Important work

"One of the symptoms of an approaching nervous breakdown is the belief that one's work is terribly important."
Bertrand Russell

"In this life we cannot do great things. We can only do small things with great love."
Mother Teresa

"Ugliness seeped past Meg and to Sporos. 'Why do you want to deepen?'

"Sporos's twingling was slightly dissonant. 'Farandolae are born to Deepen.'

"'Fool. Once you Deepen and put down roots you won't be able to romp around as you do now.'

"'But ---'

"'You'll be stuck in one place forever with those fuddy-duddy farae, and you won't be able to run or move, ever again.'

"'But ---'

"The strength and calm of Senex cut through the ugliness. 'It is only when we are fully rooted that we are really able to move.'

"Indecision quivered throughout Sporos.

"Senex continued, 'It is true, small offspring. Now that I am rooted I am no longer limited by motion. Now I may move anywhere in the universe. I sing with the stars. I dance with the galaxies. I share in the joy -- and in the grief. We farae must have our part in the rhythm of the mytochondria, or we cannot be. If we cannot be, then we are not.'"

A Wind in the Door, Madeleine L'Engle