Category Archives: struggle

Never bend your head. Always hold it high. Look the world straight in the eye.

Posted on 10 January 2013 by philosiblog

Never bend your head. Always hold it high. Look the world straight in the eye. – Helen Keller What does that mean? This is an interesting quote, mostly due to the differences in cultures. In the US, looking someone in the … Continue reading →

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Fall seven times, stand up eight.

Posted on 19 December 2012 by philosiblog

Fall seven times, stand up eight. – Japanese Proverb What does that mean? I like this quote, as it is about the ‘never say die’ attitude. It means getting back up every time you get knocked down, fall down, or … Continue reading →

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We become wiser by adversity; prosperity destroys our appreciation of the right.

Posted on 17 November 2012 by philosiblog

We become wiser by adversity; prosperity destroys our appreciation of the right. – Seneca What does that mean? This is an interesting viewpoint, one which probably isn’t immediately apparent to most of us. The quote states that in adversity, we gain … Continue reading →

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Courage is doing what you are afraid to do. There can be no courage unless you are scared.

Posted on 8 October 2012 by philosiblog

Courage is doing what you are afraid to do. There can be no courage unless you are scared. – Eddie Rickenbacker What does that mean? Think about it. At one point in time, you were probably a little scared of riding … Continue reading →

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Wars begin when you will, but they do not end when you please.

Posted on 6 October 2012 by philosiblog

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 … Continue reading →

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I war not with the dead.

Posted on 22 August 2012 by philosiblog

I war not with the dead. – Homer (from the Iliad,  Book VII, Line 485, as translated by Alexander Pope, spoken by King Agamemnon) What does that mean? This quote is spoken by King Agamemnon in agreeing to a truce to … Continue reading →

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Men rise from one ambition to another: first, they seek to secure themselves against attack, and then they attack others.

Posted on 11 August 2012 by philosiblog

Men rise from one ambition to another: first, they seek to secure themselves against attack, and then they attack others. – Niccolò Machiavelli What does that mean? This quote a condensed version of Maslow’s hierarchy of needs, tailored to match the ruthlessness … Continue reading →

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The new ruler must determine all the injuries that he will need to inflict. He must inflict them once and for all.

Posted on 30 June 2012 by philosiblog

The new ruler must determine all the injuries that he will need to inflict. He must inflict them once and for all. – Niccolò Machiavelli What does that mean? This is the classic “pull off the bandage” issue. Do you pull it … Continue reading →

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Although the world is full of suffering, it is also full of the overcoming of it.

Posted on 27 June 2012 by philosiblog

Although the world is full of suffering, it is also full of the overcoming of it. – Helen Keller What does that mean? This is a great quote, from someone who knew both the suffering and the overcoming of suffering, a more … Continue reading →

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The examined life is no picnic.

Posted on 4 June 2012 by philosiblog

The examined life is no picnic. – Robert Fulghum What does that mean? This gem is from his book All I Really Need to Know I Learned in Kinder-garten and is the payoff line for a paragraph long discussion about the difficulties … Continue reading →

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Fear, hatred, and suspicion narrow your mind – compassion opens it.

Posted on 13 May 2012 by philosiblog

Fear, hatred, and suspicion narrow your mind – compassion opens it. – Dalai Lama What does that mean? This is one of his central themes, the building or presence of compassion. In this quote, he focuses on what happens within ourselves … Continue reading →

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If you can dream it, you can do it.

Posted on 11 May 2012 by philosiblog

If you can dream it, you can do it. – Walt Disney What does that mean? To me, this means pretty much what it says. Now like most simple quotes, there’s a lot more going on. But on the surface, … Continue reading →

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Courage is the ladder on which all the other virtues mount.

Posted on 10 April 2012 by philosiblog

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 … Continue reading →

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There must be a beginning of any great matter, but the continuing unto the end until it be thoroughly finished yields the true glory.

Posted on 4 April 2012 by philosiblog

There must be a beginning of any great matter, but the continuing unto the end until it be thoroughly finished yields the true glory. – Francis Drake What does that mean? How many people start things, then stop working on it? … Continue reading →

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Actions driven solely by anger are of no use at all; realizing this can help strengthen your determination to resist it.

Posted on 25 March 2012 by philosiblog

Actions driven solely by anger are of no use at all; realizing this can help strengthen your determination to resist it. – Dalai Lama What does that mean? Does anger really accomplish anything? Some might say that it is useful for motivation, … Continue reading →

Posted in anger, calm, emotion, power, setting an example, struggle | Tagged , , , , | 2 Comments