The East

We live in time
We are always at rest
We are passive
We like to contemplate
We accept the world as it is

We live in peace with nature
Religion is our first love
We delight to think about the meaning of life
We believe in freedom of silence
We lapse into meditation

We marry first, then love
Our marriage is the beginning of a love affair
Our love it Mute
We try to conceal it from the world

Self-denial is a secret to our survival
We are taught from the cradle to want less and less
We glorify austerity and renunciation

Poverty is to us a badge of spiritual salvation
In the sunset years of life we renounce the world and prepare for the hereafter

The West

We live in space
We are always on the move
We are aggressive
We like to act
We try to change it according to our blueprint
Technology is our passion
We delight in physics

We believe in freedom of speech
We strive for articulation

We love first, then marry
Our marriage is the happy end of a romance
It is a contract
Our love is vocal
We delight in showing it to others

Self-assertiveness is the key to our success
We are urged every day to want more and more
We emphasize gracious living and enjoyments
Poverty is to us a sign of degradation
We retire to enjoy the fruits of our labor

Author Unknown