Campus CrossWalk Magazine: 2006-07 Winter Issue -- Quotation Library: On Freedom from Addictions

Our Winter, 2006-07 theme is, "Free at Last: Tackling Tough Addictions." Enjoy the related quotes below.

"And ye shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free." Motto of the C.I.A. (quoting John 8:32, the words of Jesus).
“I take it to be a principle rule of life, not to be too much addicted to any one thing.” Terence, Roman Writer of Comedies (190 - 159 BC).
“There is always hope for the man who is capable of being ashamed.” Talmud.
“Genius is talent set on fire by courage. Fidelity is simply daring to be true in small things as well as great. Courage is the standing army of the soul which keeps it from conquest, pillage and slavery.” Henry Van Dyke, author (1852-1933).
“For thy sake, tobacco, I would do anything but die.” Charlie Lamb, (1775 - 1834).
“To cease smoking is the easiest thing. I ought to know. I've done it a thousand times.” Attributed to Mark Twain (1835-1910).
“A man who lies to himself, and believes his own lies, becomes unable to recognize truth, either in himself or in anyone else, and he ends up losing respect for himself and for others.” Fyodor Mikhaylovich Dostoyevsky, Russian author (1821-1881)
“Everything can be taken from a man but one thing: to choose one's attitude in any given set of circumstances, to choose one's way.” Viktor Frankl, concentration camp survivor and author (1905-1997).
“Instead of focusing mainly on trying to become a better ME, I instead focus on trying to become closer to Christ. And as I do so, I have literally begun to loose interest in the destructive habits I used to have, as well as keeping my new healthy habits in check.” Mark Wylie, Young Adult Minister for the University Church of Christ in Denver, CO.
“When I was young, I kissed my first woman, and smoked my first cigarette on the same day. Believe me, never since have I wasted any more time on tobacco.” Arturo Toscanini, Italian conductor.
“Sow a thought, and you reap an act;
“Sow an act, and you reap a habit;
“Sow a habit, and you reap a character;
Sow a character, and you reap a destiny.”
Quoted by Samuel Smiles (1812 - 1904) in Life and Labor (1887).
“Be the master of your will and the slave of your conscience.” Chassidic saying.
“Just because you got the monkey off your back does not mean the circus has left town.” Attributed to George Carlin, b. 1937.

Editor’s note: the following quote on freedom does not directly pertain to the struggle with addiction. However, just as the battle for civil rights took much courage and patience to fight effectively, so the battle for freedom from addiction takes courage and patience. If one can be won, so can the other. Perhaps this will inspire you to tackle whatever shackles you.

: “When we let freedom ring, when we let it ring from every village and every hamlet, from every state and every city, we will be able to speed up that day when all of God's children, black men and white men, Jews and Gentiles, Protestants and Catholics, will be able to join hands and sing in the words of that old Negro spiritual, ‘Free at last! Free at last! Thank God almighty, we are free at last!’” Martin Luther King, Jr., from his speech entitled "I Have a Dream" delivered on the steps of the Lincoln Memorial on August 23, 1963.

Here are the lyrics to the "old negro spiritual" to which Dr. King referred in his Lincoln Memorial speech:

Free At Last

: Free at last, free at last,
Thank God Almighty, I'm free at last.
The very time I thought I was lost,
Thank God Almighty, I'm free at last;
My dungeon shook and my chains fell off,
Thank God Almighty, I'm free at last,
This is religion, I do know,
Thank God Almighty, I'm free at last;
For I never felt such a love before,
Thank God Almighty, I'm free at last.