“
I do not love you except because I love you;
I go from loving to not loving you,
From waiting to not waiting for you
My heart moves from cold to fire.
I love you only because it's you the one I love;
I hate you deeply, and hating you
Bend to you, and the measure of my changing love for you
Is that I do not see you but love you blindly.
Maybe January light will consume
My heart with its cruel
Ray, stealing my key to true calm.
In this part of the story I am the one who
Dies, the only one, and I will die of love because I love you,
Because I love you, Love, in fire and blood.
”
”
Pablo Neruda
“
Shaping the company's future requires understanding the key drivers
of value for the company and establishing metrics to measure progress accordingly.
”
”
Hendrith Vanlon Smith Jr. (Board Room Blitz: Mastering the Art of Corporate Governance)
“
…. ‘George said he needed a break. And there was something about Jonathan taking over …’ ‘That’s exactly what I mean,’ said Maxwell, ‘It seems like there’s all kinds of goings on there now.’ ‘What did the agents say then?’ ‘Your brother … he must still have a key. I told them to check, I told them. I expect they overlooked it. Hugo’s been going in and there are some women there apparently, I mean at the Manor House, Jonathan’s up to his usual tricks taking in every Tom, Dick and Harry and giving all kinds of undesirables a home, and there’s something about them chasing Hugo and taunting him, yesterday the buyers were viewing again and measuring up for curtains and things, I said they could, and they saw something going on outside, some shouting and laughing …’ ‘Women! What women? Jonathan’s not like that …’ ‘Not like that huh! He’s flesh and blood like the rest of us.’ ‘That’s not what I meant. Please don’t be angry Max, it’s not my fault.’ ‘Jonathan this and Jonathan that. Why do people think he’s so bloody marvellous eh! What the hell does he think he’s doing. People spilling over into my garden and wrecking the peace and quiet. George was completely mad to do this …
”
”
Elizabeth Tebby Germaine (A MAN WHO SEEMED REAL: A story of love, lies, fear and kindness)
“
A vision alone ain’t enough. To truly thrive, the board must also align on a concrete definition of success. This involves a meticulous process of identifying key performance indicators (KPIs), setting SMART goals, and establishing a robust framework for measuring progress.
”
”
Hendrith Vanlon Smith Jr. (Board Room Blitz: Mastering the Art of Corporate Governance)
“
Before our white brothers came to civilize us we had no jails. Therefore we had no criminals. You can't have criminals without a jail. We had no locks or keys, and so we had no thieves. If a man was so poor that he had no horse, tipi or blanket, someone gave him these things. We were too uncivilized to set much value on personal belongings. We wanted to have things only in order to give them away. We had no money, and therefore a man's worth couldn't be measured by it. We had no written law, no attorneys or politicians, therefore we couldn't cheat. We really were in a bad way before the white men came, and I don't know how we managed to get along without these basic things which, we are told, are absolutely necessary to make a civilized society.
”
”
John Fire Lame Deer (Lame Deer, Seeker of Visions)
“
Shaping the company's future requires understanding the key drivers of value for the company and establishing metrics to measure progress.
”
”
Hendrith Vanlon Smith Jr. (Board Room Blitz: Mastering the Art of Corporate Governance)
“
Get ahead of whom? There is no one I want to shove past. I just want to get ahead of myself, make myself as big as I can, but not measure myself by someone else.
”
”
Eleanor Roosevelt (You Learn by Living: Eleven Keys for a More Fulfilling Life)
“
Love is the key to the mystery. Love by its very nature is not selfish, but generous. It seeks not its own, but the good of others. The measure of love is not the pleasure it gives-that is the way the world judges it-but the joy and peace it can purchase for others.
”
”
Fulton J. Sheen
“
If we compete with ourselves and not with others, then it does not matter who is behind us or ahead of us; our goal is to become and achieve all we are capable of being and doing, and this becomes the measure of our satisfaction.
”
”
Myles Munroe (Maximizing Your Potential Expanded Edition: The Keys to Dying Empty)
“
Women have been trained to notice micro movements. To scan and anticipate all subsequent actions, constantly measuring how far threatening words are from realities. We are tasked with defending ourselves in every imaginable scenario, planning escape routes, walking with keys between knuckles, a natural instinct in our day to day routines.
”
”
Chanel Miller (Know My Name)
“
Take action. Get out from under all your stuff. Get rid of it. Give away what you don’t need. You were born free—free of stuff, free of burden. But since the first time they measured your tiny body for clothes, people have been foisting stuff upon you. And you’ve been adding links to the pile of chains yourself ever since.
”
”
Ryan Holiday (Stillness is the Key)
“
since I started the Saint Remi Auxiliary for the orphanage. The other auxiliary ladies babble on about Louis—how steadfast, gentle, and loyal he was, never once mentioning his failing wool and wine business. I’ve given them all Etiquette for Ladies. Their words drift to the ceiling with the candle smoke, as my fingers examine the gift Louis gave me last year for my thirty-ninth birthday. I’d hoped for canvas and paints, but he gave me a chatelaine. “Everything you ever need hanging from your belt.” He’d demonstrated each item with such pride, I hid my disappointment. “Thimble, watch, scissors, and measuring tape for your needlework, a funnel for your oils, a pencil, a pantry key, a wax letter seal, and a vial of smelling salts. Uncorking the
”
”
Rebecca Rosenberg (Madame Pommery, Creator of Brut Champagne)
“
Go ahead,” I told him. “Go see your admirers. Sign some autographs. It’s good PR for the House.” He slid me a glance, smiled. “Not concerned one of the fans will try to sweep me away with words of love?” “Oh, they’ll try to sweep,” I said. “But I have no worries you’ll come back to me.” His smile was meltingly handsome. “Because I love you without measure?” “Of course,” I said. Also, I had the car keys.
”
”
Chloe Neill (Blood Games (Chicagoland Vampires, #10))
“
He said an I.Q. showed how much intelligence you could get, like the numbers on the outside of a measuring cup. You still had to fill the cup up with stuff.
”
”
Daniel Keyes (Flowers for Algernon)
“
The traditional doctrine of man and not the measurement of skulls and footprints is the key for the understanding of that anthropos who, despite the rebellion of Promethean man against Heaven from the period of Renaissance and its aftermath, is still the inner man of every man, the reality which no human being can deny wherever and whenever he lives, the imprint of a theomorphic nature which no historical change and transformation can erase completely from the face of that creature called man.
”
”
Seyyed Hossein Nasr (Knowledge and the Sacred)
“
The questions which one asks oneself begin, at last, to illuminate the world, and become one's key to the experience of others. One can only face in others what one can face in oneself. On this confrontation depends the measure of our wisdom and compassion. This energy is all that one finds in the rubble of vanished civilizations, and the only hope for ours.
”
”
James Baldwin (Nobody Knows My Name)
“
This has been the point of much of this book. The human brain is a machine designed by natural selection to respond in pretty reflexive fashion to the sensory input impinging on it. It is designed, in a certain sense, to be controlled by that input. And a key cog in the machinery of control is the feelings that arise in response to the input. If you interact with those feelings via tanha—via the natural, reflexive thirst for the pleasant feelings and the natural, reflexive aversion to the unpleasant feelings—you will continue to be controlled by the world around you. But if you observe those feelings mindfully rather than just reacting to them, you can in some measure escape the control; the causes that ordinarily shape your behavior can be defied, and you can get closer to the unconditioned.
”
”
Robert Wright (Why Buddhism is True: The Science and Philosophy of Meditation and Enlightenment)
“
He told me that everyone had a hidden door, which was the way into the heart, and that it was a point of honour with him to be able to find the handles to those doors. For the heart was both key and lock, and he who could master the hearts of men and learn their secrets was well on the way to mastering the Fates and controlling the thread of his own destiny. Not, he hastened to add, that any man can really do that. Not even the gods, he said, were more powerful than the Three Fatal Sisters. He did not mention them by name, but spat to avoid bad luck; and i shivered to think of them in their glum cave, spinning out lives, measuring them, cutting them off.
”
”
Margaret Atwood (The Penelopiad)
“
The Six Steps to Success: 1) Define Success 2) Devise a Plan 3) Execute and Overcome Adversity 4) Measure Results with Key Metrics 5) Revise the Plan 6) Work Hard
”
”
Ken Poirot
“
There are lots of ways to measure a company's success. You can look at earnings reports and get really specific with the numbers. You can look at social capital and the influence the company has on people. You can look at the balance sheet and the value of its assets. You can look at its legal framework, it's brand, it's staff.
The key to valuing a company is to look at the company holistically.
”
”
Hendrith Vanlon Smith Jr.
“
KEY RESULTS benchmark and monitor HOW we get to the objective. Effective KRs are specific and time-bound, aggressive yet realistic. Most of all, they are measurable and verifiable. (As prize pupil Marissa Mayer would say, “It’s not a key result unless it has a number.”)
”
”
John Doerr (Measure What Matters: How Google, Bono, and the Gates Foundation Rock the World with OKRs)
“
There are many people, maybe even thousands, that you can love. But there are few people," he continued, his words measured, "maybe only one or two on the plant, that you can love and live with in peace. The peace part is the key.
”
”
Tembi Locke (From Scratch: A Memoir of Love, Sicily, and Finding Home)
“
We have the whole concept of popularity backward. We imagine it as a small and exclusive club of people we idolize or envy. But most popular people are hated by the majority. So, if you are despised by everyone outside your little clique, and liked only by those inside it, you are vastly unpopular by any objective measure. The key to ultimate popularity is not to be loved or envied by as many people as possible but to be loved or envied by the right people.
”
”
Tonya Hurley (Lovesick (Ghostgirl, #3))
“
Lifetime value and customer acquisition cost are two of the key numbers you need to know to measure marketing effectiveness.
”
”
Allan Dib (The 1-Page Marketing Plan: Get New Customers, Make More Money, And Stand out From The Crowd)
“
The only measure that matters is improved results—an improved client condition, in this case represented by objectives met and validated by key metrics.
”
”
Alan Weiss (Million Dollar Consulting Proposals: How to Write a Proposal That's Accepted Every Time)
“
social media addict? This is a very real problem—so much so that researchers from Norway developed a new instrument to measure Facebook addiction called the Bergen Facebook Addiction Scale.[3] Social media has become as ubiquitous as television in our everyday lives, and this research shows that multitasking social media can be as addictive as drugs, alcohol, and chemical substance abuse. A large number of friends on social media networks may appear impressive, but according to a new report, the more social circles a person is linked to, the more likely the social media will be a source of stress.[4] It can also have a detrimental effect on consumer well-being because milkshake-multitasking interferes with clear thinking and decision-making, which lowers self-control and leads to rash, impulsive buying and poor eating decisions. Greater social media use is associated with a higher body mass index, increased binge eating, a lower credit score, and higher levels of credit card debt for consumers with many close friends in their social network—all caused by a lack of self-control.[5] We Can Become Shallow
”
”
Caroline Leaf (Switch On Your Brain: The Key to Peak Happiness, Thinking, and Health (Includes the '21-Day Brain Detox Plan'))
“
People want to feel that you can lead them to victory. And often times that is a measure of competence - people are looking for cues, signs, indications, and proof of your level of competence.
”
”
Hendrith Vanlon Smith Jr. (Business Leadership: The Key Elements)
“
More than 2,000 books are dedicated to how Warren Buffett built his fortune. Many of them are wonderful. But few pay enough attention to the simplest fact: Buffett’s fortune isn’t due to just being a good investor, but being a good investor since he was literally a child. As I write this Warren Buffett’s net worth is $84.5 billion. Of that, $84.2 billion was accumulated after his 50th birthday. $81.5 billion came after he qualified for Social Security, in his mid-60s. Warren Buffett is a phenomenal investor. But you miss a key point if you attach all of his success to investing acumen. The real key to his success is that he’s been a phenomenal investor for three quarters of a century. Had he started investing in his 30s and retired in his 60s, few people would have ever heard of him. Consider a little thought experiment. Buffett began serious investing when he was 10 years old. By the time he was 30 he had a net worth of $1 million, or $9.3 million adjusted for inflation.16 What if he was a more normal person, spending his teens and 20s exploring the world and finding his passion, and by age 30 his net worth was, say, $25,000? And let’s say he still went on to earn the extraordinary annual investment returns he’s been able to generate (22% annually), but quit investing and retired at age 60 to play golf and spend time with his grandkids. What would a rough estimate of his net worth be today? Not $84.5 billion. $11.9 million. 99.9% less than his actual net worth. Effectively all of Warren Buffett’s financial success can be tied to the financial base he built in his pubescent years and the longevity he maintained in his geriatric years. His skill is investing, but his secret is time. That’s how compounding works. Think of this another way. Buffett is the richest investor of all time. But he’s not actually the greatest—at least not when measured by average annual returns.
