Bill Ryan
@billr1953.bsky.social
I write essays for the pure fun of doing so. My topics pertain mostly to philosophy, culture, history, politics, and economics. Check out my essay collection free of charge at billryanwritings.com or Substack https://billryan.substack.com
“…one can say, let the body be burned to ashes that the Soul may attain its freedom; for death is nothing more than the casting-off of a worn-out garment.”
The Upanishads
The Upanishads
December 27, 2025 at 6:09 PM
“…one can say, let the body be burned to ashes that the Soul may attain its freedom; for death is nothing more than the casting-off of a worn-out garment.”
The Upanishads
The Upanishads
Reposted by Bill Ryan
William Russell Flint
June 30, 2025 at 3:04 PM
William Russell Flint
Reposted by Bill Ryan
My painting PURPLE CONEFLOWERS
December 25, 2025 at 6:06 PM
My painting PURPLE CONEFLOWERS
Nothing says end-of-the-year like one of these seasonal beauties from Henniker Brewing in Henniker, NH. An exceptional Russian Imperial.
December 25, 2025 at 7:12 PM
Nothing says end-of-the-year like one of these seasonal beauties from Henniker Brewing in Henniker, NH. An exceptional Russian Imperial.
Public philosophy encourages us to go upstream of politics and to stop spending so much time wallowing in the political morass. Taking time to peer under the political hood to look at underlying ethics, values, and world views helps to ground us away from the civic fury sucking our time & energy.
December 25, 2025 at 1:55 PM
Public philosophy encourages us to go upstream of politics and to stop spending so much time wallowing in the political morass. Taking time to peer under the political hood to look at underlying ethics, values, and world views helps to ground us away from the civic fury sucking our time & energy.
Reposted by Bill Ryan
"For many years I merely saw that mountains had snow. This winter, suddenly I realize that snow completes mountains."
Dōgen
#VT365
#NaturePhotography
#WinterVermont
#ZenPoetry
#Mountains
Dōgen
#VT365
#NaturePhotography
#WinterVermont
#ZenPoetry
#Mountains
December 24, 2025 at 7:32 PM
"For many years I merely saw that mountains had snow. This winter, suddenly I realize that snow completes mountains."
Dōgen
#VT365
#NaturePhotography
#WinterVermont
#ZenPoetry
#Mountains
Dōgen
#VT365
#NaturePhotography
#WinterVermont
#ZenPoetry
#Mountains
Reposted by Bill Ryan
Anger is not evidence that you are a bad or mean person. It's evidence that you've been invalidated & unheard by people & institutions who, by rights, should have seen you, heard you, and held you.
December 25, 2025 at 12:59 AM
Anger is not evidence that you are a bad or mean person. It's evidence that you've been invalidated & unheard by people & institutions who, by rights, should have seen you, heard you, and held you.
Reposted by Bill Ryan
My Three Favorite Books of 2025
I read over 60 books this year. Here are my favorite three.
pedalsandpages.com
December 24, 2025 at 3:12 PM
Reposted by Bill Ryan
I’ve had 30 whole hours of un-Zoplicloned sleep in the past 3 days, more than I’ve had since my dad got ill in the spring. I feel incredible, like a new woman, reborn in fact. Is this what normality feels like?
December 22, 2025 at 9:55 AM
I’ve had 30 whole hours of un-Zoplicloned sleep in the past 3 days, more than I’ve had since my dad got ill in the spring. I feel incredible, like a new woman, reborn in fact. Is this what normality feels like?
Reposted by Bill Ryan
Republican theorists are right that being subject to arbitrary power makes people more likely to become sycophants. It undermines people’s self-respect by requiring constant deference. The institution of the monarchy does something similar - it makes people servile.
December 24, 2025 at 11:18 AM
Republican theorists are right that being subject to arbitrary power makes people more likely to become sycophants. It undermines people’s self-respect by requiring constant deference. The institution of the monarchy does something similar - it makes people servile.
"A sick man talks obsessively about his illness; a healthy man never talks about his health; for as Pirandello points out, we take happiness for granted, and only begin to question life when we are unhappy."
Colin Wilson
philosophors.substack.com
Colin Wilson
philosophors.substack.com
December 24, 2025 at 12:32 AM
"A sick man talks obsessively about his illness; a healthy man never talks about his health; for as Pirandello points out, we take happiness for granted, and only begin to question life when we are unhappy."
