"In a variety of ways we are made to believe that we are what we produce. This leads to a preoccupation with products, visible results, tangible goods, and progress. The temptation to be relevant is difficult to shake since it is usually not considered a temptation, but a call."
~Henri Nouwen, The Selfless Way of Christ

"This expression of downward mobility is unnatural for us, because it belongs to the essence of out sinful, broken condition that every fiber of our being is infused with the spirit of rivalry and competition."
~Henri Nouwen, The Selfless Way of Christ

"If discipleship requires following Jesus in downward mobility, is this truly a human option? Is it possible to take Jesus totally seriously? Or would that simply mean embarking on a self-destructive, even masochistic, road? I wonder if in practice we haven't already answered this question. haven't we already decided that Jesus cannot be taken at his word, but rather needs to be adapted to our way of upward mobility?"
~Henri Nouwen, The Selfless Way of Christ

"The way of the cross, the downward mobility of God, becomes out way not because we try to imitate Jesus, but because we are transformed into living Christs by our relationship with his Spirit. The spiritual life is the life of the Spirit of Christ in us, a life that sets us free to be strong while weak, to be free while captive, to be joyful while in pain, to be rich while poor, to be on the downward way of salvation while living in the midst of an upwardly mobile society."
~Henri Nouwen, The Selfless Way of Christ

"When I fed the poor, they called me a saint; when I asked why they were poor, the called me a Communist."
~Dorothy Day (as quoted by Mojo)

"...And we must face tomorrow, whatever it may hold, with determination, joy and bravery."
~Mr. Magorium (yep, from the movie)

“Our whole way of living is structured around climbing the ladder of success and making it to the top. Our very sense of vitality is dependant upon being part of the upward pull and upon the joy provided by the rewards given on the way up. Our parents, teachers, and friends impress upon us from the moment we are able to pick up the cues that it is our holy task to make it in this world. To be a real man or woman is to show that one cannot only survive the long competitive struggle for success but also come out victorious…….Thus life is presented as a series of battles which we can win or lose. When we win we have lived up to the ideals of out milieu, but when we lose it is clearly because of our own shortcomings….”
~Henri Nouwen