”
”
Morgan Housel (The Psychology of Money)
“
Initially, class privilege was not discussed by white women in the women’s movement. They wanted to project an image of themselves as victims and that could not be done by drawing attention to their class. In fact, the contemporary women’s movement was extremely class bound. As a group, white participants did not denounce capitalism. They chose to define liberation using the terms of white capitalist patriarchy, equating liberation with gaining economic status and money power. Like all good capitalists, they proclaimed work as the key to liberation. This emphasis on work was yet another indication of the extent to which the white female liberationists’ perception of reality was totally narcissistic, classist, and racist. Implicit in the assertion that work was the key to women’s liberation was a refusal to acknowledge the reality that, for masses of American working class women, working for pay neither liberated them from sexist oppression nor allowed them to gain any measure of economic independence.
”
”
bell hooks (Ain't I a Woman: Black Women and Feminism)
“
Once upon a time there was a small-town girl who lived in a small world. She was perfectly happy, or at least she told herself she was. Like many girls, she loved to try different looks, to be someone she wasn't. But, like too many girls, life had chipped away at her until, instead of finding what truly suited her, she camouflaged herself, hid the bits that made her different. For a while she let the world bruise her until she decided it was safer not to be herself at all.
There are so many versions of ourselves we can choose to be. Once, my life was destined to be measured out in the most ordinary of steps. I learnt differently from a man who refused to accept the version of himself he'd been left with, and an old lady who saw, conversely, that she could transform herself, right up to a point when many people would have said there was nothing left to be done.
I had a choice. I was Louisa Clark from New York, or Stortfold. Or there might be a whole other Louisa I hadn't met yet. The key was making sure that anyone you allowed to walk beside you didn't get to decide which you were, and pin you down like a butterfly in a case. The key was to know that you could always somehow find a way to reinvent yourself again.
”
”
Jojo Moyes (Still Me (Me Before You, #3))
“
Honey, have you seen my measuring tape?”
“I think it’s in that drawer in the kitchen with the scissors, matches, bobby pins, Scotch tape, nail clippers, barbecue tongs, garlic press, extra buttons, old birthday cards, soy sauce packets thick rubber bands, stack of Christmas napkins, stained take-out menus, old cell-phone chargers, instruction booklet for the VCR, some assorted nickels, an incomplete deck of cards, extra chain links for a watch, a half-finished pack of cough drops, a Scrabble piece I found while vacuuming, dead batteries we aren’t fully sure are dead yet, a couple screws in a tiny plastic bag left over from the bookshelf, that lock with the forgotten combination, a square of carefully folded aluminum foil, and expired pack of gum, a key to our old house, a toaster warranty card, phone numbers for unknown people, used birthday candles, novelty bottle openers, a barbecue lighter, and that one tiny little spoon.”
“Thanks, honey.”
AWESOME!
”
”
Neil Pasricha (The Book of (Even More) Awesome)
“
In the eyes of God, we're all perfect and we all have unlimited capacity to express brilliantly. I say unlimited capacity rather than unlimited potential because potential can be a dangerous concept. We can use it to tyrannize ourselves, to live in the future instead of the present, to set ourselves up for despair. We're constantly measuring ourselves against what we think we could be, rather than what we are. Potential is a concept which can bind us to personal powerlessness Focus on human potential becomes impotent without a focus on human capacity. Capacity is expressed in the present, it is immediate, the key to it lies not in what we have inside of us, but rather in what we are willing to own that we have inside of us. There's no point in waiting until we're perfect at what we do, or enlightened masters, or PhDs in life, before opening ourselves to what we're capable of doing now. Of course we're not as good today as we'll be tomorrow, but how will we ever get tomorrow's promise without making some sort of move today?
”
”
Marianne Williamson (A Return to Love: Reflections on the Principles of "A Course in Miracles")
“
You are born free - free of stuff, free of burden. But since the first time they measured your tiny body for clothes, people have been foisting stuff upon you. And you've been adding links to the pule of chains yourself ever since.
”
”
Ryan Holiday (Stillness Is the Key)
“
But there is one key ingredient that my wife has helped me to recognize over the years, and that is the importance of articulating love for one another on a daily basis. The words I love you, spoken in acknowledgment in the morning upon rising and before going to bed, or when sitting down to dine, make the most beautiful music recognized by human ears.
”
”
Sidney Poitier (Life Beyond Measure: Letters to My Great-Granddaughter)
“
It is the divine light, the inner heaven, the key to all moral treasures, the centre of thought and consciousness, the source of all influence and power, the seat of kindness, justice, sympathy, impartial love, humanity, and mercy, the measure of all things.
”
”
Kaiten Nukariya (The Religion of the Samurai A Study of Zen Philosophy and Discipline in China and Japan)
“
In the deeper hours of the night I began to look at myself, to consider myself and my condition, to measure the life I'd led so far. I did not know what made me this way. I did not know of any other way I could be. I did not know what was inside me or how I could redeem what was hidden there. There must be a key or person or thing, or song or poem or belief, or old saw that could access it, but they all seemed so far away, and after I drifted further and further into self-absorption, I closed the evening with this desolate thought: there are few takers for the quiet heart.
”
”
Steve Martin (The Pleasure of My Company)
“
The key to entering into the Divine Exchange is never our worthiness but always God’s graciousness. Any attempt to measure or increase our worthiness will always fall short, or it will force us into the position of denial and pretend, which produces the constant perception of hypocrisy in religious people.
To switch to an “economy of grace” is a switch that is very hard for humans to make. We base almost everything in human culture on achievement, performance, accomplishment, an equal exchange value, or some kind of worthiness gauge. I call it meritocracy. Unless one personally experiences a dramatic and personal breaking of the rules of merit (forgiveness or undeserved goodness), it is almost impossible to disbelieve or operate outside of its rigid logic. This cannot happen theoretically or abstractly. It cannot happen “out there” but must be known personally “in here.
”
”
Richard Rohr (A Lever and a Place to Stand: The Contemplative Stance, the Active Prayer)
“
You behold in me, Stephen said with grim displeasure, a horrible example of free thought.
He walked on, waiting to be spoken to, trailing his ashplant by his side. Its ferrule followed lightly on the path, squealing at his heels. My familiar, after me, calling, Steeeeeeeeeeeephen! A wavering line along the path. They will walk on it tonight, coming here in the dark. He wants that key. It is mine. I paid the rent. Now I eat his salt bread. Give him the key too. All. He will ask for it. That was in his eyes.
--After all, Haines began ...
Stephen turned and saw that the cold gaze which had measured him was not all unkind.
--After all, I should think you are able to free yourself. You are your own master, it seems to me.
--I am a servant of two masters, Stephen said, an English and an Italian.
--Italian? Haines said.
A crazy queen, old and jealous. Kneel down before me.
--And a third, Stephen said, there is who wants me for odd jobs.
--Italian? Haines said again. What do you mean?
--The imperial British state, Stephen answered, his colour rising, and the holy Roman catholic and apostolic church.
--I can quite understand that, he said calmly. An Irishman must think like that, I daresay. We feel in England that we have treated you rather unfairly. It seems history is to blame.
The proud potent titles clanged over Stephen's memory the triumph of their brazen bells: ET UNAM SANCTAM CATHOLICAM ET APOSTOLICAM ECCLESIAM: the slow growth and change of rite and dogma like his own rare thoughts, a chemistry of stars.
”
”
James Joyce
“
The Idea of Order at Key West
She sang beyond the genius of the sea.
The water never formed to mind or voice,
Like a body wholly body, fluttering
Its empty sleeves; and yet its mimic motion
Made constant cry, caused constantly a cry,
That was not ours although we understood,
Inhuman, of the veritable ocean.
The sea was not a mask. No more was she.
The song and water were not medleyed sound
Even if what she sang was what she heard,
Since what she sang was uttered word by word.
It may be that in all her phrases stirred
The grinding water and the gasping wind;
But it was she and not the sea we heard.
For she was the maker of the song she sang.
The ever-hooded, tragic-gestured sea
Was merely a place by which she walked to sing.
Whose spirit is this? we said, because we knew
It was the spirit that we sought and knew
That we should ask this often as she sang.
If it was only the dark voice of the sea
That rose, or even colored by many waves;
If it was only the outer voice of sky
And cloud, of the sunken coral water-walled,
However clear, it would have been deep air,
The heaving speech of air, a summer sound
Repeated in a summer without end
And sound alone. But it was more than that,
More even than her voice, and ours, among
The meaningless plungings of water and the wind,
Theatrical distances, bronze shadows heaped
On high horizons, mountainous atmospheres
Of sky and sea.
It was her voice that made
The sky acutest at its vanishing.
She measured to the hour its solitude.
She was the single artificer of the world
In which she sang. And when she sang, the sea,
Whatever self it had, became the self
That was her song, for she was the maker. Then we,
As we beheld her striding there alone,
Knew that there never was a world for her
Except the one she sang and, singing, made.
Ramon Fernandez, tell me, if you know,
Why, when the singing ended and we turned
Toward the town, tell why the glassy lights,
The lights in the fishing boats at anchor there,
As the night descended, tilting in the air,
Mastered the night and portioned out the sea,
Fixing emblazoned zones and fiery poles,
Arranging, deepening, enchanting night.
Oh! Blessed rage for order, pale Ramon,
The maker's rage to order words of the sea,
Words of the fragrant portals, dimly-starred,
And of ourselves and of our origins,
In ghostlier demarcations, keener sounds
”
”
Wallace Stevens
“
promoters, who recommend the brand; passives, who are neutral; and detractors, who are unlikely to recommend the brand. The Net Promoter Score is measured by the percentage of promoters subtracted from the percentage of detractors. The key argument is that the ill effect of negative word of mouth reduces the good effect of positive word of mouth.
”
”
Philip Kotler (Marketing 4.0: Moving from Traditional to Digital)
“
Eighteen years of not being good enough, not being the daughter I was supposed to be, eighteen years of not measuring up.
”
”
Ruth Ware (The Turn of the Key)
“
A win is in the past as soon as it has happened, so we need to measure ourselves in terms of our understanding of the process and our execution of the key variables.
”
”
Ben Hunt-Davis (Will It Make The Boat Go Faster?- Olympic-winning strategies for everyday success)
“
When a marriage works, it is in no small part because a woman and a man have come to recognize in precise measure when enough has been said.
”
”
Laurence Shames (Sunburn (Key West, #3))
“
The spiritual level of a civilization can be measured by the amount of objective art it generates. By this criterion, our technological civilization is not much better than a gadget-infested barbarism.
”
”
Robert S. de Ropp (Self-Completion: Keys to the Meaningful Life (Consciousness Classics))
“
if you hear the click of a lock when a man closes a door behind you, your body tenses. Women have been trained to notice micromovements, to scan and anticipate all subsequent action, constantly measuring how far threatening words are from realities. We are tasked with defending ourselves in every imaginable scenario, planning escape routes, walking with keys between knuckles, a natural instinct in our day-to-day routines.
”
”
Chanel Miller (Know My Name: A Memoir)
“
Exams do not assess anything significant to the future of children, because no one knows how to assess or measure the key factors to the future success of any person, child or adult. They are a closed system; tests exist for their own sake. They measure the ability of the entire school community—children, parents, teachers, administrators—to focus all their efforts on producing good results on tests! Nothing more, nothing less. To
”
”
Russell L. Ackoff (Turning Learning Right Side Up: Putting Education Back on Track)
“
In a field you’re already familiar with—like your own job—think carefully about what characterizes good performance and try to come up with ways to measure that, even if there must be a certain amount of subjectivity in your measurement. Then look for those people who score highest in the areas you believe are key to superior performance. Remember that the ideal is to find objective, reproducible measures that consistently distinguish the best from the rest, and if that ideal is not possible, approximate it as well as you can. Once
”
”
K. Anders Ericsson (Peak: Unleashing Your Inner Champion Through Revolutionary Methods for Skill Acquisition and Performance Enhancement in Work, Sports, and Life)
“
Direct marketers, of course, realize that measurement is the key to success. Figure out what works, and do it more! Mass marketers have always resisted this temptation. When my old company approached the head of one of the largest magazine publishers in the world and pitched a technology that would allow advertisers to track who saw their ads and responded to them, he was aghast. He realized that this sort of data could kill his business. He knew that his clients didn’t want the data because then their jobs would get a lot more complex. Measurement means admitting what’s broken so you can fix it. Mass-media advertising, whether it’s on TV or in print, is all about emotion and craft, not about fixing mistakes. One reason the Internet ad boomlet faded so fast is that it forced advertisers to measure – and to admit what was going wrong.
