...He is contemplating life -- to live or not to live. "Whether 'tis nobler in the mind to suffer the slings and arrows of outrageous fortune, or to take arms against a sea of troubles, and by opposing end them?" What he's saying is: "Is it better to bear the painful burden of life, or to refuse the burden by killing yourself?" Life is so full of pain ("the whips and scorns of time, the oppressor's wrong, the proud man's contumely, the pangs of despised love"), why do we continue to live when we could just kill ourselves and end the pain ("to die, to sleep, no more, and by a sleep to say we end the heartache and the thousand natural shocks that flesh is heir to")? The only thing stopping us is our fear of the unknown, so we choose life over the risk of possible damnation ("the undiscovered country from which no man returns, puzzles the will, and makes us rather bear those ills we have than fly to others we know not of"). He rationalizes that the reason we are afraid is because we think too much and as a result we fail to act ("thus conscience doth make cowards of us all, and thus the native hue of resolution is sicklied o'er with the pale cast of thought"). He knows the reason he has yet to take revenge on his uncle is because he thinks instead of acts when he has the opportunity ("and enterprises of great pitch and moment, with this regard their currents turn awry, and lose the name of action"). Asker's rating &...
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...are partly related to each other in terms of their meaning and usage. Their presence and usage in sentences are often in order to express an idea or to provide information. From the analysis of the examples, it is found that they actually contain one invariant meaning. The difference is only in the degree or level of intensity. This is the invariant meaning of the chosen verbs: Invariant meaning: both these verbs have an invariant meaning which is the act of having conviction towards X, or accepting X to be true. The act is less likely to be affected by other person. The slight difference between the usage of these two verbs is that they convey different level of intensity of X. Basically, suggest implies that the subject does not necessarily fully confide in what he proposes. However, believe implies a greater level of conviction towards X. After analyzing the examples given previously as a whole, it is recognized that both verbs share a similarity concerning their meaning. Their invariant meanings are partly the same. They are used by the subject to convey something or to express something initiated from his self such as information and ideas. Despite this similarity, what is more apparent is that these words differ according to their level of intensity in their usage. Believe carries a message that the subject is more confident and certain towards X as compared to the word suggest. Based on the invariant meanings of the two words stated above, the word believe is...
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...The Meaning of Life There is a certain point in our lives, regardless of the time, when we begin to ask ourselves a set of questions that challenge our existence on this earth. Was the human race created to wonder this world aimlessly? Or do we have a true purpose that we are destined to harness and attain? Why am I here? Like the rest of us, Thomas Nagel, Robert Taylor, and Raymond Martin have each made their own attempts to answer the question of the meaning of life and while doing so, each of the philosophers rendered their own solution to these universal doubts. Thomas Nagel explains that “to convey the absurdity of our lives often has to do with space or time: we are tiny specks in the infinite vastness of the universe; our lives are mere instants even on a geological time scale, let alone a cosmic one; we will all be dead any minute” (Nagel, 768-769). Nagel then defines absurd as “a situation that includes a conspicuous discrepancy between pretension or aspiration and reality (Nagel, 769). Translated, Nagel says that absurd is a situation in which life seems irrational and meaningless. Throughout his entire argument, Nagel hardly leaves room for a rebuttal to yield the answer to the true meaning of our lives. He suggests that we as humans have a special capacity to take a step backwards and observe the lives that we are “committed” to and call them into question. But, as he pointed out; while taking that backwards step we realize that the life that we are so “committed”...
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...Can life have meaning even if there is no afterlife? Why or why not? Before I can answer this question I must confess that I have no religious beliefs nor do I have any belief in heaven or hell, ghosts or immortality. Now it is purely my opinion that life is as we make it from the time we are born. Can life have a meaning? Life expectancy of a human can last 80+ years depending on where you live in the world. I think that the meaning of life is defined by the individual person. In my heart I believe that my life is meaningful and I know some people that believe there life also has a meaning. However, like I mentioned earlier it is up to the individual to make their life have a meaning. So far in my 36 years of life I have experienced both bad and good situations. My life has taken a path from which I chose to take. Life can be stress free or stressful depending on how you choose to live your life as an individual. For me, I know there is a birth, a life and then a death in store for me. I have no illusions of immortality or reincarnation or remaining in limbo until I find peace. Until the day comes where there is proof of an afterlife then all that I have just mentioned is all I have to work with. Back to the meaning of life, it is all on how we make our lives meaningful. Destiny has nothing to do with it and neither does some “divine intervention”. Once our mind has developed to the stage where we can make conscious decisions for ourselves then that is where I believe...
