We Choose Our Joys And Sorrows Long

Said One Oyster To A Neighboring Oyster, "i Have A Very Great Pain Within Me. It Is Heavy And Round And I Am In Distress." And The Other Oyster Replied With Haughty Complacence, "praise Be To The Heavens And To The Sea, I Have No Pain Within Me. I Am Well And Whole Both Within And Without." At That Moment A Crab Was Passing By And Heard The Two Oysters, And He Said To The One Who Was Well And Whole Both Within And Without, "yes, You Are Well And Whole; But The Pain That Your Neighbor Bears Is A Pearl Of Exceeding Beauty."

I Said To Life, I Would Hear Death Speak. And Life Raised Her Voice A Little Higher And Said, You Hear Him Now.

You Often Say, "i Would Give, But Only To The Deserving." The Trees In Your Orchard Say Not So, Nor The Flocks In Your Pasture. They Give That They May Live, For To Withhold Is To Perish.

A Truth Is To Be Known Always, To Be Uttered Sometimes.

Out Of Suffering Have Emerged The Strongest Souls; The Most Massive Characters Are Seared With Scars.