”
”
Seth Godin (Purple Cow: Transform Your Business by Being Remarkable)
“
Over twenty-five hundred years into this experiment we call the West, is there any chance of reconciling the two competing worldviews that clashed so dramatically at the end of the fourth century AD? If so, then, as with any good compromise, there will be plenty of disappointment on both sides. People of reason may have to concede that modern science has its limits. Not everything of value can be weighed and measured. People of faith may have to admit that we can no longer afford legend over history, or obedience over curiosity. In a rapidly accelerating world Big Religion has failed to keep up with a younger generation that prefers fact over fiction. But Big Science and Big Technology may be going too fast, distracting us from the ancient search for meaning that defined the original religion of Western civilization. How do we bridge the gap?
”
”
Brian C. Muraresku (The Immortality Key: Uncovering the Secret History of the Religion with No Name)
“
Model balance for your children. We know the keys to well-being are sleep, good nutrition, exercise, play, purposeful work, time outdoors, and time to connect with friends and community. Make wellness a priority for yourself, as well, and explain to your kids what you’re doing and why. •
”
”
Vicki Abeles (Beyond Measure: Rescuing an Overscheduled, Overtested, Underestimated Generation)
“
The people did not come out in opposition to Evo, rather they mobilized to say no to any attempt to govern without consultation, to demand rectification and recognition,” argues Isabel Rauber. In an act of humility, revealing both his great wisdom and his roots, Evo Morales changed course by withdrawing the decree and reiterating his decision to “govern by obeying,” which, in strict terms, is not a question of either governing or obeying, but rather governing together, working jointly on key measures, and sharing responsibility for decisions made and their implementation.
”
”
Marta Harnecker (A World to Build: New Paths toward Twenty-first Century Socialism)
“
Understanding how to measure uncertainty is key to measuring risk. Understanding risk in a quantitative sense is key to understanding how to compute the value of information. Understanding the value of information tells us what to measure and about how much effort we should put into measuring it.
”
”
Douglas W. Hubbard (How to Measure Anything: Finding the Value of Intangibles in Business)
“
He told me once that everyone had a hidden door, which was the way into the heart, and that it was a point of honour with him to be able to find the handles to those doors. For the heart was both key and lock, and he who could master the hearts of men and learn their secrets was well on the way to mastering the Fates and controlling the thread of his own destiny. Not, he hastened to add, that any man could really do that. Not even the gods, he said, were more powerful than the Three Fatal Sisters. He did not mention them by name, but spat to avoid bad luck; and I shivered to think of them in their glum cave, spinning out lives, measuring them, cutting them off.
”
”
Margaret Atwood (The Penelopiad)
“
You perform at your highest potential only when you are focusing on the most valuable use of your time. This is the key to personal and business success. It is the central issue in personal efficiency and time management. You must always be asking yourself, What is the most valuable use of my time right now? Discipline yourself to work exclusively on the one task that, at any given time, is the answer to this question. Keep yourself on track and focused on your most important responsibilities by asking yourself, over and over, What is the most valuable use of my time right now? How you can apply this law immediately: 1. Remember that you can do only one thing at a time. Stop and think before you begin. Be sure that the task you do is the highest-value use of your time. Remind yourself that anything else you do while your most important task remains undone is a relative waste of time. 2. Be clear about the most valuable work that you do for your organization. Whatever it is, resolve to concentrate on doing that specific task before anything else. Why are you on the payroll? What specific, tangible, measurable results are expected of you? And of all the different results you are capable of achieving, which are the most important to your career at this moment? Whatever the answer, this is where you must focus your energies, and nowhere else.
”
”
Brian Tracy (The 100 Absolutely Unbreakable Laws of Business Success)
“
[The Chinese here is tricky and a certain key word in the context it is used defies the best efforts of the translator. Tu Mu defines this word as “the measurement or estimation of distance.” But this meaning does not quite fit the illustrative simile in ss. 15. Applying this definition to the falcon, it seems to me to denote that instinct of SELF RESTRAINT which keeps the bird from swooping on its quarry until the right moment, together with the power of judging when the right moment has arrived. The analogous quality in soldiers is the highly important one of being able to reserve their fire until the very instant at which it will be most effective. When the “Victory” went into action at Trafalgar at hardly more than drifting pace, she was for several minutes exposed to a storm of shot and shell before replying with a single gun. Nelson coolly waited until he was within close range, when the broadside he brought to bear worked fearful havoc on the enemy’s nearest ships.] 14. Therefore the good fighter will be terrible in his onset, and prompt in his decision. [The word “decision” would have reference to the measurement of distance mentioned above, letting the enemy get near before striking. But I cannot help thinking that Sun Tzu meant to use the word in a figurative sense comparable to our own idiom “short and sharp.” Cf. Wang Hsi’s note, which after describing the falcon’s mode of attack, proceeds: “This is just how the ‘psychological moment’ should be seized in war.”]
”
”
Sun Tzu (The Art of War)
“
Roney (2003) hypothesized that mere exposure to attractive women would activate cognitive adaptations in men designed to embody the qualities that women want in a mate. Specifically, he predicted that exposure to young attractive women would (1) increase the importance men place on their own financial success, (2) experience feeling more ambitious, and (3) produce self-descriptions that correspond to what women want. Using a cover story to disguise the purpose of the study, Roney had one group of men rate the effectiveness of advertisements containing young, attractive models and another group of men rate the effectiveness of ads containing older, less-attractive models. Following this exposure, the men responded to the key measures to test his hypotheses.
”
”
David M. Buss (Evolutionary Psychology: The New Science of the Mind)
“
It is again fortunate from this point of view that the old symbolists who gave us the things which they classified as veils of allegory and the imagery of the High Grades left, as I have said, no key to their real meaning. The reason is that their personal understanding—supposing it to have emerged clearly—would no doubt have been of consequence in their own day but without appeal in ours, and yet we should be bound thereto. As it is, the field is free before us within the measures offered by the veils, their metaphysical matter and texture. The dead school of Masonry will continue while it lasts to affirm that there is nothing behind them, but the dead school will pass and give place to a living Masonry, which is already in the world and is breathing its own spirit into the outward forms.
”
”
Arthur Edward Waite (The Lost Word Its Hidden Meaning: A Correlation of the Allegory and Symbolism of the Bible with That of Freemasonry and an Exposition of the Secret Doctrine (Kessinger Publishing's Rare Reprints))
“
I’m not sure what I.Q. is anyway. Prof. Nemur said it was something that measured how intelligent you were—like a scale in the drugstore weighs pounds. But Dr. Strauss had a big argument with him and said an I.Q. didn’t weigh intelligence at all. He said an I.Q. showed how much intelligence you could get, like the numbers on the outside of a measuring cup. You still had to fill the cup up with stuff.
”
”
Daniel Keyes (Flowers for Algernon)
“
is easy to recall from everyday experience that neither electricity nor magnetism have visual properties. So, on its own, it’s not hard to grasp that there is nothing inherently visual, nothing bright or colored about that candle flame. Now let these same invisible electromagnetic waves strike a human retina, and if (and only if) the waves each happen to measure between 400 and 700 nanometers in length from crest to crest, then their energy is just right to deliver a stimulus to the 8 million cone-shaped cells in the retina. Each in turn sends an electrical pulse to a neighbor neuron, and on up the line this goes, at 250 mph, until it reaches the warm, wet occipital lobe of the brain, in the back of the head. There, a cascading complex of neurons fire from the incoming stimuli, and we subjectively perceive this experience as a yellow brightness occurring in a place we have been conditioned to call “the external world.” Other creatures receiving the identical stimulus will experience something altogether different, such as a perception of gray, or even have an entirely dissimilar sensation. The point is, there isn’t a “bright yellow” light “out there” at all. At most, there is an invisible stream of electrical and magnetic pulses. We are totally necessary for the experience of what we’d call a yellow flame. Again, it’s correlative.
”
”
Robert Lanza (Biocentrism: How Life and Consciousness are the Keys to Understanding the True Nature of the Universe)
“
We have to start accounting for the three themes that define women's relationship with that world. The first of these themes is the female body - or, to be precise - its invisibility. Routinely forgetting to accommodate the female body in design - whether medical, technological or architectural - has led to a world that is less hospitable and more dangerous for women to navigate. It leads to us injuring ourselves in jobs and cars that weren't designed for our bodies. It leads us to dying from drugs that don't work. It has led to the creation of a world where women just don't fit very well. There is an irony in how the female body is apparently invisible when it comes to collecting data, because when it comes to the second trend that defines women's lives, the visibility of the female body is key. That tend is male sexual violence against women - how we don't measure it, don't design our world to account for it, and in so doing, allow it to limit women's liberty.
”
”
Caroline Criado Pérez (Invisible Women: Data Bias in a World Designed for Men)
“
Some key seemed to reside in the phrase “leaving the country.” “I’m leaving the country.” “I’ll have to leave the country.” Hadn’t international travel been, in some sense, the yardstick that Ivan used to measure human worth—even though, in most other ways, he had seemed to look down on rich people? Later, in Hungary, other people had asked the same question—“What other countries have you been to?”—in the same tone; implying that leaving the country wasn’t a sign of privilege, but a kind of accomplishment.
”
”
Elif Batuman (Either/Or)
“
Terrorism cannot be overcome by the use of force because it does not address the complex underlying problems. In fact the use of force may not only fail to solve the problems, it may exacerbate them and frequently leaves destruction and suffering in its wake. Human conflicts should be resolved with compassion. The key is non-violence.
Retaliatory military action by the United States may bring some satisfaction and short-term results but it will not root out the problem of terrorism. Long-term measures need to be taken. The US must examine the factors that breed and give rise to terrorism. I have written to President Bush urging him to exercise restraint and not to seek a brutal revenge for the 11th September attacks. I expressed my sympathy but I suggested that responding to violence with more violence might not be the answer. I would also like to point out that to talk of nonviolence when things are going smoothly is not of much relevance. It is precisely when things become really difficult, urgent and critical that we should think and act nonviolently.
”
”
Dalai Lama XIV
“
1. Recruit the smallest group of people who can accomplish what must be done quickly and with high quality. Comparative Advantage means that some people will be better than others at accomplishing certain tasks, so it pays to invest time and resources in recruiting the best team for the job. Don’t make that team too large, however—Communication Overhead makes each additional team member beyond a core of three to eight people a drag on performance. Small, elite teams are best. 2. Clearly communicate the desired End Result, who is responsible for what, and the current status. Everyone on the team must know the Commander’s Intent of the project, the Reason Why it’s important, and must clearly know the specific parts of the project they’re individually responsible for completing—otherwise, you’re risking Bystander Apathy. 3. Treat people with respect. Consistently using the Golden Trifecta—appreciation, courtesy, and respect—is the best way to make the individuals on your team feel Important and is also the best way to ensure that they respect you as a leader and manager. The more your team works together under mutually supportive conditions, the more Clanning will naturally occur, and the more cohesive the team will become. 4. Create an Environment where everyone can be as productive as possible, then let people do their work. The best working Environment takes full advantage of Guiding Structure—provide the best equipment and tools possible and ensure that the Environment reinforces the work the team is doing. To avoid having energy sapped by the Cognitive Switching Penalty, shield your team from as many distractions as possible, which includes nonessential bureaucracy and meetings. 5. Refrain from having unrealistic expectations regarding certainty and prediction. Create an aggressive plan to complete the project, but be aware in advance that Uncertainty and the Planning Fallacy mean your initial plan will almost certainly be incomplete or inaccurate in a few important respects. Update your plan as you go along, using what you learn along the way, and continually reapply Parkinson’s Law to find the shortest feasible path to completion that works, given the necessary Trade-offs required by the work. 6. Measure to see if what you’re doing is working—if not, try another approach. One of the primary fallacies of effective Management is that it makes learning unnecessary. This mind-set assumes your initial plan should be 100 percent perfect and followed to the letter. The exact opposite is true: effective Management means planning for learning, which requires constant adjustments along the way. Constantly Measure your performance across a small set of Key Performance Indicators (discussed later)—if what you’re doing doesn’t appear to be working, Experiment with another approach.
”
”
Josh Kaufman (The Personal MBA: Master the Art of Business)
“
Suggested outline of a strategy document Once you have devised the strategy, you’ll need to explain it to the organisation by writing a strategy document. Below are the key elements it should contain: Where the organisation has come from The successes it has achieved thus far The changing environment and context in which it operates The vision for the future The unique role that the organisation plays The specific strategies that will get it there The timelines The challenges How you’ll measure success The role the organisation’s people play The role of the support functions
”
”
Jennifer Geary (How to be a Chief Operating Officer: 16 Disciplines for Success (How to be a...))
“
The piano entered the story, bringing a new voice to the narrative. Her fingers brushed the keys, her heart straining to find satisfaction in the harmonic shifts and subtle colorings.
It wasn't there.
Leila closed her eyes, tried new ways of speaking a phrase - holding back, pushing forward, adding an unexpected accent, waiting a breath before the harmonic resolution.
