tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5190794791790101691.post4839474076460690425..comments2023-07-08T20:30:18.584+01:00Comments on Grand Duchess Elizabeth And Other Stories: "The Mind Is Its Own Place"Christinahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00714569232976515363noreply@blogger.comBlogger6125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5190794791790101691.post-27254429155755855532011-02-14T19:10:15.056+00:002011-02-14T19:10:15.056+00:00Thank you, Gem. I so agree with you - he really di...Thank you, Gem. I so agree with you - he really did long to be loved and understood!Christinahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00714569232976515363noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5190794791790101691.post-33666564800489770302011-02-14T15:42:22.143+00:002011-02-14T15:42:22.143+00:00Thanks for this interesting post Christina! I thin...Thanks for this interesting post Christina! I think of Kaiser William as an intriguing character. He was almost always been accused of being the person who led Germany and the whole Europe to war. But I thought of him as a very sensitive and lonely person, who longed to <br />be loved and understood. His great love for his cousin Ella is also quite interesting for me. Having a mercurial and exuberant character, it amazes me that everytime he's with her, he'd remain quiet and still, and he can be the perfect gentleman. He has a very complex character, I must say!Gemhttp://koshka686.livejournal.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5190794791790101691.post-27233108284522700072011-02-09T22:42:31.489+00:002011-02-09T22:42:31.489+00:00Thank you for your lovely comment.
The way that t...Thank you for your lovely comment.<br /><br />The way that the Bishop changes Valjean’s life is so beautiful, isn’t it? And then, thanks to one act of kindness and the recognition that he is more than he appears to be, Valjean goes on to change so many lives. <br /><br />Sometimes I think we spend far too much time being aware of our weaknesses and true humility means also recognising how amazing we are – how amazing we all are! “You are the light of the world....”, “You are the salt of the earth...” “Every hair on your head has been counted...” I can’t imagine any parent would like to see their child grovel like a worm in the dust. I can see how a parent rejoices when a child feels worthy and loved and wonderful. I cannot imagine a parent who would want a child to come each day with a list of mistakes or sins. I can see parents loving to see their children’s smiles and watching them come to them with stories of their joys and successes. To me, it seems the same with the relationship between the loving Creator/Source of everything and who we all are...<br /><br />I am also sure it is never ‘too late’ for anything. <br /><br />I really appreciate your comments, Jorge – thank you!Christinahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00714569232976515363noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5190794791790101691.post-18603452706082123552011-02-08T01:17:02.773+00:002011-02-08T01:17:02.773+00:00Les Miserables has helped me to understand more ho...Les Miserables has helped me to understand more how important is to be humble and simple, and how a word of sincere affection and understanding can change someone's life, like with Bishop Myriel and Jean Valjean.<br />It's when we are proud that all our real problems begin. If we could all realize that we're not better than the rest and that sometimes we are even worst I think many iniquities would be prevented. And this is related with what you said, because knowing our weaknesses is part of the process of knowing ourselves, our limits. Only when we know that we can truly advance in life, we can become more fulfilled human beings. That's the lesson I learned last year and the one I'm continuing to learn now. I hope it's not to late.<br /><br />JorgeAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5190794791790101691.post-27843499455186546972011-02-07T19:02:09.048+00:002011-02-07T19:02:09.048+00:00Thank you, Jorge, for your kind and lovely comment...Thank you, Jorge, for your kind and lovely comment. I LOVE 'Les Miserables' - isn't it filled with understanding?<br />I agree that the world needs more love, tolerance and understanding, and I also think that we cannot achieve this until we first learn to love and understand ourselves. Isn't it a fact that those who have caused the most havoc through history, have always been dealing with their own inner demons and trying to assuage them through controlling others? <br />I agree, too, that we are all to some extent moulded by our upbringing and I think the most important task is to find our way back to our true selves because only when we understand ourselves can we begin to understand others, and then we have no need to attempt to control, hurt or criticise them...Well, that's what I think, anyway :-)<br /><br />Thank you again for your lovely comment (and for your name :-) ).Christinahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00714569232976515363noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5190794791790101691.post-42358064335028921782011-02-07T01:04:27.554+00:002011-02-07T01:04:27.554+00:00Thank you so much for this, Christina. I begin to ...Thank you so much for this, Christina. I begin to understand the Kaiser a little bit more. I've been reading Victor Hugo's Les Miserables and it has made me meditate about how wrong actions made by people who are emotionally and spiritually hurt are not always their entirely personal fault, but also of those who surround them (families, friends, teachers, society, etc). I will sound idealistic and naive, but definitely this world needs much more love, tolerance and understanding to others, while still keeping a clear vision of what's right and wrong.<br />Thanks again Christina for your wonderful post!<br /><br />BTW, I always post as Anonymous, but my name is Jorge. I'll try to remember signing my messages.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com