A human being is a part of the whole that we call the

universe, a part limited in time and space. He

experiences himself, his thoughts and feelings, as

something separated from the rest -- a kind of optical

illusion of his consciousness. This illusion is a prison

for us, restricting us to our personal desires and to

affection for only the few people nearest us. Our task

must be to free ourselves from this prison by widening

our circle of compassion to embrace all living beings

and all of nature.

-- Albert Einstein