But she couldn't find it.
She pushed the music forward with frantic exhilaration, dragging the orchestra behind her.
René shot her a warning look.
Leila drove hard, demanding they follow, viciously attacking the finale as she searched for what eluded her.
But when the last chord exploded, ringing with a rage composed of love and longing, Leila felt nothing but a drained emptiness.
It was as if the reins keeping her in control, in the carefully constructed environment where she'd always created music, had snapped and broken away.
Everything had felt just beyond reach. The notes had danced before her but she'd been unable to grasp them, to own and mold them into what she wanted to say.
"Brava!"
Leila blinked.
People stood, flooding the hall with a deluge of approval for her sacrifice on stage.
”
”
Emma Raveling (Breaking Measures)
“
Are the religious individuals in a society more moral than the secular ones? Many researchers have looked into this, and the main finding is that there are few interesting findings. There are subtle effects here and there: some studies find, for instance, that the religious are slightly more prejudiced, but this effect is weak when one factors out other considerations, such as age and political attitudes, and exists only when religious belief is measured in certain ways. The only large effect is that religious Americans give more to charity (including nonreligious charities) than atheists do. This holds even when one controls for demographics (religious Americans are more likely than average to be older, female, southern, and African American). To explore why this relationship exists, the political scientists Robert Putnam and David Campbell asked people about life after death, the importance of God to morality, and various other facets of religious belief. It turns out that none of their answers to such questions were related to behaviors having to do with volunteering and charitable giving. Rather, participation in the religious community was everything. As Putnam and Campbell put it, “Once we know how observant a person is in terms of church attendance, nothing that we can discover about the content of her religious faith adds anything to our understanding or prediction of her good neighborliness.… In fact, the statistics suggest that even an atheist who happened to become involved in the social life of the congregation (perhaps through a spouse) is much more likely to volunteer in a soup kitchen than the most fervent believer who prays alone. It is religious belongingness that matters for neighborliness, not religious believing.” This importance of community, and the irrelevance of belief, extends as well to the nastier effects of religion. The psychologist Jeremy Ginges and his colleagues found a strong relationship between religiosity and support for suicide bombing among Palestinian Muslims, and, again, the key factor was religious community, not religious belief: mosque attendance predicted support for suicide attacks; frequency of prayer did not. Among Indonesian Muslims, Mexican Catholics, British Protestants, Russian Orthodox in Russia, Israeli Jews, and Indian Hindus, frequency of religious attendance (but again, not frequency of prayer) predicts responses to questions such as “I blame people of other religions for much of the trouble in this world.
”
”
Paul Bloom (Just Babies: The Origins of Good and Evil)
“
Eminent Princeton physicist John Wheeler has for years been insisting that when observing light from a distant quasar that’s bent around a foreground galaxy so that it had the possibility of appearing on either side of that city of suns, we have effectively set up a quantum observation but on an enormously large scale. It means, he insists, that the measurements made on an incoming bit of light now determine the indeterminate path it took billions of years ago. The past is created in the present. This of course recalls the actual quantum experiments outlined in our earlier chapters, where an observation right now determines the path its twin took in the past.
”
”
Robert Lanza (Biocentrism: How Life and Consciousness are the Keys to Understanding the True Nature of the Universe)
“
And really, that’s the most important thing he does with his days. It’s a small, measurable success, in the face of diminishing sales and an empty double bed and a set of skills which were marketable one hundred years ago, but now look quaint and even sad. Every afternoon for the last six months he has been fighting an uneven battle with himself not to overturn the trolley with its many keys, and scatter them across the room. His better nature has won only because the image of himself on his knees, remorsefully gathering them again, repairing scratched case clocks and whispering apologies to the ghost of his grandfather—and for strange and different reasons also his father—is more than he can bear.
”
”
Nick Harkaway (Angelmaker)
“
There are three ways to approach secrets, you know. The first is what you find on soap operas and in poorly executed middle-school maneuvers. First, you uncover a piece of incriminating information, and then you use it to force a steady stream of favors or payment or behavior. The problem here is that, if extended indefinitely, the expected cost of compliance eventually outweighs the cost of exposure. Moreover, the probability that you'll lose your monopoly of your information increases with each passing day. Never, ever assume that you're only person digging for dirt, especially in Los Angeles. Vipers are measured by the pitful for a reason.
The second approach is more effective: You make one, single very carefully chosen demand. And you give your mark just one chance. This was my usual MO. If this mark doesn't do as you ask, when you ask, you leak their secret. No excuses. No mercy. Brutal consistency is the key to credibility. Mothers, dog trainers, Israel -- you know what I'm talking about.
But there's also a radical third approach: You reveal that you know the secret...and they you keep it under wraps. Do that, and they're not just going to tell you other secrets, they might even keep yours in return. And they'll think they're doing of their own free will when what you've really done is painstakingly aligned your incentives. That's all trust is, really. Some people are just incentivized by nature.
”
”
Elizabeth Little (Dear Daughter)
“
Why do we care about measurements at all? There are just three reasons. The first reason—and the focus of this book—is that we should care about a measurement because it informs key decisions. Second, a measurement might also be taken because it has its own market value (e.g., results of a consumer survey) and could be sold to other parties for a profit. Third, perhaps a measurement is simply meant to entertain or satisfy a curiosity (e.g., academic research about the evolution of clay pottery). But the methods we discuss in this decision-focused approach to measurement should be useful on those occasions, too. If a measurement is not informing your decisions, it could still be informing the decisions of others who are willing to pay for the information.
”
”
Douglas W. Hubbard (How to Measure Anything: Finding the Value of Intangibles in Business)
“
The Objectives and Key Results (OKR) technique is a tool for management, focus, and alignment. As with any tool, there are many ways to use it. Here are the critical points for you to keep in mind when using the tool for product teams in product organizations. Objectives should be qualitative; key results need to be quantitative/measurable. Key results should be a measure of business results, not output or tasks. The rest of the company will use OKRs a bit differently, but for the product management, design, and technology organization, focus on the organization's objectives and the objectives for each product team, which are designed to roll up and achieve the organization's objectives. Don't let personal objectives or functional team objectives dilute or confuse the focus.
”
”
Marty Cagan (Inspired: How to Create Tech Products Customers Love (Silicon Valley Product Group))
“
REQUIREMENTS TO BE GREAT AT RUNNING HR What kind of person should you look for to comprehensively and continuously understand the quality of your management team? Here are some key requirements: World-class process design skills Much like the head of quality assurance, the head of HR must be a masterful process designer. One key to accurately measuring critical management processes is excellent process design and control. A true diplomat Nobody likes a tattletale and there is no way for an HR organization to be effective if the management team doesn’t implicitly trust it. Managers must believe that HR is there to help them improve rather than police them. Great HR leaders genuinely want to help the managers and couldn’t care less about getting credit for identifying problems. They will work directly with the managers to get quality up and only escalate to the CEO when necessary. If an HR leader hoards knowledge, makes power plays, or plays politics, he will be useless. Industry knowledge Compensation, benefits, best recruiting practices, etc. are all fast-moving targets. The head of HR must be deeply networked in the industry and stay abreast of all the latest developments. Intellectual heft to be the CEO’s trusted adviser None of the other skills matter if the CEO does not fully back the head of HR in holding the managers to a high quality standard. In order for this to happen, the CEO must trust the HR leader’s thinking and judgment. Understanding things unspoken When management quality starts to break down in a company, nobody says anything about it, but super-perceptive people can tell that the company is slipping. You need one of those.
”
”
Ben Horowitz (The Hard Thing About Hard Things: Building a Business When There Are No Easy Answers)
“
Today Hindu revivalists, pious Muslims, Japanese nationalists and Chinese communists may declare their adherence to very different values and goals, but they have all come to believe that economic growth is the key to realising their disparate goals. Thus in 2014 the devout Hindu Narendra Modi was elected prime minister of India thanks largely to his success in boosting economic growth in his home state of Gujarat, and to the widely held view that only he could reinvigorate the sluggish national economy. Analogous views have kept the Islamist Recep Tayyip Erdoğan in power in Turkey since 2003. The name of his party – the Justice and Development Party – highlights its commitment to economic development, and the Erdoğan government has indeed managed to maintain impressive growth rates for more than a decade. Japan’s prime minister, the nationalist Shinzō Abe, came to office in 2012 pledging to jolt the Japanese economy out of two decades of stagnation. His aggressive and somewhat unusual measures to achieve this have been nicknamed Abenomics. Meanwhile in neighbouring China the Communist Party still pays lip service to traditional Marxist–Leninist ideals, but in practice is guided by Deng Xiaoping’s famous maxims that ‘development is the only hard truth’ and that ‘it doesn’t matter if a cat is black or white, so long as it catches mice’. Which means, in plain language: do whatever it takes to promote economic growth, even if Marx and Lenin wouldn’t have been happy with it. In Singapore, as befits that no-nonsense city-state, they pursue this line of thinking even further, and peg ministerial salaries to the national GDP. When the Singaporean economy grows, government ministers get a raise, as if that is what their jobs are all about.2
”
”
Yuval Noah Harari (Homo Deus: A History of Tomorrow)
“
Intrigued, Hofmann decided a few days later to conduct an experiment on himself—not an uncommon practice at the time. Proceeding with what he thought was extreme caution, he ingested 0.25 milligrams—a milligram is one-thousandth of a gram—of LSD dissolved in a glass of water. This would represent a minuscule dose of any other drug, but LSD, it turns out, is one of the most potent psychoactive compounds ever discovered, active at doses measured in micrograms—that is, one thousandth of a milligram. This surprising fact would soon inspire scientists to look for, and eventually find, the brain receptors and the endogenous chemical—serotonin—that activates them like a key in a lock, as a way to explain how such a small number of molecules could have such a profound effect on the mind. In this and other ways, Hofmann’s discovery helped to launch modern brain science in the 1950s.
”
”
Michael Pollan (How to Change Your Mind: What the New Science of Psychedelics Teaches Us About Consciousness, Dying, Addiction, Depression, and Transcendence)
“
Who are you? Who are the players, the management team? What’s your expertise and track record? Have any of you succeeded in doing this before? Who are your advisors and what are their credentials? #2. What is it? What is your product or service? Even if it’s complex, this explanation must be easily understandable. Do you have any intellectual property rights, such as patents, that will provide some measure of exclusivity? #3. Where are you? What’s the status of your venture? Do you have a working prototype or has anyone tested your product or idea? What benchmarks have you already hit? #4. Where are you going? What’s your goal? What milestones will you attain along the way to achieving that goal? #5. Who wants it? Who’s your target market? What’s the problem being solved? Where’s the PAIN? What itch are you scratching? #6. How many people will want it? What’s your potential market size?
”
”
Keith J. Cunningham (Keys to the Vault: Lessons From the Pros on Raising Money and Igniting Your Business)
“
Although Daisy was the mildest-tempered of all the Bowmans, she was by no means a coward. And she would not accept defeat without a fight.
“You’re forcing me to take desperate measures,” she said.
His reply was very soft. “There’s nothing you can do.”
He had left her no choice.
Daisy turned the key in the lock and carefully withdrew it.
The decisive click was abnormally loud in the silence of the room.
Calmly Daisy tugged the top edge of her bodice away from her chest. She held the key above the narrow gap.
Matthew’s eyes widened as he understood what she intended. “You wouldn’t.”
As he started around the dresser, Daisy dropped the key into her bodice, making certain it slipped beneath her corset. She sucked in her stomach and midriff until she felt the cold metal slide to her navel.
“Damn it!” Matthew reached her with startling speed. He reached out to touch her, then jerked his hands back as if he had just encountered open flame. “Take it out,” he commanded, his face dark with outrage.
“I can’t.”
“I mean it, Daisy!”
“It’s fallen too far down. I’ll have to take my dress off.”
It was obvious he wanted to kill her. But she could also feel the force of his longing. His lungs were working like bellows, and scorching heat radiated from his body.
His whisper contained the ferocity of a roar. “Don’t do this to me.”
Daisy waited patiently.
The next move was his.
He turned his back to her, the seams of his coat straining over bunched muscles. His fists clenched as he struggled to master himself. He took a shuddering breath, and another, and when he spoke his voice sounded thick, as if he had just awakened from a heavy sleep.
“Take off your gown.”
Trying not to antagonize him any more than was necessary, Daisy replied in an apologetic tone. “I can’t do it by myself. It buttons up the back.”
Matthew said something in a muffled voice that sounded very foul. After an eternity of silence he turned to face her. His jaw could have been cast in iron. “I’m not going to fall apart that easily. I can resist you, Daisy. I’ve had years of practice. Turn around.”
Daisy obeyed. As she bent her head forward, she could actually feel his gaze travel over the endless row of pearl buttons.
