Learning without thought is labor lost; thought without learning is perilous. – Confucius What does that mean? This quote is about the synergy between knowledge and ideas of how to do things. Learning brings knowledge. Thought brings ideas of how to do things. Knowledge of how to do something without actually giving any consideration to…
From the deepest desires often come the deadliest hate. – Socrates What does that mean? Sometimes seen as “Hatred arrives from deepest desires.” this quote, while not definitely sourced, is still quite interesting to me, and still applicable today. This quote is about very strong emotions. Deep desire is a powerful motivator, especially when thwarted….
The higher our position the more modestly we should behave. – Cicero What does that mean? This was an interesting quote to source, as it had variant wording. And while attributed to Cicero, he claims it was said by King Philip of Macedonia (Alexander the Great’s father). The difference is probably due to translation, but both of…
Identify your problems but give your power and energy to solutions. – Tony Robbins What does that mean? Everybody has problems. That’s a fact. Some problems are tougher than others, others are easy. Some are worse to have, and some problems are not so bad. But identifying that you have a problem is only the…
He who has great power should use it lightly. – Seneca What does that mean? This quote is from a play by Seneca, wherein the Greek heroes Pyrrhus (son of Achilles) and Agamemnon are discussing the fate (death) of a prisoner. Pyrrhus says no law forbids it, but Agamemnon cautions that the victor should be…
Success is focusing the full power of all you are on what you have a burning desire to achieve. – Wilfred Peterson What does that mean? Success is defined differently for each of us. Yet however we each define it, success is something we all desire. For some, success is measured in money or possessions….
To have whatever one wants is in no man’s power. But it is within one’s power to not want what one does not have. – Seneca What does that mean? This is an quote from a passage where the discussion is about waiting to eat something nice, but only having unappetizing bread. Specifically, in the…
In the absence of justice, what is sovereignty but organized robbery? – Saint Augustine What does that mean? In a much longer passage, this quote has an example of a pirate who has been captured and brought before Alexander The Great. The pirate said in his defense that the only difference between himself and Alexander…
Knowledge is not power…it’s potential power. Execution will trump knowledge any day. – Tony Robbins What does that mean? I truly love this quote. How many people have you seen, sitting there doing something they KNOW they shouldn’t be doing, but do it anyway? Even worse is when they see you looking at them, and they say…
Being powerful is like being a lady. If you have to tell people you are, you aren’t. – Margaret Thatcher What does that mean? This quote is interesting, as it draws an analogy which I would never have considered. But that’s probably because I’m a guy. The quote starts off talking about being a lady. In this…
It is expressions of affection rather than money and power that attract real friends. – Dalai Lama What does that mean? People try all different ways to attract friends. The desire to be admired is strong within us all. This is the basis of friendship, the admiration of another. How we go about attaining friends is…
You have not converted a man because you have silenced him. – John Morley, 1st Viscount Morley of Blackburn What does that mean? This quote is about debates and how they appear to end. There are many reasons one might be silent in an argument, debate, or other exchange of ideas. The other person could be absolutely…
Injustice anywhere is a threat to justice everywhere! – Martin Luther King Jr. What does that mean? This quote makes an obvious point, but too many people don’t understand it. When an injustice is done to one person, everyone else has to wonder what it would take for that same injustice to be done to me. Sadly, that is…
He who has great power should use it lightly. ~ Seneca What does that mean? Consider what the opposite would be like. Imagine a ruler who ruled with an iron fist, what would that be like? Even at the level of a city or town council, that’s not going to work out very will, will…
No other way to guard self against flattery than by making people understand that telling U the truth DO NOT offend U. – Niccolò Machiavelli What does that mean? This is another quote that’s just a little longer than what easily fits on Twitter. “There is no other way to guard yourself against flattery than by making…
