Category Archives: observation

Every step you take, is a step away from where you used to be.

Every step you take, is a step away from where you used to be. – Brian Chargualaf What does that mean? Each day, we move. We take steps, we evolve, we change, we learn. Each of those steps changes us … Continue reading

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Life is painting a picture, not doing a sum.

Life is painting a picture, not doing a sum. – Oliver Wendell Holmes Jr What does that mean? Note that this is not an attempt to diminish those who are into math, but to encourage them to try something with … Continue reading

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Everything we hear is an opinion, not a fact. Everything we see is a perspective, not the truth.

Everything we hear is an opinion, not a fact. Everything we see is a perspective, not the truth. – Marcus Aurelius What does that mean? The quote urges us to consider that what others say is their opinion, not fact. … Continue reading

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Everybody should do at least two things each day that he hates to do, just for practice.

Everybody should do at least two things each day that he hates to do, just for practice. – William James What does that mean? This is a paraphrasing of a longer quote, wherein we are urged to practice doing things … Continue reading

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The few who do are the envy of the many who only watch.

The few who do are the envy of the many who only watch. – Jim Rohn What does that mean? I find this is an interesting quote, as in my life I have been both a doer and a watcher. … Continue reading

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Ab uno disce omnes. – From one, learn all.

Ab uno disce omnes. – From one, learn all. – Virgil What does that mean? This has usually been translated to mean that we would be well served to learn the general rule which governs most situations. We must also … Continue reading

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Wisdom and Folly are taking opposite sides. Which shall I join?

Wisdom and Folly are taking opposite sides. Which shall I join? – Seneca What does that mean? In the letter from which this quote is taken, Seneca is discussing the difference between Stoics and others when it comes to defining … Continue reading

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Most men lead lives of quiet desperation.

Most men lead lives of quiet desperation. – Henry David Thoreau What does that mean? This is a slight misquote of what is in the book, but helps make it better understood for most people. And, given the age in … Continue reading

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Wisdom is not obvious. You must see the subtle and notice the hidden to be victorious.

Wisdom is not obvious. You must see the subtle and notice the hidden to be victorious. – Sun Tzu What does that mean? While this particular quote is about war in specific (see longer version, below), it applies to wisdom … Continue reading

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He who does not understand your silence will probably not understand your words.

He who does not understand your silence will probably not understand your words. – Elbert Hubbard What does that mean? Life isn’t just about talking. Sometimes, we just sit in silence. Sometimes it’s in the library, other times it is … Continue reading

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Remember happiness doesn’t depend upon who you are or what you have; it depends solely on what you think.

Remember happiness doesn’t depend upon who you are or what you have; it depends solely on what you think. – Dale Carnegie What does that mean? The heart of this quote has been said many times, and in many different … Continue reading

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Genius always gives its best at first; prudence, at last.

Genius always gives its best at first; prudence, at last. – Seneca What does that mean? This quote is about the eternal battle between the bright idea, blurted out and the measured and thoughtful response, given after careful con-sideration. This … Continue reading

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One of the most important tricks for maximizing your productivity involves matching your mental state to the task.

One of the most important tricks for maximizing your productivity involves matching your mental state to the task. – Scott Adams What does that mean? This is an interesting quote, as I realize I do this sometimes. On the days when everything … Continue reading

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The universe is not short on wake-up calls. We’re just quick to hit the snooze button.

The universe is not short on wake-up calls. We’re just quick to hit the snooze button. – Brené Brown What does that mean? If you are the type of person who wakes before their alarm, and never goes back to bed, … Continue reading

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The young have aspirations that never come to pass, the old have reminiscences of what never happened.

The young have aspirations that never come to pass, the old have reminiscences of what never happened. – Saki aka H.H.Munro What does that mean? While this may have been a comment about human foibles of memory and imagination, it is … Continue reading

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