“How do you ever get undressed?” he muttered. “I’ve never seen so many blasted buttons on one garment.”
“It’s fashionable.”
“It’s ridiculous.”
“You can send a letter of protest to Godey’s Lady’s Book,” she suggested.
Giving a scornful snort, Matthew began on the top button. He tried to unfasten it while avoiding contact with her body.
“It helps if you slide your fingers beneath the placket,” Daisy said. “And then you can pop the button through the—”
“Quiet,” he snapped.
She closed her mouth.
”
”
Lisa Kleypas (Scandal in Spring (Wallflowers, #4))
“
The problem, Augustine came to believe, is that if you think you can organize your own salvation you are magnifying the very sin that keeps you from it. To believe that you can be captain of your own life is to suffer the sin of pride. What is pride? These days the word “pride” has positive connotations. It means feeling good about yourself and the things associated with you. When we use it negatively, we think of the arrogant person, someone who is puffed up and egotistical, boasting and strutting about. But that is not really the core of pride. That is just one way the disease of pride presents itself. By another definition, pride is building your happiness around your accomplishments, using your work as the measure of your worth. It is believing that you can arrive at fulfillment on your own, driven by your own individual efforts. Pride can come in bloated form. This is the puffed-up Donald Trump style of pride. This person wants people to see visible proof of his superiority. He wants to be on the VIP list. In conversation, he boasts, he brags. He needs to see his superiority reflected in other people’s eyes. He believes that this feeling of superiority will eventually bring him peace. That version is familiar. But there are other proud people who have low self-esteem. They feel they haven’t lived up to their potential. They feel unworthy. They want to hide and disappear, to fade into the background and nurse their own hurts. We don’t associate them with pride, but they are still, at root, suffering from the same disease. They are still yoking happiness to accomplishment; it’s just that they are giving themselves a D– rather than an A+. They tend to be just as solipsistic, and in their own way as self-centered, only in a self-pitying and isolating way rather than in an assertive and bragging way. One key paradox of pride is that it often combines extreme self-confidence with extreme anxiety. The proud person often appears self-sufficient and egotistical but is really touchy and unstable. The proud person tries to establish self-worth by winning a great reputation, but of course this makes him utterly dependent on the gossipy and unstable crowd for his own identity. The proud person is competitive. But there are always other people who might do better. The most ruthlessly competitive person in the contest sets the standard that all else must meet or get left behind. Everybody else has to be just as monomaniacally driven to success. One can never be secure. As Dante put it, the “ardor to outshine / Burned in my bosom with a kind of rage.” Hungry for exaltation, the proud person has a tendency to make himself ridiculous. Proud people have an amazing tendency to turn themselves into buffoons, with a comb-over that fools nobody, with golden bathroom fixtures that impress nobody, with name-dropping stories that inspire nobody. Every proud man, Augustine writes, “heeds himself, and he who pleases himself seems great to himself. But he who pleases himself pleases a fool, for he himself is a fool when he is pleasing himself.”16 Pride, the minister and writer Tim Keller has observed, is unstable because other people are absentmindedly or intentionally treating the proud man’s ego with less reverence than he thinks it deserves. He continually finds that his feelings are hurt. He is perpetually putting up a front. The self-cultivator spends more energy trying to display the fact that he is happy—posting highlight reel Facebook photos and all the rest—than he does actually being happy. Augustine suddenly came to realize that the solution to his problem would come only after a transformation more fundamental than any he had previously entertained, a renunciation of the very idea that he could be the source of his own solution.
”
”
David Brooks (The Road to Character)
“
Top 3 Sites to Buy Verified Binance Account In Complete Guide
Are you ready to take your cryptocurrency trading to the next level? Imagine having a verified Binance account at your fingertips, where you can trade with confidence and ease.
If you want to more information just contact now.
➤ We Are Online 24/7 Hours
➤ Quick Delivery
➤ Please Contact Us: ⬇⬇⬇
➤ Skype: pvasmmpro
➤Telegram: @pvasmmpro
➤ WhatsApp: +1 (614) 708-6231
➤ Email: pvasmmpro@gmail.com
Whether you're new to the crypto world or a seasoned trader, having a verified account on Binance can open up a world of opportunities. buy verified Binance account. But why go through the hassle of the verification process when you can simply buy a verified Binance
account?
This could be your key to unlocking faster transactions, increased security, and access to a broader range of trading features. In this blog post, we’ll explore everything you need to know about purchasing a verified Binance account. We'll dive into the benefits, the potential risks, and how to make a smart purchase. If you're serious about making the most of your crypto trading experience, keep reading to discover how a verified Binance account can be your game-changer.
Benefits Of Verified Accounts
Verified Binance accounts offer numerous advantages for traders and investors. These accounts enhance security, provide increased trading limits, and enable access to advanced features. Understanding these benefits can help users make informed decisions. Below, we explore why having a verified account is valuable. Buy Verified Binance Account.
Enhanced Security
Verified accounts come with improved security features. These features include two-factor authentication and identity verification. They help protect against unauthorized access. Users can trade with peace of mind.
Increased Trading Limits
With a verified account, users enjoy higher withdrawal and trading limits. This is crucial for those engaging in high-volume trades. It ensures smooth transactions without interruptions.
Access To Advanced Features
Verified accounts unlock access to advanced Binance tools. These tools include margin trading and futures. Buy Verified Binance Account. Users can explore diverse trading strategies. This enhances their overall trading experience.
Faster Transaction Processing
Verified accounts often experience quicker transaction approvals. This is due to the trust Binance places in verified users. Speedy transactions are vital in the fast-paced crypto world.
Improved Customer Support
Having a verified account can lead to better customer support. Binance prioritizes verified users for assistance. This ensures timely help when needed.
Risks Of Unverified Accounts
Venturing into cryptocurrency trading with unverified Binance accounts can be risky. These accounts may lack the security features of verified ones. The absence of verification leaves traders vulnerable to cyber threats. Understanding these risks is crucial for safe trading.
Security Vulnerabilities
Unverified accounts are more susceptible to hacking attempts. Hackers find loopholes in these accounts easily. Without verification, accounts lack robust security measures. This increases the chances of unauthorized access. Buy Verified Binance Account. Protecting your investments becomes challenging.
Limited Access
Unverified accounts often face restrictions. Access to certain features is limited. Trading volume and withdrawal limits are imposed. These limitations hinder trading strategies. Traders miss out on potential opportunities.
Trust Issues
Unverified accounts struggle to build trust. Counterparties may hesitate to engage with them. This affects trading relationships and partnerships. Verified accounts enjoy greater credibility. Trust is essential for successful trading.
Regulatory Compliance
Unverified accounts might not comply with regulations. Regulatory bodies demand strict adherenc
”
”
Top 3 Sites to Buy Verified Binance Account In Complete Guide
“
The War on Drugs proved popular among key white voters, particularly whites who remained resentful of black progress, civil rights enforcement, and affirmative action. Beginning in the 1970s, researchers found that racial attitudes - not crime rates or likelihood of victimization - are an important determinant of white support for 'get tough on crime' and antiwelfare measures. Among whites, those expressing the highest degree of concern about crime also tend to oppose racial reform, and their punitive attitudes toward crime are largely unrelated to their likelihood of victimization. Whites, on average, are more punitive than blacks, despite the fact that blacks are far more likely to be victims of crime. Rural whites are often the most punitive, even though they are least likely to be crime victims. The War on Drugs, cloaked in race-neutral language, offered whites opposed to racial reform a unique opportunity to express their hostility toward blacks and black progress, without being exposed to the charge of racism.
”
”
Michelle Alexander (The New Jim Crow: Mass Incarceration in the Age of Colorblindness)
“
These “moderates” were challenged by the “extremists,” led by Hamas, who believed that this two-stage approach and the diplomacy that went with it were unnecessary altogether. Terror alone would do the job. They were encouraged in this view when they saw that Israel continued to implement the Oslo agreements without demanding a full stop to terrorist attacks. In the years after the Oslo Accords were signed, they concluded that terrorism paid off. One of the key goals in my first term as prime minister was to change the Palestinian perception that “terrorism pays” to “terrorism doesn’t pay.” I did this by insisting on security and reciprocity. I was open to measured concessions that didn’t endanger Israel’s security, but I insisted that these would not come about as a result of terrorism. The American negotiators’ most fundamental misperception of the region was that Israel was the problem in the Middle East. It was the solution. Its advanced technological society could help modernize the entire Arab world, if only Arab leaders deigned to recognize its right to exist and the security conditions that guaranteed that existence.
”
”
Benjamin Netanyahu (Bibi: My Story)
“
In May 1981, Yuri Andropov, chairman of the KGB, gathered his senior officers in a secret conclave to issue a startling announcement: America was planning to launch a nuclear first strike, and obliterate the Soviet Union. For more than twenty years, a nuclear war between East and West had been held at bay by the threat of mutually assured destruction, the promise that both sides would be annihilated in any such conflict, regardless of who started it. But by the end of the 1970s the West had begun to pull ahead in the nuclear arms race, and tense détente was giving way to a different sort of psychological confrontation, in which the Kremlin feared it could be destroyed and defeated by a preemptive nuclear attack. Early in 1981, the KGB carried out an analysis of the geopolitical situation, using a newly developed computer program, and concluded that “the correlation of world forces” was moving in favor of the West. Soviet intervention in Afghanistan was proving costly, Cuba was draining Soviet funds, the CIA was launching aggressive covert action against the USSR, and the US was undergoing a major military buildup: the Soviet Union seemed to be losing the Cold War, and, like a boxer exhausted by long years of sparring, the Kremlin feared that a single, brutal sucker punch could end the contest. The KGB chief’s conviction that the USSR was vulnerable to a surprise nuclear attack probably had more to do with Andropov’s personal experience than rational geopolitical analysis. As Soviet ambassador to Hungary in 1956, he had witnessed how quickly an apparently powerful regime might be toppled. He had played a key role in suppressing the Hungarian Uprising. A dozen years later, Andropov again urged “extreme measures” to put down the Prague Spring. The “Butcher of Budapest” was a firm believer in armed force and KGB repression. The head of the Romanian secret police described him as “the man who substituted the KGB for the Communist Party in governing the USSR.” The confident and bullish stance of the newly installed Reagan administration seemed to underscore the impending threat. And so, like every genuine paranoiac, Andropov set out to find the evidence to confirm his fears. Operation RYAN (an acronym for raketno-yadernoye napadeniye, Russian for “nuclear missile attack”) was the biggest peacetime Soviet intelligence operation ever launched.
”
”
Ben Macintyre (The Spy and the Traitor: The Greatest Espionage Story of the Cold War)
“
She used to test his commitment by hurting him. She threatened to leave him, or cheat on him, then watched his face and measured the depth of his feelings for her by the extent to which it crumbled. He was insecure; prone to worry. If he ever became confident, she thought, it would mean that he no longer loved her, since to love someone is to worry; to need someone is to fear the inevitability of their absence. Without fear, she thought, without drama, there was only the grey blankness of late-middle-age relationships, where, as far as she could make out, concepts like love and passion were replaced by what she saw as the wretched terminology of codependent ennui: companionship, contentment, compromise; where one person’s love for another was no longer stated simply because it was no longer questioned; where the key indicator not only of love but also of solidity would simply be the mere fact of the solidity and love that had gone before. No, no, she thought. Better the sense of odds, of struggle; the ongoing and repeated relief of trauma endured and survived. Without it, there was only the security of the unimaginative: an unspokenly dwindling sex life; roiling resentment; his-and-hers facial hair.
”
”
Sam Byers (Idiopathy)
“
I am not Sa. I lack his almighty wisdom. But I think you are likely to find Etta’s destiny in Etta, rather than hoping Kennit will impregnate you with it.”
Anger writhed over her face. Then she sat still, anger still glinting in her eyes, but with it a careful consideration of his words. Finally, she observed gruffly, “It’s hard to take offense at your saying that I might be important for myself.” Her eyes met his squarely. “I might consider it a compliment. Except it’s hard to believe you are sincere, when you obviously don’t believe the same is true of yourself.”
She continued into his stunned silence, “You haven’t lost your belief in Sa. You’ve lost your belief in yourself. You speak to me of measuring myself by my significance to Kennit. But you do the same. You evaluate your purpose in terms of Vivacia or Kennit. Pick your own life, Wintrow, and be responsible for it. Then, perhaps, you may be significant to them.”
Like a key turning in a rusty lock. That was the sensation inside him. Or perhaps like a wound that bleeds anew past a closed crust, he thought wryly. He sifted her words, searching for a flaw in her logic, for a trick in her wording. There was none. She was right. Somehow, sometime, he had abdicated responsibility for his life.
