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

Could you follow this path? It won't make death any less likely, but it might help pass the time.

Could you follow this path? It won’t make death any less likely, but it might help you pass the time and help others while you wait. You could do worse, right?

What does that mean?
Well, that’s pretty straightforward. You either cease to exist, or you change into something else. Either way, you are no longer the same, right?

Not that I’m that into death, but thinking about it does bring out the most interesting ideas. As someone who likes to divide things into two possibilities, this quote is just the kind of thing I like. It is either this or it is that. Clean and simple.

I believe the quote is talking about something other than the body, as what becomes of that is easily observed by those who have survived. But as simple as the possibilities are, I don’t think it matters which is right.

Either way, it is beyond our ability to know. All understand is our time here. Anything beyond it is limited to belief. The question is what will you do with your time here on Earth?

Why is living a good life important? Continue reading →

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We need a sense of belonging to one humanity, respecting the rights and views of others.

Posted on 30 March 2014 by philosiblog

We need a sense of belonging to one humanity, respecting the rights and views of others. – Dalai Lama

Doesn't matter if they are 2 years or 20 years old, a tantrum is not a good way to win friends and influence people.

Doesn’t matter if they are 2 years or 20 years old, a tantrum is not a good way to win friends and influence people, nor does it show respect for self or others.

What does that mean?
To me, this quote is about not being a jerk. On the individual level, this is especially important. Being human often means having to decide what is important. It’s easy to choose self over others.

While deciding in favor of yourself may be a valid choice, if you always decide to take care of yourself before others, you just might be getting a tiny bit selfish, right? If you are always choosing self, you will start to lose sight of the rights and views of others.

This also applies to larger groups of people. Whether it’s a tribe, a gang, or a country, it is easy to decide that you and your people need something, and simply disregard the needs, rights, and views of others.

That is what this quote is reminding us to remember. If we consider all of humanity to be part of us, and part of our tribe, our attitude changes, and with it, our behavior towards others.

Why is behaving well towards others important? Continue reading →

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The events of life bear most harshly upon the inexperienced; the yoke is heavy to the tender neck.

Posted on 29 March 2014 by philosiblog

The events of life bear most harshly upon the inexperienced; the yoke is heavy to the tender neck. – Seneca

Certainly not something for the tender or inexperienced to try. This is a test of the ability to endurance discomfort.

This is certainly not something for the tender or inexperienced to try. This is a test of the ability to endurance discomfort. Can you even lay on the floor and lift your arms & legs?

What does that mean?
This is another great quote, but which had to be trimmed substantially in order to fit on Twitter.

Based on a slightly different translation, a longer version is: “Cruel fortune bears hardest upon the inexperienced; to the tender neck the yoke is heavy. The raw recruit turns pale at the thought of a wound, but the veteran looks undaunted upon his own gore, knowing that blood has often been the price of his victory.”

Cruel fortune is another way of saying bad luck or misfortune. It happens to all of us at some point in time. But hardest hit are those unused to the burden it brings with it.

While the example in the longer version of the quote is a bit harsh by the standards fo today, it was a very clear and understandable example at the time.

The quote reminds us that not everything in life is easy, or happens without effort or cost. As we become more experienced, we better understand what it takes to see things through to the end.

Why is being tough enough important? Continue reading →

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Be who you are & feel the love of all those who accept you for your true essence!

Posted on 28 March 2014 by philosiblog

Be who you are & feel the love of all those who accept you for your true essence! – Tony Robbins

Haters are going to hate you for going a different direction. Pity their lack of vision, and forgive their sharp tongues. Be yourself.

Haters are going to hate you for going a different direction. Pity their lack of vision, sympathize with their pain, and forgive their sharp tongues. Be yourself.

What does that mean?
This is a great quote, as it is all about being authentic. You have to be who you are. You can’t be someone else, even if you wanted to. It just doesn’t work.

This quote also acknowledges that haters are going to hate. You can’t do anything about that. Just be who you are. Yes, the hate is annoying, but only as much as you let it be. Don’t let it get to you.

The quote goes on to remind you that there are those who appreciate you, and who love you. Some do so despite your true essence, and others because of it. Remember, you aren’t here to prove anything.

The quote just asks you to be true to yourself, ignore those who can’t handle it, and bask in the love of all who can. Life is too short for hate. Ignore the haters and be who you are.

Why is inner strength important? Continue reading →

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The beginning of wisdom is silence. The second step is listening…

Posted on 27 March 2014 by philosiblog

The beginning of wisdom is silence. The second step is listening… – Solomon Ibn Gabirol

Are you ready? Do you know enough to answer all the questions from a room full of grade-school kids?

Do you know it well enough to answer all the questions from a class of grade-school kids?

What does that mean?
Sadly, this quote is far too long to fit neatly in a single tweet, and so it has been shortened, and brutally at that.

The longer version of the quote is: “In seeking wisdom, the first step is silence; the second, listening; the third, remembering; the fourth, practicing; the fifth, teaching others.”