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...What Gives meaning and Purpose to One’s Life? What brings meaning and purpose to my life is actually a simple concept if you think about it. I can sum it up with two main ideas, knowledge and happiness. Knowledge or the pursuit of knowledge is perhaps the more important of the two. I feel this way because as one gains knowledge and the ability to apply what is learned to one’s life. a person gains the ability to become truly happy. I can’t speak for everyone but when I metaphorically speaking “unlock secrets of the universe”, I feel a deep sense of accomplishment especially when what I learn can be used to help other people or further my career. This pushes me to learn more as this feeling is addictive. Through knowledge comes happiness. I don’t feel one can really be happy without a certain level of knowledge attained simply because until you become “aware” ore “conscience” your basically living life in a hole never even knowing what true happiness is. This is reflective of how I used to live. Just day to day with very simple things bringing me a perceived and very short sense of happiness. When I was able to open my eyes to the world I feel I experienced what true happiness is. These ideas give meaning and purpose because I am able to gain knowledge and channel them into a skill or ability to help myself and others which in turns makes me strive to learn more and repeat the cycle. Ultimately the joy I gain most is that unlike a drug this sort of happiness...
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...THE MEANINGS OF COLORS Colors… A lot of colors… Each color has a meaning. Which is your favorite color? Black, white maybe red or blue? It is this instinctual choice of a color that tells you a lot about yourself, how you function and how others see you. It is the means to understanding your behavior and your character traits as well as your physical, mental, emotional and spiritual states. It reflects the way you operate in the world, your strengths and weaknesses, your vulnerabilities, your deepest needs and your challenges at that time in your life. What Does Your Personality Color Say About You? To read more about your personality color, click on the link for each color If your favorite color is red, you are action oriented with a deep need for physical fulfillment and to experience life through the five senses. If orange is your favorite color, you have a great need to be with people, to socialize with them, and be accepted and respected as part of a group. You also have a need for challenges in your life, whether it is physical or social challenges. Choosing yellow as your favorite means you have a deep need for logical order in your everyday life and to be able to express your individuality by using your logical mind to inspire and create new ideas. If green is your favorite, you have a deep need to belong, to love and be loved, and to feel safe and secure. You need acceptance and acknowledgment for the everyday things you do for others - just a 'thank you' is...
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...Brandin Harvell English 111 Definition Paper Have you ever wondered why so many famous and rich people are stressed and unsure of the meaning of their life? The media has basically brainwashed us to believe that being successful involves having a lot of money, living in a huge house, have new sports cars. Even dictionary.com says success is “the attainment of wealth, position, honor, or the like” but this really isn’t the case. (Dictionary.com) Success is really based on ones aspirations which aren’t always about money. In this essay I’m going to talk about the deeper meaning of success. So what is success? For me success involves respect, appreciation and happiness. These traits are considered hard to attain. But in today’s world success is deceived in our thoughts to become rich. The media wants us to believe that being successful involves living in a self-centered life, in which involves nothing but the pursuit of riches. They say this will bring you happiness but this is not true. Money is simply like a new toy that eventually gets boring. Don’t get me wrong money can buy you luxuries, and might make your life easier but will it really make it better? No. For existence money can’t make somebody educated in a field; that can only come with hard work and dedication. Also money can’t help you solidify a long –term relationship with your boyfriend or girlfriend only thing that can do that is love and commitment. (Sasson) The terms respect, appreciation, integrity...