”
”
Robin Hobb (Ship of Destiny (Liveship Traders, #3))
“
THE TECHNOSPHERE DOESN’T particularly care whether you live or die, or whether you are happy or miserable. Its goal is to control you and to make you serve its purposes, which are to grow, to control everything and to dominate the biosphere. How it achieves this control is a matter of what is most efficient. If you are one of its faithful servants, then the best way to make you do your job well is to incentivize you—to give you high status, ample pay and lots of perks. But if you are a lowly menial grunt in its service who, unfortunately, cannot yet be replaced by a shiny new robot, then low pay and low status suffice, and destroying your autonomy and self-reliance while fostering your dependency is the key to making you perform. If you are a technologically useless person but harmless—an artist, a philosopher, writer, poet, free thinker—then the technosphere simply can’t see you, because what you do is not measurable in units the technosphere can understand. But if your thinking turns out to be dangerous or harmful to the techno-sphere—because you are someone who tries to break the chains of dependency and to find ways to live outside of the technosphere, or to undermine it in some other way—then it will consider you as nothing less than a terrorist!
”
”
Dmitry Orlov (Shrinking the Technosphere: Getting a Grip on Technologies that Limit our Autonomy, Self-Sufficiency and Freedom)
“
Buy Verified Paxful Account-100% Secure Guarantee
Are you looking to buy a verified Paxful account with a 100% secure guarantee? You’re in the right place.
24 Hours Reply/Contact
✅➤Telegram:@usaallshop
✅➤Whatsapp: +1(862)2933814
Having a verified account on Paxful can open doors to faster trades, higher limits, and better trust from buyers and sellers. But buying an account can feel risky if you don’t know where to start. What if the account isn’t really verified?
Or worse, what if your money gets lost? This article will show you exactly how to buy a verified Paxful account safely and securely, so you can trade with confidence from day one. Keep reading to discover the simple steps that protect your investment and give you peace of mind.
Benefits Of Verified Paxful Accounts
Buying a verified Paxful account offers many advantages for users trading cryptocurrency safely and efficiently. Verification confirms your identity, which builds trust within the Paxful community. This verification comes with important benefits that improve your experience and make transactions smoother. Verified accounts enjoy better security, higher transaction limits, and access to special offers. These features help traders conduct business with confidence and ease.
Enhanced Security Features
A verified Paxful account includes stronger security measures to protect your funds and data. Verification requires submitting valid identification, which reduces the risk of fraud. Paxful uses this information to monitor suspicious activities closely. Verified users benefit from these key security features:
Two-Factor Authentication (2FA) - adds an extra step to login for better protection.
Identity Verification - confirms you are a real person, reducing fake accounts.
Transaction Monitoring - flags unusual trades to prevent scams.
Account Recovery Options - easier to regain access if you lose your password.
The table below compares security features between verified and unverified accounts:
Security Feature
Verified Account
Unverified Account
Two-Factor Authentication
Available
Limited
Identity Confirmation
Required
Not Required
Suspicious Activity Monitoring
Active
Limited
Account Recovery Support
Full
Partial
Verified accounts provide a safer environment for buying and selling cryptocurrencies. Users can trade with more peace of mind knowing their account has protection layers.
Higher Transaction Limits
Verification increases your transaction limits on Paxful. Unverified users face low daily and monthly limits, which restrict trading volume. Verified accounts gain access to higher limits, allowing more flexibility and bigger trades.
Typical transaction limits for verified vs. unverified accounts:
Account Type
Daily Limit
Monthly Limit
Unverified
$1,000
$3,000
Verified
$10,000
$50,000
Higher limits help traders who want to:
Complete large cryptocurrency purchases or sales.
Trade frequently without hitting restrictions.
Build a strong reputation with higher volume activity.
Increased limits reduce the need to create multiple accounts or wait for limit resets. This saves time and effort. Verified accounts can also benefit from faster withdrawal speeds because of trust built through verification.
Access To Exclusive Offers
Verified Paxful users receive access to special offers that are not available to unverified accounts. These offers can include:
Discounted trading fees
Promotional bonuses on transactions
Priority customer support
Exclusive deals with certain payment methods
These perks improve the overall trading experience and reduce costs. Verified users often get invitations to participate in new features or partner programs early. This gives an edge in the competitive crypto market.
Here is a list of common exclusive benefits for verified users:
Lower Fees - Save money on each trade due to fee discounts.
”
”
St222
“
would ask. Through the corner of his eyes, Notch saw that Smoot was looking perplexed. Notch made a sick groaning sound and this alarmed Smoot even more. He knew where the key was to the dungeon cell. All he had to do was fetch it and open it. Then he could check on Notch and see if everything was alright. “He’s so weak that there’s no harm…” Smoot thought. He rushed to fetch the keys as Notch waited impatiently. Smoot was back with another villager, just for a safety measure. But Notch was still willing to take the chance even if there were two. Together, they heaved Notch out of the cell and placed him on the floor. “What could be wrong?” Smoot asked the other villager. “It looks like he’s passed out, but we’ve been feeding him well enough…” “Let’s see if there’s something inside the cell… maybe a spider?” suggested the other villager. It was almost too good to be true. Smoot and the other villager peered into the dungeon cell long enough for Notch to launch a kick. “Hey!!” they cried out, but it was too late. Notch was already dashing out. He decided to hide somewhere inside the building. He knew that once the villagers heard that he’d escaped, they’d search outside first. So, Notch looked around until he found some chests. He hid behind one of them and waited. Smoot and the other villager were already rushing out, shouting that Notch had escaped.
”
”
The Miners (The Great Villager Takeover: A Mining Novel)
“
When a high IQ-test score is accompanied by subpar performance in some other domain, this is thought "surprising," and a new disability category is coined to name the surprise. So, similarly, the diagnostic criterion for mathematics disorder (sometimes termed dyscalculia) in DSM IV is that "Mathematical ability that falls substantially below that expected for the individual's chronological age, measured intelligence, and age-appropriate education" (p. 50)-
The logic of discrepancy-based classification based on IQ-test performance
has created a clear precedent whereby we are almost obligated to create a new disability category when an important skill domain is found to be somewhat dissociated from intelligence. It is just this logic that I exploited in creating a new category of disability- dysrationalia.T he proposed definition of the disability was as follows:
Dysrationalia is the inability to think and behave rationally despite adequate intelligence. It is a general term that refers to a heterogeneous group of disorders manifested by significant difficulties in belief formation, in the assessment of belief consistency, and/or in the determination of action to achieve one's goals. Although dysrationalia may occur concomitantly with other handicapping conditions (e.g., sensory impairment), dysrationalia is not the result of those conditions. The key diagnostic criterion for dysrationalia is a level of rationality, as demonstrated in thinking and behavior, that is significantly below the level of the individual's intellectual capacity (as determined by an individually administered IQ test).
”
”
Keith E. Stanovich (What Intelligence Tests Miss)
“
The onset of catastrophe is not signaled by the sense of falling through the dark to an accidental death: everything, including a catastrophe, has a moment-by-moment structure - a structure that is beyond measurement or comprehension, one that is maddeningly complex or must be conceived in quite another manner, in which the degree of complexity can be articulated only in terms of images that seem impossible to conjure - visible only if time has slowed down to the point that we see the world as indifferent owing to the available circumstances and having doomed preconditions that arrive at a perfect universal conclusion, if only because they are composed of individual intentions - because the moment is the result of unconscious choices, because a key doesn't automatically fit into the ignition, because we do not start into third gear and move down to second but we start in second and move into third, rolling down the hill then turning onto a highway above the village, because the distance before us is like looking down a tunnel, because the greenery on the boughs still smells of morning dew, because of the death of a dog and someone's badly executed maneuver when turning left, that is to say because of one choice or another, of more choices and still more choices ad infinitum, those maddening had-we-but-known choices impossible to conceptualize because the situation we find ourselves in is complicated, determined by something that is in the nature of neither God nor the devil, something whose ways are impenetrable to us and are doomed to remain so because chance is simply a matter of choosing, but the result of that which might have happened anyway.
”
”
László Krasznahorkai (The World Goes On)
“
Similarly, the computers used to run the software on the ground for the mission were borrowed from a previous mission. These machines were so out of date that Bowman had to shop on eBay to find replacement parts to get the machines working. As systems have gone obsolete, JPL no longer uses the software, but Bowman told me that the people on her team continue to use software built by JPL in the 1990s, because they are familiar with it. She said, “Instead of upgrading to the next thing we decided that it was working just fine for us and we would stay on the platform.” They have developed so much over such a long period of time with the old software that they don’t want to switch to a newer system. They must adapt to using these outdated systems for the latest scientific work.
Working within these constraints may seem limiting. However, building tools with specific constraints—from outdated technologies and low bitrate radio antennas—can enlighten us. For example, as scientists started to explore what they could learn from the wait times while communicating with deep space probes, they discovered that the time lag was extraordinarily useful information. Wait times, they realized, constitute an essential component for locating a probe in space, calculating its trajectory, and accurately locating a target like Pluto in space. There is no GPS for spacecraft (they aren’t on the globe, after all), so scientists had to find a way to locate the spacecraft in the vast expanse. Before 1960, the location of planets and objects in deep space was established through astronomical observation, placing an object like Pluto against a background of stars to determine its position.15 In 1961, an experiment at the Goldstone Deep Space Communications Complex in California used radar to more accurately define an “astronomical unit” and help measure distances in space much more accurately.16 NASA used this new data as part of creating the trajectories for missions in the following years. Using the data from radio signals across a wide range of missions over the decades, the Deep Space Network maintained an ongoing database that helped further refine the definition of an astronomical unit—a kind of longitudinal study of space distances that now allows missions like New Horizons to create accurate flight trajectories.
The Deep Space Network continued to find inventive ways of using the time lag of radio waves to locate objects in space, ultimately finding that certain ways of waiting for a downlink signal from the spacecraft were less accurate than others. It turned to using the antennas from multiple locations, such as Goldstone in California and the antennas in Canberra, Australia, or Madrid, Spain, to time how long the signal took to hit these different locations on Earth. The time it takes to receive these signals from the spacecraft works as a way to locate the probes as they are journeying to their destination. Latency—or the different time lag of receiving radio signals on different locations of Earth—is the key way that deep space objects are located as they journey through space. This discovery was made possible during the wait times for communicating with these craft alongside the decades of data gathered from each space mission. Without the constraint of waiting, the notion of using time as a locating feature wouldn’t have been possible.
”
”
Jason Farman (Delayed Response: The Art of Waiting from the Ancient to the Instant World)
“
The Secret of Radical Obedience Hearing God in the secret place is one of the greatest keys to the overcoming Christian life. However, it must be linked with its corollary: radical obedience. We hear, and then we do. “But be doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving yourselves” (James 1:22). By “radical obedience,” I mean immediate obedience that fulfills the commandment to its fullest measure. Radical obedience does not seek to comply to the minimal standards but pursues extravagant, lavish fulfillment. If Jesus says, “Sell all,” then we sell all! Immediately. The New Testament word for obedience, hupakoe, is a compound word of two Greek words, hupo, “under,” and akouo, “to hear.” So to obey is “to hear under.” Obedience involves listening attentively with a heart of compliant submission and, then, obeying His word. Implicit obedience starts, for every one of us, not in doing good works but in sitting at His feet and hearing His word. Devotion to the secret place is the saint’s first great act of obedience. Jesus revealed this: But He answered them, saying, “Who is My mother, or My brothers?” And He looked around in a circle at those who sat about Him, and said, “Here are My mother and My brothers! For whoever does the will of God is My brother and My sister and mother” (Mark 3:33-35). The will of God in that moment was for the people to sit at Jesus’ feet and hear His word. Until you attend to this responsibility first, you will be constantly frustrated in your inability to uncover the joys of radical obedience. Works of service gain their spiritual energy from the furnace of a fiery love relationship at Jesus’ feet. The true fulfillment of serving Jesus is discovered when we get first things
”
”
Bob Sorge (Secrets of the Secret Place)
“
Kung Fu's process of individualization similarly takes part in this backlash as the representation of the social ills experienced by racial minorities is routinely disciplined and rechanneled to make the show palatable for mass consumption. Under this rubric, it is assumed that changing the hearts of individuals will automatically lead to changing society. To a post-1960s liberal audience who obviously felt sympathy toward the plight of racial minorities but who nevertheless were wary of certain measures taken by these groups toward self-determination and weary from extended conflict, this simple adage proved seductive. Indeed, for a great many Americans, post-Civil Rights race relations has transformed the United States into an unruly site with different groups vying for cultural, economic, and political resources. In this way, Kung Fu's Wild West setting—the uneven hand of justice, the social free-for-all, the generally inhospitable natural landscape—seemed to reflect the audience's view of their contemporary social environment. It also mirrored the overall impotence that Americans felt toward ameliorating the situation. Given such a scenario, individualizing racial oppression and other social inequities may have seemed like a final alternative.
