Category Archives: personal growth

Kind words can be short and easy to speak, but their echoes are truly endless.

Posted on 13 June 2016 by philosiblog

Kind words can be short and easy to speak, but their echoes are truly endless. – Mother Teresa What does that mean? Hello. Thank you. That’s nice. I’m happy for you. You’re welcome. All these are kind words, as are … Continue reading →

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One kind word can warm three winter months.

Posted on 23 May 2016 by philosiblog

One kind word can warm three winter months. – Japanese Proverb What does that mean? This quote, like many metaphors, has much to imply. Starting with the core of it, the one kind word. The one kind word is the … Continue reading →

Posted in behavior, friendship, improve, kindness, personal growth, reflection | Tagged , , , , | 2 Comments

Be patient and tough; someday this pain will be useful to you.

Posted on 19 May 2016 by philosiblog

Be patient and tough; someday this pain will be useful to you. – Ovid What does that mean? This Latin verse has also translated as “Have patience and endure; this unhappiness will one day be beneficial.” I have been unable … Continue reading →

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Fear is the cheapest room in the house. I’d like to see you in better living conditions.

Posted on 16 May 2016 by philosiblog

Fear is the cheapest room in the house. I’d like to see you in better living conditions. – Hafez of Persia What does that mean? While the English versions of Hafez’s verses are often considered more an approximation than a … Continue reading →

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Life is painting a picture, not doing a sum.

Posted on 18 January 2016 by philosiblog

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 →

Posted in discovery, doing, examine, observation, personal growth, success | Tagged , , , , | 2 Comments

To the wise, life is a problem; to the fool, a solution.

Posted on 11 January 2016 by philosiblog

To the wise, life is a problem; to the fool, a solution. – Marcus Aurelius What does that mean? To me, and my understanding of Stoicism, a closer translation of problem might well be puzzle or challenge. Stoics take the … Continue reading →

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If you wish to be a writer, write.

Posted on 22 October 2015 by philosiblog

If you wish to be a writer, write. – Epictetus What does that mean? While it is usually hard to find these quotes, I have managed to find a precise source for this quote of Epictetus. It is in his … Continue reading →

Posted in action, learning, motivation, personal growth, question, repetition | Tagged , , , , | 2 Comments

The human race is governed by its imagination.

Posted on 10 September 2015 by philosiblog

The human race is governed by its imagination. – Napoleon What does that mean? I can’t imagine what he could possibly have meant. Well, sarcasm aside, the human imagination is responsible for almost everything we have. Someone had to imagine … Continue reading →

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A kingdom founded on injustice never lasts.

Posted on 8 August 2014 by philosiblog

A kingdom founded on injustice never lasts. – Seneca What does that mean? This is also alternately translated in the following manner: “Unjust rule never abides continually.” This quote is an interesting observation of the basics of human nature. Humans … Continue reading →

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As one falling headlong has no control over his body… so with the mind when it plunges into anger, love or the other passions.

Posted on 27 June 2014 by philosiblog

As one falling headlong has no control over his body… so with the mind when it plunges into anger, love or the other passions. – Seneca What does that mean? While the quote is from a section where he discusses … Continue reading →

Posted in anger, emotion, opportunity, personal growth, self knowledge | Tagged , , , , , | 2 Comments

Experience is a hard teacher because she gives the test first, the lesson afterwards.

Posted on 14 May 2014 by philosiblog

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 … Continue reading →

Posted in advice, education, knowledge, learning, mentor, personal growth | Tagged , , , , | 1 Comment

About death: Whether it is a dispersion, or a resolution into atoms, or annihilation, it is either extinction or change.

Posted on 31 March 2014 by philosiblog

About death: Whether it is a dispersion, or a resolution into atoms, or annihilation, it is either extinction or change. – Marcus Aurelius What does that mean? Well, that’s pretty straightforward. You either cease to exist, or you change into … Continue reading →

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Absorb what is useful. Discard what is not. Add what is uniquely your own.

Posted on 20 March 2014 by philosiblog

Absorb what is useful. Discard what is not. Add what is uniquely your own. – Bruce Lee What does that mean? The first part of this quote is fairly straight forward. It is part of what learning is all about. … Continue reading →

Posted in adaptation, creativity, good, individuality, originality, personal growth | Tagged , , , , | 7 Comments

Associate with people who will improve you.

Posted on 1 March 2014 by philosiblog

Associate with people who will improve you. – Seneca What does that mean? As is so often the case, the quote has been shortened to fit within the confines of the structure allowed by Twitter. The longer version of the … Continue reading →

Posted in attitude, learning, motivation, personal growth, self improvement, time | Tagged , , , , | 2 Comments

I want you to be everything that’s you, deep at the center of your being.

Posted on 20 February 2014 by philosiblog

I want you to be everything that’s you, deep at the center of your being. – Confucius What does that mean? Ever feel like you should be doing something else? Ever feel like something inside of you desperately wants to … Continue reading →

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