Colin Wilson
philosophors.substack.com
Colin Wilson
philosophors.substack.com
George Conway, the conservative lawyer and a vocal opponent of Trump, has filed to run for Congress, aiming to take the seat of Representative Jerry Nadler, the retiring Democrat of New York. (Politico)
December 24, 2025 at 12:29 AM
George Conway, the conservative lawyer and a vocal opponent of Trump, has filed to run for Congress, aiming to take the seat of Representative Jerry Nadler, the retiring Democrat of New York. (Politico)
“When, in the course of human development, existing institutions prove inadequate to the needs of man, when they serve merely to enslave, rob, and oppress mankind, the people have the eternal right to rebel against, and overthrow, these institutions.”
Emma Goldman
philosophors.substack.com
Emma Goldman
philosophors.substack.com
December 24, 2025 at 12:27 AM
“When, in the course of human development, existing institutions prove inadequate to the needs of man, when they serve merely to enslave, rob, and oppress mankind, the people have the eternal right to rebel against, and overthrow, these institutions.”
Emma Goldman
philosophors.substack.com
Emma Goldman
philosophors.substack.com
“Virtue is a state of war, and to live in it means one always has some battle to wage against oneself.”
Jean-Jacques Rousseau
philosophors.substack.com
Jean-Jacques Rousseau
philosophors.substack.com
December 24, 2025 at 12:23 AM
“Virtue is a state of war, and to live in it means one always has some battle to wage against oneself.”
Jean-Jacques Rousseau
philosophors.substack.com
Jean-Jacques Rousseau
philosophors.substack.com
“Some people do not like to think. If one thinks, one must reach conclusions; and conclusions are not always pleasant. They are a thorn in the spirit. But I consider it a priceless gift and a deep responsibility to think.”
Helen Keller
philosophors.substack.com
Helen Keller
philosophors.substack.com
December 24, 2025 at 12:18 AM
“Some people do not like to think. If one thinks, one must reach conclusions; and conclusions are not always pleasant. They are a thorn in the spirit. But I consider it a priceless gift and a deep responsibility to think.”
Helen Keller
philosophors.substack.com
Helen Keller
philosophors.substack.com
Reposted by Bill Ryan
“We are more often frightened than hurt; and we suffer more in imagination than in reality.”
– Seneca
#stoic #philosophy #wisdom
– Seneca
#stoic #philosophy #wisdom
December 23, 2025 at 3:00 AM
“We are more often frightened than hurt; and we suffer more in imagination than in reality.”
– Seneca
#stoic #philosophy #wisdom
– Seneca
#stoic #philosophy #wisdom
In the First World problem dept: Struggling with deciding best alt rock album of 2025. Is it Wet Leg's moisturizer or Wolf Alice's The Clearing? At the moment it is a tie in my mind. Two takeaways: Both albums are great and after all these years the Brits still do rock better than anyone!
December 23, 2025 at 3:18 AM
In the First World problem dept: Struggling with deciding best alt rock album of 2025. Is it Wet Leg's moisturizer or Wolf Alice's The Clearing? At the moment it is a tie in my mind. Two takeaways: Both albums are great and after all these years the Brits still do rock better than anyone!
Sometimes in life we find that what initially appear to be separate and discreet interests can converge to form a compelling composite which begs to be explored. billryanwritings.com/the-intersec...
The Intersection of Philosophy and Physics | Bill Ryan Writings
billryanwritings.com
December 23, 2025 at 2:25 AM
Sometimes in life we find that what initially appear to be separate and discreet interests can converge to form a compelling composite which begs to be explored. billryanwritings.com/the-intersec...
"As early as the 1830s, southern white enslavers relied on religious justification for their hierarchical system that rested on white supremacy. God, they argued, had made Black Americans for enslavement and women for marriage, and society must recognize those facts."
Heather Cox Richardson
Heather Cox Richardson
December 23, 2025 at 1:46 AM
"As early as the 1830s, southern white enslavers relied on religious justification for their hierarchical system that rested on white supremacy. God, they argued, had made Black Americans for enslavement and women for marriage, and society must recognize those facts."
Heather Cox Richardson
Heather Cox Richardson
University of Michigan consumer sentiment survey
December 23, 2025 at 12:54 AM
University of Michigan consumer sentiment survey
"Moderates tend to be pragmatists, value pluralists, compromisers, and gradualists to higher degrees than radicals..."
Marcus Arvan
Marcus Arvan
December 23, 2025 at 12:37 AM
"Moderates tend to be pragmatists, value pluralists, compromisers, and gradualists to higher degrees than radicals..."
Marcus Arvan
Marcus Arvan