While this process of individualization is key in deciphering the show's political stance, the types of identifications the series forged between character and audience more substantively reveal its ideological commitments. Although Kung Fu's psychospiritualized vision was available to all of its audience members, one could argue that it was primarily framed as a commentary toward racial minorities and women who sought social change through means other than or in addition to inner transformation. It achieved this through a formulaic pattern of identifications.
”
”
Jane Naomi Iwamura (Virtual Orientalism: Asian Religions and American Popular Culture)
“
Buy Verified Payeer Accounts – 100% safe & Secure Accounts
Are you afraid to buy Verified Payeer Accounts service will be Dropped? Don’t Worry, We are not like the rest of the fake PVA Accounts providers. We provide 100% Non-Drop PVA Accounts, Permanent PVA Accounts, and Legit PVA Accounts Service. We’re working with the largest team and we’re instant start work after your placing order. So, Buy our Service and enjoy it.
Our Service Always Trusted Customers sufficient Guarantee
✅ 100% Customers Satisfaction Guaranteed.
✅ 100% Non-Drop Verified Payeer Accounts
✅ Active Verified Payeer Accounts
✅ Very Cheap Price.
✅ High-Quality Service.
✅ 100% Money-Back Guarantee.
✅ 24/7 Ready to Customer Support.
✅ Extra Bonuses for every service.
✅ Country Available ( USA, CA, UK, NA, AUS, Chile, Any Country.
✅ If you want to buy this product, you must Advance Payment.
If you want to know more or have any queries, just knock us here-
24 Hours Reply/Contact
✅➤Telegram:@usukseller
✅➤Whatsapp: +1(939)328-6215
✅➤Email: usukseller6@gmail.com
What is a Payeer account?
A Payeer account is a digital wallet that allows users to easily send, receive, and exchange different currencies online. It provides a convenient platform for managing your finances and conducting various transactions securely. With a Payeer account, you can make payments for goods and services, transfer funds to other users, or even invest in cryptocurrency.
One of the key benefits of having a Payeer account is its versatility. You can use it for both personal and business purposes, making it an ideal solution for individuals and entrepreneurs alike. Whether you need to pay bills, shop online, or manage your finances across multiple platforms, a Payeer account offers the flexibility you need.
Additionally, Payeer’s user-friendly interface makes it easy to navigate and access all the features of your account with just a few clicks. This ensures a seamless user experience whether you’re using the platform on your computer or mobile device.
Introduction to Payeer and its Benefits
Looking for a secure and convenient online payment system? Look no further than Payeer. This digital wallet allows you to easily send, receive, and exchange money in multiple currencies with low fees.
One of the key benefits of using Payeer is its versatility. Whether you’re an individual looking to make online purchases or a business owner seeking efficient payment solutions, Payeer has got you covered.
With Payeer, you can access your funds anytime, anywhere through their user-friendly mobile app. Say goodbye to long processing times and hello to instant transactions at your fingertips.
Plus, Payeer offers competitive exchange rates and supports various payment methods, making it a flexible option for users worldwide. Experience seamless financial management with Payeer today!
Buy Verified Payeer Accounts – Is Payeer Wallet Safe?
When it comes to buying verified Payeer accounts, a common concern is the safety of using the Payeer wallet. Payeer is a reputable online payment system that offers users a convenient way to send and receive money globally. With its robust security measures in place, many users find comfort in using the platform for their financial transactions.
The verification process for Payeer accounts adds an extra layer of security, ensuring that only authorized individuals can access and use the account. By purchasing a verified Payeer account, you are not only saving time but also guaranteeing a higher level of protection for your funds.
It’s important to note that like any online platform, there may be risks involved with using Payeer. However, by purchasing a verified account from reliable sellers, you can mitigate these risks and enjoy the benefits of secure transactions through Payeer without worry.
”
”
Marketing Mastery
“
Buy Verified Payeer Accounts – 100% safe & Secure Accounts
Are you afraid to buy Verified Payeer Accounts service will be Dropped? Don’t Worry, We are not like the rest of the fake PVA Accounts providers. We provide 100% Non-Drop PVA Accounts, Permanent PVA Accounts, and Legit PVA Accounts Service. We’re working with the largest team and we’re instant start work after your placing order. So, Buy our Service and enjoy it.
Our Service Always Trusted Customers sufficient Guarantee
✅ 100% Customers Satisfaction Guaranteed.
✅ 100% Non-Drop Verified Payeer Accounts
✅ Active Verified Payeer Accounts
✅ Very Cheap Price.
✅ High-Quality Service.
✅ 100% Money-Back Guarantee.
✅ 24/7 Ready to Customer Support.
✅ Extra Bonuses for every service.
✅ Country Available ( USA, CA, UK, NA, AUS, Chile, Any Country.
✅ If you want to buy this product, you must Advance Payment.
If you want to know more or have any queries, just knock us here-
24 Hours Reply/Contact
✅➤Telegram:@usukseller
✅➤Whatsapp: +1(939)328-6215
✅➤Email: usukseller6@gmail.com
What is a Payeer account?
A Payeer account is a digital wallet that allows users to easily send, receive, and exchange different currencies online. It provides a convenient platform for managing your finances and conducting various transactions securely. With a Payeer account, you can make payments for goods and services, transfer funds to other users, or even invest in cryptocurrency.
One of the key benefits of having a Payeer account is its versatility. You can use it for both personal and business purposes, making it an ideal solution for individuals and entrepreneurs alike. Whether you need to pay bills, shop online, or manage your finances across multiple platforms, a Payeer account offers the flexibility you need.
Additionally, Payeer’s user-friendly interface makes it easy to navigate and access all the features of your account with just a few clicks. This ensures a seamless user experience whether you’re using the platform on your computer or mobile device.
Introduction to Payeer and its Benefits
Looking for a secure and convenient online payment system? Look no further than Payeer. This digital wallet allows you to easily send, receive, and exchange money in multiple currencies with low fees.
One of the key benefits of using Payeer is its versatility. Whether you’re an individual looking to make online purchases or a business owner seeking efficient payment solutions, Payeer has got you covered.
With Payeer, you can access your funds anytime, anywhere through their user-friendly mobile app. Say goodbye to long processing times and hello to instant transactions at your fingertips.
Plus, Payeer offers competitive exchange rates and supports various payment methods, making it a flexible option for users worldwide. Experience seamless financial management with Payeer today!
Buy Verified Payeer Accounts – Is Payeer Wallet Safe?
When it comes to buying verified Payeer accounts, a common concern is the safety of using the Payeer wallet. Payeer is a reputable online payment system that offers users a convenient way to send and receive money globally. With its robust security measures in place, many users find comfort in using the platform for their financial transactions.
The verification process for Payeer accounts adds an extra layer of security, ensuring that only authorized individuals can access and use the account. By purchasing a verified Payeer account, you are not only saving time but also guaranteeing a higher level of protection for your funds.
It’s important to note that like any online platform, there may be risks involved with using Payeer. However, by purchasing a verified account from reliable sellers, you can mitigate these risks and enjoy the benefits of secure transactions through Payeer without worry.
”
”
Margaret Atwood
“
Buy Verified Payeer Accounts – 100% safe & Secure Accounts
Are you afraid to buy Verified Payeer Accounts service will be Dropped? Don’t Worry, We are not like the rest of the fake PVA Accounts providers. We provide 100% Non-Drop PVA Accounts, Permanent PVA Accounts, and Legit PVA Accounts Service. We’re working with the largest team and we’re instant start work after your placing order. So, Buy our Service and enjoy it.
Our Service Always Trusted Customers sufficient Guarantee
✅ 100% Customers Satisfaction Guaranteed.
✅ 100% Non-Drop Verified Payeer Accounts
✅ Active Verified Payeer Accounts
✅ Very Cheap Price.
✅ High-Quality Service.
✅ 100% Money-Back Guarantee.
✅ 24/7 Ready to Customer Support.
✅ Extra Bonuses for every service.
✅ Country Available ( USA, CA, UK, NA, AUS, Chile, Any Country.
✅ If you want to buy this product, you must Advance Payment.
If you want to know more or have any queries, just knock us here-
24 Hours Reply/Contact
✅➤Telegram:@usukseller
✅➤Whatsapp: +1(939)328-6215
✅➤Email: usukseller6@gmail.com
What is a Payeer account?
A Payeer account is a digital wallet that allows users to easily send, receive, and exchange different currencies online. It provides a convenient platform for managing your finances and conducting various transactions securely. With a Payeer account, you can make payments for goods and services, transfer funds to other users, or even invest in cryptocurrency.
One of the key benefits of having a Payeer account is its versatility. You can use it for both personal and business purposes, making it an ideal solution for individuals and entrepreneurs alike. Whether you need to pay bills, shop online, or manage your finances across multiple platforms, a Payeer account offers the flexibility you need.
Additionally, Payeer’s user-friendly interface makes it easy to navigate and access all the features of your account with just a few clicks. This ensures a seamless user experience whether you’re using the platform on your computer or mobile device.
Introduction to Payeer and its Benefits
Looking for a secure and convenient online payment system? Look no further than Payeer. This digital wallet allows you to easily send, receive, and exchange money in multiple currencies with low fees.
One of the key benefits of using Payeer is its versatility. Whether you’re an individual looking to make online purchases or a business owner seeking efficient payment solutions, Payeer has got you covered.
With Payeer, you can access your funds anytime, anywhere through their user-friendly mobile app. Say goodbye to long processing times and hello to instant transactions at your fingertips.
Plus, Payeer offers competitive exchange rates and supports various payment methods, making it a flexible option for users worldwide. Experience seamless financial management with Payeer today!
Buy Verified Payeer Accounts – Is Payeer Wallet Safe?
When it comes to buying verified Payeer accounts, a common concern is the safety of using the Payeer wallet. Payeer is a reputable online payment system that offers users a convenient way to send and receive money globally. With its robust security measures in place, many users find comfort in using the platform for their financial transactions.
The verification process for Payeer accounts adds an extra layer of security, ensuring that only authorized individuals can access and use the account. By purchasing a verified Payeer account, you are not only saving time but also guaranteeing a higher level of protection for your funds.
It’s important to note that like any online platform, there may be risks involved with using Payeer. However, by purchasing a verified account from reliable sellers, you can mitigate these risks and enjoy the benefits of secure transactions through Payeer without worry.
”
”
Marketing Mastery
“
Buy Verified Chase Bank Accounts
Discover the benefits of secure, buy verified Go2Bank accounts from usukseller . Suitable for personal or business use, these accounts offer seamless transactions and reliable financial management. Buy verified Go2Bank account today and experience hassle-free banking!
Our Service
100% approved account.
Photo ID Verified
Email Verified
This account is active and fully verified.
We offer 24/7 customer service.
instant delivery
Full Documents Verified Accounts.
High-Quality Service
Cheap Price Per Account
Aged Accounts
Full Access Provide
Available in the USA, UK, CA and AU
If you want to know more or have any queries, just knock us here-
24 Hours Reply/Contact
✅➤Telegram:@usukseller
✅➤Whatsapp: +1(939)328-6215
✅➤Email: usukseller6@gmail.com
Buy Verified Chase Bank Accounts
In today’s fast-paced digital world, managing your finances securely is more important than ever. With so many options available, it can be overwhelming to navigate the ins and outs of banking. If you’re looking for a reliable financial solution that offers ease and security, you might want to consider buying verified Chase Bank accounts. These accounts are designed not only to simplify your banking experience but also to provide peace of mind when handling your money.
Imagine having access to one of the most reputable banks in the United States with a verified account that ensures safety and authenticity. Whether you’re an individual looking for personal finance management or an entrepreneur searching for efficient business solutions, understanding what a verified Chase Bank account entails can lead you toward smarter financial decisions.
Join us as we explore everything there is to know about buying verified Chase bank accounts. From their legality and benefits to where you can find them, this guide will equip you with all the information needed for making informed choices regarding your finances today!
Buy Verified Chase Bank Accounts: Secure Your Finances Today
Navigating the world of finance can feel daunting, especially with security concerns looming large. Buying verified Chase Bank accounts offers a solution that prioritizes safety and reliability.
With these accounts, you gain access to one of the most trusted banking institutions in America. They come equipped with robust features designed to protect your assets while simplifying transactions. Imagine managing your finances without the constant worry about fraud or identity theft.
Moreover, having a verified account opens doors to exclusive services and benefits tailored to enhance your banking experience. From competitive interest rates to advanced digital tools, you’ll find yourself well-equipped for both personal and business needs.
In a landscape where financial stability is key, investing in a verified Chase account can be an excellent step forward. Your journey toward secure money management begins here—so why wait?
What Is A Verified Chase Bank Account?