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...What Is the Meaning of True Freedom? To be "free," as generally understood, is to be free to do anything one desires to do, as long as you do not harm another person, thus interfering with his or her freedom. With this in mind, you can do essentially anything you want. There are no restrictions, no limits. In the Declaration of Independence, Thomas Jefferson wrote that we, humans, have rights. Among these being the famous "Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness." I believe that the very essence of freedom is found in the early years of our American Revolution. There is no better way to describe freedom than an element that all humans strive for, to the point of incivility, or war. It is something that we treasure so dear to us that we chose to die defending it. Freedom has both an external as well as an internal component. The external is associated with how we can "freely" operate in society so as to not, for example, encroach on the freedom of others. The internal component is related to grasping our own potential; and this requires that we understand ourselves, that we understand others through overcoming our prejudices against them, and also that we learn to attain the audacity to express this knowledge openly. Freedom without a goal or purpose is hollow but when the purpose is simply the search for truths in the wide sense of the word and for which there are many paths, it gains meaning. It is through these truths that we will learn to "better" ourselves...
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...Baptism Terminology Baptism: is to dip or immerse It’s a ritual of cleansing Rite of initiation into the Christian community Dyeing and rising with Christ. The meaning of baptism It is a public announcement of a personal experience It is a Christian act of obedience and a public testimony of a believer’s willingness to identify with and follow Christ. It is a picture of Christ’s death, burial and resurrection- one baptized is dying in sin, burying the sins and resurrecting in a new life in Christ. It is an outward picture of a person’s inward change- leaving behind the old way of life in exchange of new life in Christ. Baptism is a symbol of salvation NOT a requirement of eternal life. Baptism is an indication of our willingness to tell our church and the world that we are committed to the person of Christ and his teachings. One baptized who is born of the love of the two now is born of water and spirit into the kingdom of light. Enables the one baptized to live as adopted son or daughter of God By him/herself or through the parents the newly baptized person desires to put his/her life under the lordship of Jesus- under his reign whereby the sign of baptism seals that agreement. Meaning of the elements Water: this means the cleansing into new life is the sign of the kingdom of light into which the Lighten candle: baptized is entering. White garment: wedding garment of the saints (Revelations 7) Sign of the cross: signifies that...
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...The meaning of ethics Name Affiliation Date Companies are charged with quite a number of social responsibilities to ensure that they give back to society and maintain a symbiotic relationship with the society. Some of the company's obligation to the society is to make sure that they work towards reducing the company's direct impact on the environment. This involves responsibly managing all the waste and the consumption of the various natural resources by the company. In addition to that, companies are charged with the duty of ensuring that they protect and preserve the culture and the norms of the society in which they are located. This is coupled with a diverse understanding of the various risks that are faced by individuals and the overall society. These challenges which are referred to as cooperate responsibility entitle society communal needs that shared collectively by all the stake holders of the company affiliation. In order to make sure that all companies behave in ethical and more responsible manner, it is important to ensure that they draft budgets at the beginning of the financial year to capture all the social responsibilities of the company to the society. In this case, the company will be able to implement activities that shall be stipulated in the budget. These will involve activities like charity and other society concerns. On the other hand, in order to ensure that the company respects and upholds the ethical standards, there must be legal setting...
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...I believe the meaning of life is to give life a meaning. Throughout my entire life, I have wondered what the purpose is. Why am I and every other human being even on this planet in the first place? That brings me to my next question. Is there a God? If there is, why did he put us here? Any Christian asked will say our sole purpose is to serve God. First of all, what does that even mean? And second, I must ask why? Why would a supernatural being place us strategically on this planet strictly to serve him? That sounds pretty selfish to me. There has to be something more. Something concrete. Something greater. How could there not be? All my life I have worked hard to succeed. I have challenged myself and fought to do better than my best. Why? I asked myself. Why stress so much when I’m only going to die in the end? Pessimistic, I know. Finally, I thought, maybe the meaning of life doesn’t have to be so complex. Maybe the meaning of life is whatever we want it to be. Maybe the meaning of life is to give life a meaning. I do what I do because I want to do it. It’s that simple. I do it because it means something to me. Everyone adds their own meaning to life. The meaning of life is never universal. The meaning of life is never complex. The meaning of life is actually quite simple to think about. Many people help the needy. Others play sports. Both activities add meaning to those lives involved. Purposes change, but the overall meaning of life will always stay the same...
