Today’s inspiration comes from award-winning African-American science fiction writer Octavia E. Butler.

Raised in poverty in segregated America, she fought against traditional beliefs of the day that Black people were not capable of intellectual achievement. She worked days and attended college at night, writing in her spare time and eventually achieving success with such novels as “Speech Sounds,” “Bloodchild,” and “Parable of the Talents.”

It is from the last that this insightful quote is taken. Its relevance to today’s world should be obvious:

“Choose your leaders with wisdom and forethought.

To be led by a coward is to be controlled
by all that the coward fears.

To be led by a fool is to be led by the opportunists
who control the fool.

To be led by a thief is to offer up your most precious treasures
to be stolen.

To be led by a liar is to ask to be told lies.

To be led by a tyrant is to sell yourself and those you love
into slavery.”

– Octavia E. Butler, “Parable of the Talents” (1998)

*. *. *

Words of wisdom, indeed. But is anyone listening?

Just sayin’ . . .

Brendochka
11/9/25