Wars begin when you will, but they do not end when you please. – Niccolò Machiavelli What does that mean? I have seen this quote with “where” instead of “when” and I presume it’s because a popular quote site either got it wrong, or used a different translation. The translation I found and liked the best was…
Who is there among us who does not prefer tolerance, respect and forgiveness of our failings to bigotry, disrespect, and resentment? – Dalai Lama What does that mean? This quote talks about opposites. Tolerance vs bigotry. Respect vs disrespect. Forgiveness vs resentment. In any situation, when you are on the receiving end, which do you prefer? Most…
I prefer to be true to myself, even at the hazard of incurring the ridicule of others, rather than to be false, and to incur my own abhorrence. – Frederick Douglass What does that mean? To me, this appears to be a variant of the old Shaksperian statement (from Polonius to Laertes in ‘Hamlet’ A1S3) “To…
The many factors which divide us are actually much more superficial than those we share. – Dalai Lama What does that mean? Just think about this quote, and it’s implications, for a moment. You may disagree with a family member over a sports team. You may differ from your neighbor in what brand of car you prefer….
He who is not your friend will demand your neutrality, while he who is your friend will entreat you to declare yourself. – Niccolò Machiavelli What does that mean? This is part of a longer Twitter-friendly quote: “Thus it will always happen that he who is not your friend will demand your neutrality, whilst he who is…
Many have dreamed up republics and principalities which have never in truth been known to exist… – Niccolò Machiavelli What does that mean? This is a Twitter friendly shortening of a fairly long quote: “Many have dreamed up republics and principalities that have never in truth been known to exist; the gulf between how one should…
Love recognizes no barriers. It jumps hurdles, leaps fences, penetrates walls to arrive at it destination full of hope. – Maya Angelou What does that mean? Love is a very imprecise word in English. Would a person who “loves” a particular type of food (as an example) do any of the things listed in the…
Commitment is an act, not a word. Jean-Paul Sartre What does that mean? To what are you committed? Really, really committed? The usual answers include your family, your friends, your system of beliefs, your values, even your country or your culture. But how committed are you? Are you committed to the level of “I only regret…
If we are optimistic, take a longer view, and we employ realistic methods, we can contribute to making the world a better place. – Dalai Lama What does that mean? This quote is all about improving the world in general. To me, that is one of our primary functions as the dominant species on the planet. Yes,…
I may not be a first-rate composer, but I am a first-class second-rate composer. – Richard Strauss What does that mean? That’s just a little harsh, but he was judging himself against such greats as the other Strauss family and Wagner, whom were recognized as greats even in their day. For those not familiar with…
I like to believe that people in the long run are going to do more to promote peace than our governments. – Dwight D. Eisenhower What does that mean? To me, this is a quote only a warrior could make. It is a twitter-friendly version of a longer quote: “I like to believe that people in…
What is right and what is practicable are two different things. – James Buchanan What does that mean? Let’s start with the definition of practicable, as it is not a commonly used word anymore. At theFreeDictionary.com, practicable is defined (in short form) as “feasible”, which differs subtly from practical, which is defined as “useful.” Therefore…
We often talk about moral values, justice and trust, but the important thing is to put them into effect in our everyday lives. – Dalai Lama What does that mean? This quote, to me, is another of the ‘actions speak louder than words’ kind. It mentions that many people talk about values like justice and trust. That…
Courage is the ladder on which all the other virtues mount. – Clare Boothe Luce What does that mean? While the verbage is a bit archaic, I believe it is as true today as it was when it was first spoken. Reworded, Courage is the ladder all the other virtues need in order to ascend. Basically, courage is a foundational virtue, one without which the…
All good qualities must be sown and cultivated. We can’t expect to change overnight from an ordinary person into one with high realizations. – Dalai Lama What does that mean? It means nothing in life is easy. If you want something, you have to work for it. Yes, things come easier to some than others, but the…