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...The Meaning of Freedom The meaning of freedom in the United States has come into such controversy. Everyone has a different ideology on how they perceive their personal freedoms and what it really is to be free. As a society some would say we do not possess the ability to speak, act, and think openly without fear of persecution. We must ask ourselves if we are slaves to our government and other authority figures or are we our own masters. I would say that we can only be slaves to our own limited experiences. If we choose to be enslaved no matter our treatment then that is what we are. If we choose to speak our minds and follow our hearts we will always be free. What Is The Meaning Of Freedom There are many definitions of the word freedom, but the word slave is usually tied into that phrase. Although in another time there was real live slavery, in today’s age it is reflected more by a person’s mind than actual bonds. People can just as easily be enslaved by oppressive rules and governing officials as they can by bonds. To be forced to abide by rules and regulations that are not honorable or in good taste is equally a sign of our lost freedom. Martin Luther King said it best “I am in Birmingham because injustice is here. Just as the prophets of the eighth century B.C. left their villages and carried their "thus saith the Lord" far beyond the boundaries of their home towns, and just as the Apostle Paul left his village of Tarsus and carried the gospel of Jesus Christ to the...
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...Kylee Lologo Professor Turnbull English 1A 9 July 2014 Marks and Meanings Tattoos are just one way that someone can express themselves. There are thousands of designs and artists that are able to create pictures desired by some people. There are many styles of tattoos that are seen today such as; American traditional, Japanese traditional, realism, and portrait. One style that is completely different from the rest is Polynesian tribal tattoos. Polynesian tattoos are separate from the rest in that their design is very structured and geometrical. Following lines and shapes each tattoo may have their own style, but all of them are similar because of the details that go into them. With each island in Polynesia the tattoos may differ, but the meanings and symbols, the placement, and the tools and process are all very similar. Each symbol that is put in the tattoo has a separate meaning. One symbol is the tiki or a “human like creature that represents Polynesian semi-gods” (A Polynesian Tattoo). Each tiki that is put in the tattoo usually means protection from the ancestors and heads who have passed. Another symbol that is frequently used in Polynesian tattooing is the turtle. The turtle represents many meanings such as, long life wellness, fertility, union, family and harmony. The turtle also represents the bridge between life and death. In Polynesian culture, many believe that “the sea is regarded as the source of food and the world beyond, in which they will rest after...
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...Throughout this society we have many different meanings of word rich. Rome is rich with ancient ruins. The Mona Lisa is rich with artistic value. The Walton family is extremely rich. The last sentence is what many people hope and dream about. What is the meaning of rich? You can ask people what rich means to them, but you will find many different answers. I believe being rich is not just having material wealth, but also having inner richness that lasts beyond money and worldly possessions. Some may think rich is having cars they don’t need, and having houses they don’t need. Different people, different meanings, but what does rich really mean? If you look in the dictionary you will find seven to eight different definitions of the word rich. The one definition that is the driving force in this day and age, states that rich is “having abundant possessions and especially material wealth.” I think most people strive for this. With this kind of rich every other meaningful thing in life seems to come together, you can buy any car you want, any house you want, and even any girl you want; but what is life if you only strive for material possessions? I strive to be rich in personal values, family traditions, and most importantly rich in my heart. Television has many examples of the stereotypical rich person. On one channel there may be Oprah Winfrey who in the past two years has passed the $1 billion net worth mark, and on another channel Bill Gates, who has for the last...
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...The Meaning of Poetry Alzheimer’s is written by Kelly Cherry and is about an old man who was once young, free, and living a happy life with the women he once called his wife. The women may still be considered his wife, but he has no recognition of her being any part of his life when he is welcomed back home by her. This proves a point that you must not take things for granite in life because one day something like this could happen to anybody. You must make the best of your life and live a happy life with no regrets, so if this were to ever happen at least you lived your life to the fullest. Your family will have something to remember you for and even if you cannot remember these memories everybody will remember who you once were. First the old man married the love of his life and was ready to be with her forever, and remember all of the good memories that they would have together. The man faced an unexpected turn in his life, and was completely defenseless of what the outcome was going to be. He was put into the hospital and was diagnosed with Alzheimer’s. This disease basically erases somebody’s brain, and makes them think like a child and forget how to do everything they once could do with no problem at all. The man now unable to read acts like a child as leaves the hospital that was his temporary home for a while. When he leaves, he walks up to the house that he remembers being his at one time. He remembers certain...
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