On being tranquil

Some years ago when I was in college, friends of mine gave me one of those gift-shop style inspirational books entitled A Thousand Paths to Tranquility by David Baird. I suppose you could call it kitsch, but it was definitely the thought that counts. Anyway, I would take it out and read a few quotations now and then just to help myself gain some perspective or feel a little more centered, and I was thinking of posting some as the mood strikes - just as little reminders to myself that, oddly and despite my not believing in anything pre-ordained or supernatural, things have always tended to work out in the end for me. So there. Tra la.

This one I found to be well in keeping with the times:

"There is tranquility in freedom when the people are allowed to speak. There is tranquility in democracy when the government listens."

Agreement times infinity!