dropped the rat between its two front paws.  "There are those," it said with a sigh, in tones as smooth as oiled silk, "who have suggested that the tendency of a cat to play with its prey is a merciful one -- after all, it permits the occasional funny little running snack to escape, from time to time.  How often does your dinner get to escape?"

Your past forms you, whether you like it or not.  Each encounter and experience has its own effect, and you're shaped the way the wind shapes a mesquite tree on a plain.

I am the owner of my actions, heir to my actions, born of my actions, related through my actions, and have my actions as my arbitrator. Whatever I do, for good or for evil, to that I will fall heir.

You can think whatever you want, say whatever you want, and do whatever you want, as long as you are willing to face the consequences.

... Our ability to reason has not given us special status, only a greater responsibility.