Quotes from George Leonard

Aware of it or not, each of us is involved in the grand enterprise of evolution. The new information being generated in each of our lives contributes inevitably to the ever-increasing complexity and richness of the universe. Our key choice is whether to become aware of and take responsibility for the power of our intentionality.

The essence of boredom is to be found in the obsessive search for novelty. Satisfaction lies in mindful repetition, the discovery of endless richness in subtle variations on familiar themes.

Never marry a person," psychologist Nathaniel Brandon tells his clients, "who is not a friend of your excitement.

Prizes and medals. Excessive use of external motivation can slow and even stop your journey to mastery.

Dead seriousness. Without laughter, the rough and rocky places on the path might be too painful to bear. Humor not only lightens your load, it also broadens your perspective. To be deadly serious is to suffer tunnel vision. To be able to laugh at yourself clears the vision.

In the words of Chinese Zen master Layman P'ang (c. 740–808 A.D.): My daily affairs are quite ordinary; but I'm in total harmony with them. I don't hold on to anything, don't reject anything; nowhere an obstacle or conflict. Who cares about wealth and honor? Even the poorest thing shines. My miraculous power and spiritual activity: drawing water and carrying wood.

Only the schools' inefficiency can account for creativity surviving after age 25.

Mastery is the art of setting your foot on the path.

Education is... doing anything that changes you.

Mastery is a journey, and that the master must have the courage to risk failure.