Notable Quotable: James Agee On Human Potentiality

"In every child who is born, under no matter what circumstances, and of no matter what parents, the potentiality of the human race is born again: and in him, too, once more, and in each of us, our terrific responsibility toward human life; toward the utmost idea of goodness, of the horror of terror, and of God."

— James Agee

By all appearances, humanity seems to have lost its way. But in one sentence, James Agee reminds us of our greater purpose. In each of us lies this knowledge of our responsibility toward others, toward goodness, toward preventing terror, and toward our own holiness.

Every newborn child is given this responsibility and higher calling by something beyond and greater than ourselves. But we don't cultivate anything so radical. Instead, we push our children to "excel" by grabbing the brass ring any way they can.

We could instead, from the youngest age, teach all children, regardless of race, origin, or religion, to embrace their higher calling and allow what they choose to "do" later in life or "grow up to be" unfold.

Consider how our world might change if our kids aimed their hearts and minds toward others, toward goodness, toward avoiding violence, toward the holiness of the greater good. Maybe we wouldn't all be complaining about the world we live in.