Beware of the person of one book. – Thomas Aquinas What does that mean? These words have been used in many different ways, from a warning regarding the narrow nature of such a person (ie not broadly educated). But in the original sense, it is a warning about one who has devoted their life to…
Only the educated are free – Epictetus What does that mean? This is an interesting quote from a person born a slave and with the permission of his owner, studied philosophy and became quite good at it. Back then, slaves weren’t educated as much as trained for the use the owner needed of them. Without…
In addition to modern education, there is a need to learn how to achieve inner peace. – Dalai Lama What does that mean? There are not many people left in this world who would argue against a modern education for the children of the world. Yet as many people as there are who call out…
Experience is a hard teacher because she gives the test first, the lesson afterwards. – Vern Law What does that mean? This is the testing method of the School of Hard Knocks, otherwise known as learning as you go. Put another way, Experience is how you figure things out by trial and error. When you…
Nothing in the world can take the place of persistence. – Calvin Coolidge What does that mean? This, as is frequently the case, is a Twitter-friendly excerpt. The more complete quote is as follows: “Nothing in the world can take the place of persistence. Talent will not; nothing is more common than unsuccessful men with…
It is the power of the mind to be unconquerable. – Seneca What does that mean? This is an interesting quote, as anyone who as argued with someone may well have found out the hard way. Sometimes, their mind is just unconquerable. However true that may be, I believe the quote is more of a reference…
Progress is impossible without change, and those who cannot change their minds cannot change anything. – George Bernard Shaw What does that mean? This quote is about the one certain thing in life; change. Change will happen. The question is will you allow your mind to change as the new facts are revealed? To move…
I shall never be ashamed of citing a bad author if the line is good. – Seneca What does that mean? This is a variant translation of a longer quote, which talks about being the bearer of bad news, and his willingness to do so, in a good cause. The example used was telling sailors about…
If you want to improve, be content to be thought foolish and stupid. – Epictetus What does that mean? I like this quote, because I have lived it so many times. While we can learn a lot from books, the internet, and friends, that kind of learning lacks one thing: action. You can read a hundred books…
If you want the present to be different from the past, study the past. – Spinoza What does that mean? There are plenty of ways to look at this quote, but at the heart of it is a simple thought. Learn from experiences. We can learn from our own experiences, and by studying the past, from…
Successful people ask better questions, and as a result, they get better answers. – Tony Robbins What does that mean? This is something most of us forget as we grow up. Little kids ask some of the best questions. That’s why they are so successful, that and they try harder and more often. Success means different things…
If we make consistent effort, based on proper education, we can change the world. – Dalai Lama What does that mean? This quote is about changing the world. Not just one person, but as all of us together. I presume that because the quote isn’t about you, or about me, but about us, based on the use…
A great mind becomes a great fortune. – Seneca What does that mean? This is an excellent companion to a prior quote from Descartes, which is “It is not enough to have a good mind, the main thing is to use it well.” In that quote, the point was to make a great mind. In…
It is not enough to have a good mind, the main thing is to use it well. – René Descartes What does that mean? This is a quote from the same guy who said that because he thought, he was (that he existed). He obviously thought he had good mind. And I would imagine he thought he…
The best teacher is the one who suggests rather than dogmatizes, and inspires his listener with the wish to teach himself. – Edward Bulwar-Lytton What does that mean? Lets start with a definition. Dogma is defined as an authoritarian set of principles, usually considered unassailable truth. So when the quote says that the best teachers…