This quote says the path to wisdom is fairly simple. Start by shutting your mouth. Then use your ears, and actually pay attention. Continue by remembering what you heard.

The penultimate step is to practice what you have remembered. Finally, it says that you should teach others what you have practiced. Pretty simple, isn’t it? At least it is, on paper.

Why is practice important? Continue reading →

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One of the most difficult things is not to change society – but to change yourself.

Posted on 26 March 2014 by philosiblog

One of the most difficult things is not to change society – but to change yourself. – Nelson Mandela

That is the way to do it. Have a reason why & some motivation. Change yourself, and the world will follow. Lead!

That is how you do it. Have a reason why and motivation. Change yourself, and the world will follow. Be the leader you wish you could follow, because others have the same wish.

What does that mean?
The basis of this quote is something which I have firmly believed for quite some time, having tried to change myself a few times over the years.

In the mean time, I have seen the society in which I live change quiet a bit, without any effort from me. And that is part of the quote as well. The world keeps changing, but do we?

And yet, despite all the change, there are some things we just don’t want to change. Call them habits or rituals, or something else entirely, we just don’t want to give it up.

It can be done, but it takes effort, determination, and repetition. And it takes time to break old habits and make new ones. How long? That depends on your level of motivation and your reason why.

Why is changing yourself important? Continue reading →

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Life is a succession of crises and moments when we have to rediscover who we are and what we really want.

Posted on 25 March 2014 by philosiblog

Life is a succession of crises and moments when we have to rediscover who we are and what we really want. – Jean Vanier

The quote was kind of heavy, so I thought I'd lighten it up a bit. Be honest, you've had this crisis, or worried about it. Have you discovered who you are in a crisis?

The quote was a bit heavy, so I thought I’d lighten it up a bit. Be honest, you’ve had this crisis, or worried about it. Have you discovered who you are in a crisis, and what you want?

What does that mean?
This is an interesting quote to consider for a control freak. You want to believe that you have some control in your life, and to an extent you do. At least when things are calm.

But then come the storms. You may not know when they will occur, but you know that they will come. And like a sailor on the sea, you must simply do your best to weather the storm.

Hopefully, after the storm, we learn something about ourselves, and consider what we might do differently next time. To me, that is what the quote is saying to us.

We will be tested, and if we learn from the test, we will have the opportunity to change our path, what we want, what we are doing, and were we are headed.

Why is self-examination important? Continue reading →

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Most men lead lives of quiet desperation.

Posted on 24 March 2014 by philosiblog

Most men lead lives of quiet desperation. – Henry David Thoreau

At a subway station, does this man look to be in control of his life, or is he quietly desperate?

Does this man look to be in control of his life, or is he quietly desperate?

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 which it was written, the word men should now be applied to all people.

The longer version is “The mass of men lead lives of quiet desperation. What is called resignation is confirmed desperation.”

In the book, the desperation is one of meaning and relevance. The book describes how people are locked into a framework of human creation, working to serve the interests of others.

There is little time for serving the interests of themselves, or in trying to find the spark of divinity within themselves. The solution, he said, was to walk away from it all.

Why is not being desperate or resigned important? Continue reading →

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Today, let us wish each other a Happy New Year, but also that we may make it meaningful.

Posted on 23 March 2014 by philosiblog

Today, let us wish each other a Happy New Year, but also that we may make it meaningful. – Dalai Lama

How long does it take to blow some bubbles for a kid? Meaningful? If you think it is, it is.

How long does it take to blow some bubbles for a kid? Meaningful? If you think it is, it is.

What does that mean?
OK, so I’m a little bit behind the times. I even missed my Three Year Anniversary for my blog, which happened at the beginning of this month. Such is life. But there still is the quote.

While this quote is wishing us a Happy 2014, it was also asking us to make it a year full of meaning. But what does that mean? To be full of meaning, that is truly a ‘one size fits all’ expression.

What is meaningful to me may be different from what is meaningful to you, or to the Dalai Lama. Regardless, this quote is a call to live a life which we find meaningful to each of us.

The alternative, of course, is to live a meaningless life. Sadly, there are people who do exactly that. They just drift. I hope that you can find a path forward which is meaningful to you.

Why is a meaningful life important? Continue reading →

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We should make every effort to be of a grateful disposition.

Posted on 22 March 2014 by philosiblog

We should make every effort to be of a grateful disposition. – Seneca

A gratitude journal is a great way to build your strength. Every time you feel gratitude, write it down. And any time you're feeling down, read it.

A gratitude journal is a great way to build your strength and power of gratitude. Every time you feel gratitude, write it down, and any time you’re feeling ungrateful, read it. Between the two, you can’t lose!

What does that mean?
This appears to be a misattribution of something which Epictetus said some time after Seneca was dead. Marcus Aurelius even references the quote as being by Epictetus.

The longer version of the quote is: “From everything which is or happens in the world, it is easy to praise Providence, if a man possesses these two qualities, the faculty of seeing what belongs and happens to all persons and things, and a grateful disposition.”

