Happy Birthday Albert Schweitzer

At times our own light goes out and is rekindled by a spark from another person. Each of us has cause to think with deep gratitude of those who have lighted the flame within us. ~ Albert Schweitzer 

Albert Schweitzer is another of my heroes who has "lighted the flame" within me. Born on January 14, 1875, Schweitzer was many things but for me most admirable was his philosophy termed "Reverence for Life." He won the Nobel Peace Prize for this philosophy which he practiced on both humans and animals. He spent most of his life serving the poor in Africa as a medical doctor and worked for better treatment of animals. He was a vegetarian, quite a feat in those days without any tofu-pups or veggie-grillers to fall back on. In addition to quote #3 on my wall to the right, here are a few quotes attributed to Dr. Schweitzer:

• "Do something wonderful, people may imitate it."
• "Therefore search and see if there is not some place where you may invest your humanity."
• "There are two means of refuge from the miseries of life: music and cats."
• "Constant kindness can accomplish much. As the sun makes ice melt, kindness causes misunderstanding, mistrust and hostility to evaporate."
• "A man is truly ethical only when he obeys the compulsion to help all life which he is able to assist, and shrinks from injuring anything that lives."
• "Example is not the main thing in influencing others. It is the only thing."