A verified Chase Bank account is a financial account that has undergone a thorough verification process. This means the identity of the account holder has been confirmed through various checks.
Typically, these accounts offer enhanced security features and additional benefits compared to standard bank accounts. Verification often includes providing personal information, identification documents, and proof of address.
Once verified, customers can enjoy more reliable services and peace of mind regarding their transactions. They are less susceptible to fraud attempts since banks implement stricter measures for these accounts.
Furthermore, having a verified status may provide quicker access to certain banking services like loans or credit cards. It establishes trust between you and the bank while ensuring compliance with legal requirements in financial activities.
”
”
Marketing Mastery
“
Buy Verified Chase Bank Accounts
Discover the benefits of secure, buy verified Go2Bank accounts from usukseller . Suitable for personal or business use, these accounts offer seamless transactions and reliable financial management. Buy verified Go2Bank account today and experience hassle-free banking!
Our Service
100% approved account.
Photo ID Verified
Email Verified
This account is active and fully verified.
We offer 24/7 customer service.
instant delivery
Full Documents Verified Accounts.
High-Quality Service
Cheap Price Per Account
Aged Accounts
Full Access Provide
Available in the USA, UK, CA and AU
If you want to know more or have any queries, just knock us here-
24 Hours Reply/Contact
✅➤Telegram:@usukseller
✅➤Whatsapp: +1(939)328-6215
✅➤Email: usukseller6@gmail.com
Buy Verified Chase Bank Accounts
In today’s fast-paced digital world, managing your finances securely is more important than ever. With so many options available, it can be overwhelming to navigate the ins and outs of banking. If you’re looking for a reliable financial solution that offers ease and security, you might want to consider buying verified Chase Bank accounts. These accounts are designed not only to simplify your banking experience but also to provide peace of mind when handling your money.
Imagine having access to one of the most reputable banks in the United States with a verified account that ensures safety and authenticity. Whether you’re an individual looking for personal finance management or an entrepreneur searching for efficient business solutions, understanding what a verified Chase Bank account entails can lead you toward smarter financial decisions.
Join us as we explore everything there is to know about buying verified Chase bank accounts. From their legality and benefits to where you can find them, this guide will equip you with all the information needed for making informed choices regarding your finances today!
Buy Verified Chase Bank Accounts: Secure Your Finances Today
Navigating the world of finance can feel daunting, especially with security concerns looming large. Buying verified Chase Bank accounts offers a solution that prioritizes safety and reliability.
With these accounts, you gain access to one of the most trusted banking institutions in America. They come equipped with robust features designed to protect your assets while simplifying transactions. Imagine managing your finances without the constant worry about fraud or identity theft.
Moreover, having a verified account opens doors to exclusive services and benefits tailored to enhance your banking experience. From competitive interest rates to advanced digital tools, you’ll find yourself well-equipped for both personal and business needs.
In a landscape where financial stability is key, investing in a verified Chase account can be an excellent step forward. Your journey toward secure money management begins here—so why wait?
What Is A Verified Chase Bank Account?
A verified Chase Bank account is a financial account that has undergone a thorough verification process. This means the identity of the account holder has been confirmed through various checks.
Typically, these accounts offer enhanced security features and additional benefits compared to standard bank accounts. Verification often includes providing personal information, identification documents, and proof of address.
Once verified, customers can enjoy more reliable services and peace of mind regarding their transactions. They are less susceptible to fraud attempts since banks implement stricter measures for these accounts.
Furthermore, having a verified status may provide quicker access to certain banking services like loans or credit cards. It establishes trust between you and the bank while ensuring compliance with legal requirements in financial activities.
”
”
Margaret Atwood
“
Back in bed I listen to every sound. The plastic tarp over the table on the balcony crunching in the cold wind. the two short clicks in the walls before the heat comes on with a low whoosh. I hear a constant base hum all around, the nervous system of the building, carrying electricity and gas and phone conversations to all our respective little boxes. I listen to it all, the constant, the rhythmic, and the random. It's hard to measure the night by sound, but it can be done. I know that when the traffic noise is quietest, it's about 4:30 in the morning. I know that when the 'Times' hits the door, it's around 5. Now the clock says it's morning, 5:45, but the November sky still says midnight. I hear the elevator ding twenty yards down the hall outside our door. Seven seconds later, I hear his keys in our lock, then his heavy backpack hitting the floor. I hear the refrigerator door open, the unsealing vacuum wheezing as the cold inside air meets the dry heat in the apartment. The cupboard door. A glass. The crescendoing fizz of a new two-liter Diet Coke bottle opening. It's a one-sided conversation with no one actually talking. I lie in the dark, close my eyes, and try not to listen to his movements around apartment. these are the sounds of our life together before it got so messy. I want to say something back. Anything, anything that sounds like things sounded last summer. Even just to myself. Just something out loud.
The inside of my eyelids turn pink. My door has been opened and the light from the hallway shines through them. I won't open them. There is no noise.
Like an eclipse, the world behind my closed eyes goes dark again. For just one second, before I feel a kiss on my right eye. I keep them closed. A kiss on the left one. I open them. Jack looks down at me and closes his eyes. He leans forward and puts his forehead on my chest and goes limp.
''Blues Clues' is on,' he says softly into my tee shirt. His muffled voice vibrating only a half inch away from my heart.
”
”
Josh Kilmer-Purcell (I Am Not Myself These Days)
“
Several teams of German psychologists that have studied the RAT in recent years have come up with remarkable discoveries about cognitive ease. One of the teams raised two questions: Can people feel that a triad of words has a solution before they know what the solution is? How does mood influence performance in this task? To find out, they first made some of their subjects happy and others sad, by asking them to think for several minutes about happy or sad episodes in their lives. Then they presented these subjects with a series of triads, half of them linked (such as dive, light, rocket) and half unlinked (such as dream, ball, book), and instructed them to press one of two keys very quickly to indicate their guess about whether the triad was linked. The time allowed for this guess, 2 seconds, was much too short for the actual solution to come to anyone’s mind. The first surprise is that people’s guesses are much more accurate than they would be by chance. I find this astonishing. A sense of cognitive ease is apparently generated by a very faint signal from the associative machine, which “knows” that the three words are coherent (share an association) long before the association is retrieved. The role of cognitive ease in the judgment was confirmed experimentally by another German team: manipulations that increase cognitive ease (priming, a clear font, pre-exposing words) all increase the tendency to see the words as linked. Another remarkable discovery is the powerful effect of mood on this intuitive performance. The experimenters computed an “intuition index” to measure accuracy. They found that putting the participants in a good mood before the test by having them think happy thoughts more than doubled accuracy. An even more striking result is that unhappy subjects were completely incapable of performing the intuitive task accurately; their guesses were no better than random. Mood evidently affects the operation of System 1: when we are uncomfortable and unhappy, we lose touch with our intuition. These findings add to the growing evidence that good mood, intuition, creativity, gullibility, and increased reliance on System 1 form a cluster. At the other pole, sadness, vigilance, suspicion, an analytic approach, and increased effort also go together. A happy mood loosens the control of System 2 over performance: when in a good mood, people become more intuitive and more creative but also less vigilant and more prone to logical errors. Here again, as in the mere exposure effect, the connection makes biological sense. A good mood is a signal that things are generally going well, the environment is safe, and it is all right to let one’s guard down. A bad mood indicates that things are not going very well, there may be a threat, and vigilance is required. Cognitive ease is both a cause and a consequence of a pleasant feeling.
”
”
Daniel Kahneman (Thinking, Fast and Slow)
“
Dr. Hobson (with Dr. Robert McCarley) made history by proposing the first serious challenge to Freud’s theory of dreams, called the “activation synthesis theory.” In 1977, they proposed the idea that dreams originate from random neural firings in the brain stem, which travel up to the cortex, which then tries to make sense of these random signals. The key to dreams lies in nodes found in the brain stem, the oldest part of the brain, which squirts out special chemicals, called adrenergics, that keep us alert. As we go to sleep, the brain stem activates another system, the cholinergic, which emits chemicals that put us in a dream state. As we dream, cholinergic neurons in the brain stem begin to fire, setting off erratic pulses of electrical energy called PGO (pontine-geniculate-occipital) waves. These waves travel up the brain stem into the visual cortex, stimulating it to create dreams. Cells in the visual cortex begin to resonate hundreds of times per second in an irregular fashion, which is perhaps responsible for the sometimes incoherent nature of dreams. This system also emits chemicals that decouple parts of the brain involved with reason and logic. The lack of checks coming from the prefrontal and orbitofrontal cortices, along with the brain becoming extremely sensitive to stray thoughts, may account for the bizarre, erratic nature of dreams. Studies have shown that it is possible to enter the cholinergic state without sleep. Dr. Edgar Garcia-Rill of the University of Arkansas claims that meditation, worrying, or being placed in an isolation tank can induce this cholinergic state. Pilots and drivers facing the monotony of a blank windshield for many hours may also enter this state. In his research, he has found that schizophrenics have an unusually large number of cholinergic neurons in their brain stem, which may explain some of their hallucinations. To make his studies more efficient, Dr. Allan Hobson had his subjects put on a special nightcap that can automatically record data during a dream. One sensor connected to the nightcap registers the movements of a person’s head (because head movements usually occur when dreams end). Another sensor measures movements of the eyelids (because REM sleep causes eyelids to move). When his subjects wake up, they immediately record what they dreamed about, and the information from the nightcap is fed into a computer. In this way, Dr. Hobson has accumulated a vast amount of information about dreams. So what is the meaning of dreams? I asked him. He dismisses what he calls the “mystique of fortune-cookie dream interpretation.” He does not see any hidden message from the cosmos in dreams. Instead, he believes that after the PGO waves surge from the brain stem into the cortical areas, the cortex is trying to make sense of these erratic signals and winds up creating a narrative out of them: a dream.
”
”
Michio Kaku (The Future of the Mind: The Scientific Quest to Understand, Enhance, and Empower the Mind)
“
Fuck, she was even hotter when she was furious. I seriously wouldn't have minded her taking that anger out on my body all night long. I'd be more than happy to angry fuck her until her body bent and bowed and finally gave in to the power play between us. I'd force her beneath me physically as well as with my power and maybe she'd find she liked it there just fine.
Or maybe she'd stab me to death and cut my cock off for good measure because the look she was aiming my way said that was a whole lot more likely than me getting to spend the night ruining her. But it was a damn nice fantasy to indulge in for a few moments.
...
She gave me a look of utter contempt and it made my cock throb as her nearness just compounded the desire I was already feeling for her and made me get all kinds of insane ideas about what I'd like to do with this little princess if I got her to myself for long enough.
She made no attempt to cover herself, no sign of shame in her frosty features as she stalked forward to claim her key, a sneer touching those edible lips of hers.
Her jaw was tight with rage which she was doing nothing to hide and as she reached out to snatch the key from my hand, I couldn't help but ache to bring her closer, draw her nearer, see just how far she'd go in this denial of my power over her.
Her fingers curled around the brass key, but I didn't release it, instead using my hold on it to tug her a step closer so that only a breath of space divided our bodies. I looked down at her from my imposing height, dominating her space with the bulk of my body and making sure she took in every last inch of height I had over her.
“Of course, if you’d rather just come on up to my room, I can give you a real welcome to the House of Fire,” I suggested my gaze dropping down to her body, the noticeable bulge in my pants making it clear enough how much I meant that offer. I probably shouldn't have been making it at all, but the beast in me couldn't help myself. Dragons saw something they wanted and they took it. And I hadn't seen something I wanted as much as this girl in as long as I could remember.
Our gazes collided and the heat there was almost strong enough to burn, the tension between us crackling so loudly I was surprised the whole room couldn't hear it. But then her gaze shuttered and her lips pursed, her eyes dropping down to take me in, my skin buzzing everywhere they landed as I could feel the want in her while she assessed me.
But as those deep green eyes met mine again and I gave her a knowing smirk, I couldn't tell what she was thinking. I didn't know if she was going to bow to this heat between us or just stoke the flames, and the fact that I didn't know had my heart thumping in anticipation deep in my chest.
She shifted an inch closer to me, tilting her mouth towards my ear and making my flesh spark with the need to take her, own her, destroy her in all the best ways. But just as my cock began to get overexcited at the prospect of all the ways I could make her scream for me given enough time, she spoke and it wasn't in the sultry purr I'd been expecting, her voice coming out loud enough for everyone to hear instead.
“I wouldn’t come near you even if someone held a knife to my heart and told me that the world would end if I didn’t,” she snarled, snatching the key out of my hand as my surprise at her words made me forget to keep my grip tight enough to keep it. “So why don’t you take a long, hard look while you can. Because I can promise you, you won’t be seeing this again.”(Darius POV)
”
”
Caroline Peckham (The Awakening as Told by the Boys (Zodiac Academy, #1.5))