The longer version, it appears to be a formula for happiness. We can be happy, or praise our good fortune, if we can do two things: see all that is happening, and to be grateful by nature.

Being able to see all is beyond us, so some level of trust that things will go well is necessary. Over the other, we have complete control. We can be as grateful as we choose to be, under any circumstance.

Why is gratitude important? Continue reading →

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

Posted on 21 March 2014 by philosiblog

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

If you wish victory over the Magician, you will have to see the subtle and notice the hidden. The cup and disappearing ball trick.

If you wish victory over the Magician, you will have to see the subtle and notice the hidden. The ‘cup and disappearing ball’ trick, fairly easy to figure out, once you see the hidden.

What does that mean?
While this particular quote is about war in specific (see longer version, below), it applies to wisdom in all the different areas of our lives.

The longer version: “It does not take sharp eyes to see the sun and the moon, nor does it take sharp ears to hear the thunderclap. Wisdom is not obvious. You must see the subtle and notice the hidden to be victorious.”

There are some things which are obvious. Noticing them and knowing about them is not the pinnacle of wisdom. That is what might be called common knowledge.

The wisdom gathered from the subtle, from the sublime, that is useful and valuable. That is because not everyone takes the time to pay attention to these details. And that is often the key to victory on the field of battle, or in life.

Why is paying attention important? 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

There was only one Bruce Lee. But that's the way it should be. We are unique, and what we keep, what we discard and what we add is as well.

There was only one Bruce Lee. But that’s the way it should be. We are unique, and what we keep, what we discard and what we add is as well. Don’t be afraid to be yourself.

What does that mean?
The first part of this quote is fairly straight forward. It is part of what learning is all about. You retain what helps you in your daily life: Pass the Test; Survive; Improve.

The next line is a bit more difficult. Especially if we’ve been in school for too many years. If it was taught, it must be important, and therefore, retained. Forever. But that isn’t always true, is it?

The third part comes naturally to the more creative types, who have flair and panache and add their styling to what they do. The rest of us just have a few quirks or oddities which we make into habits. 8)

While this us usually described as how he approached Martial Arts training, it also applies to the rest of our lives. No matter what we do, some things apply, others do not. And we all do it a little differently.

Why is individuality important? Continue reading →

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Half a loaf is better than no bread.

Posted on 19 March 2014 by philosiblog

Half a loaf is better than no bread. – English Proverb

If you were offered half a loaf, would you refuse? Would you insist on the whole thing?

If you were offered half a loaf, would you refuse? Would you insist on having the whole loaf, at the risk of getting nothing at all??

What does that mean?
Sometimes we want it all. Sometimes we just don’t want to compromise. Sometimes we won’t take no for an answer. And we risk losing it all.

This quote is about being sensitive to the situation. There will be times when you can, and will, get the whole loaf. But there are times when, in trying to get the whole thing, you will end up with nothing.

To me, that is what this quote is warning us against. Recognition of those times when we will end up with nothing is important. It allows us to get half when the alternative is none.

That is a lesson far too few idealists recognize, and they harm themselves and their movement in the process. They end up with no bread at all. That’s not a very good strategy, is it?

Why is being able to compromise important? Continue reading →

Posted in altruism, cooperation, empathy, habits, kindness, patience, reflection, time | Tagged , , , , | 1 Comment

In the absence of justice, what is sovereignty but organized robbery?

Posted on 18 March 2014 by philosiblog

In the absence of justice, what is sovereignty but organized robbery? – Saint Augustine

Arguably one of the most just of conquerors, Alexander the Great swept across much of the known world, and gave birth to this quote.

Arguably one of the most just of all the conquerors, Alexander the Great swept across much of the known world, and in the process, was the inspiration for this quote. (from Pompeii)

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 was the number of ships. One ship is a pirate, a fleet is the law of the sea, and the power of the empire.

While there are other details to consider, that is the principle of this story. If you are just, whether a ship or a fleet, that is good.

The opposite is also true. Without justice, whether a ship, a fleet, or a government, it is little more than robbery. A just government, it is presumed, will treat the people equitably.

Why is justice important? Continue reading →

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Nature has planted in our minds an insatiable longing to see the truth.

Posted on 17 March 2014 by philosiblog

Nature has planted in our minds an insatiable longing to see the truth. – Cicero

"Today started like any other day. Until I decided to look into the laundry..."

“Today started much like any other day. Until I decided to look into the laundry…”

What does that mean?
This quote is an alternate translation of “Natura inest mentibus nostris insatiabilis quædam cupiditas veri videndi.” in Latin, or in English: “Our minds possess by nature an insatiable desire to know the truth.”

Everyone I know has at least a little curiosity about the world around them. They want to know how or why certain things are the way they are. I imagine your experience is the same.

Few people have no desire to seek the truth. Whether it is about an unsolved incident regarding a missing aircraft or the origins of a meteor shower, most people are curious.

And this curiosity, this longing to see the truth, has driven humanity from caves to palaces, from rocks to electronics, and from our origins to the surface of the moon.

Why is curiosity important? Continue reading →

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