Reflections on a Cold, Dark January 10

Happy January 10. Not much to add to today’s post other than the fact that it is winter—it’s cold, dark, and unmistakably the 10th of January.

Here are three of the nine quotes that popped up in my Reedwise feed today. For whatever reason, these ones spoke to me more than the others I chose not to share here. It’s interesting how often quotes on fascism appear in my feed and how frequently I’m drawn to them, sometimes even repeating ones I’ve posted before. Perhaps it’s a reflection of how I’m feeling about the times we’re living in? 🤔

Quotes

"Fascism was an affair of the gut more than of the brain, and a study of the roots of fascism that treats only the thinkers and the writers misses the most powerful impulses of all."

– Robert O. Paxton, The Anatomy of Fascism

"Studies show that identifying other people’s social class really is child’s play for most of us."
– Keith Payne, The Broken Ladder

"Making my bed correctly was not going to be an opportunity for praise. It was expected of me. It was my first task of the day, and doing it right was important. It demonstrated my discipline. It showed my attention to detail, and at the end of the day it would be a reminder that I had done something well, something to be proud of, no matter how small the task."
– William H. McRaven, Make Your Bed