I would rather be ashes than dust! I would rather that my spark should burn ot in a brilliant blaze than it should be stifled by dry-rot. I would rather be a superb meteor, every atom of me in magnificent glow, than a sleepy and permanent planet. The function of man is to live, not to exist. I shall not waste my days trying to prolong them. I shall use my time.
Up to a certain point, it is necessary for a man to live his life in the world in which he finds himself, and to make the best of it. But beyond that point, he must create a world of his own. And the greatest thing about life is that it is always giving us the opportunity to create something new. It is never too late to start over, to make a fresh beginning, to blaze a new trail.
Life is short, and we have but a brief time in which to explore, to learn, to experience, and to create. Let us make the most of that time, and let us burn brightly, like meteors across the night sky, leaving behind us a trail of light and inspiration for those who come after us.
Jack London
Latest Papers
The working papers collection comprises historical papers as well as current ideas and works in progress on some of the major issues and topics of our times.
This 2041 word article was originally published in Social Alternatives 25 February 2004 and was first presented as a guest lecture within the School of Politics at the University of Newcastle, October 20, 2003.
Iraq seemed to be a plus for Simon Crean. At least in the beginning of his period as leader of the ALP.
Unpublished opinion column on Labor's coast guard policy
A 14,000 word policy report to combat Australia's divide of jobs and opportunities
Howard, Latham, Costello: a comparative study. A version of this article was published in The Australian, 14/02/2004, "Latham's bright idea but Howard's still the boss"
An opinion column on John Howard published in the Australian Financial Review, 5 October, 2005.
An imaginary conversation about a phantom pre-selection. Unpublished opinion column, 2005
The dysfunctional organisation and its pathological effects. Extract from a larger work in progress: Age of Abstraction: Perils and Possibilities of our Time