philosiblog - Home of the Examined Life

belief | examine | future | good | personal growth | reflection

About death: Whether it is a dispersion, or a resolution into atoms, or annihilation, it is either extinction or change.
Byphilosiblog 31 March 201431 March 2014

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 something else. Either way, you are no longer the same, right? Not that I’m that…

Read More About death: Whether it is a dispersion, or a resolution into atoms, or annihilation, it is either extinction or change.
emotion | humanitarianism | judgement | kindness | perspective | respect

We need a sense of belonging to one humanity, respecting the rights and views of others.
Byphilosiblog 30 March 201429 March 2014

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

Read More We need a sense of belonging to one humanity, respecting the rights and views of others.
learning | mentor | strength | struggle | tolerance | understanding

The events of life bear most harshly upon the inexperienced; the yoke is heavy to the tender neck.
Byphilosiblog 29 March 201429 March 2014

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

Read More The events of life bear most harshly upon the inexperienced; the yoke is heavy to the tender neck.
empathy | forgiveness | love | self-esteem | sympathy | tolerance

Be who you are & feel the love of all those who accept you for your true essence!
Byphilosiblog 28 March 201428 March 2014

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

Read More Be who you are & feel the love of all those who accept you for your true essence!
discovery | future | learning | listening | thinking | wisdom

The beginning of wisdom is silence. The second step is listening…
Byphilosiblog 27 March 201427 March 2014

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

Read More The beginning of wisdom is silence. The second step is listening…
change | habits | leadership | motivation | passion | self improvement

One of the most difficult things is not to change society – but to change yourself.
Byphilosiblog 26 March 201426 March 2014

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

Read More One of the most difficult things is not to change society – but to change yourself.
courage | direction | fear | future | habits | plan

Life is a succession of crises and moments when we have to rediscover who we are and what we really want.
Byphilosiblog 25 March 201425 March 2014

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

Read More Life is a succession of crises and moments when we have to rediscover who we are and what we really want.
belief | character | hope | observation | setting an example | sympathy

Most men lead lives of quiet desperation.
Byphilosiblog 24 March 201423 March 2014

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

Read More Most men lead lives of quiet desperation.
caring | doing | growth | inspire | opportunity | simplicity

Today, let us wish each other a Happy New Year, but also that we may make it meaningful.
Byphilosiblog 23 March 201423 March 2014

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

Read More Today, let us wish each other a Happy New Year, but also that we may make it meaningful.
belief | change | effort | examine | gratitude | habits

We should make every effort to be of a grateful disposition.
Byphilosiblog 22 March 201421 March 2014

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

Read More We should make every effort to be of a grateful disposition.
clarity | discovery | listening | observation | victory | wisdom

Wisdom is not obvious. You must see the subtle and notice the hidden to be victorious.
Byphilosiblog 21 March 201421 March 2014

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 in all the different areas of our lives. The longer version: “It does not take…

Read More Wisdom is not obvious. You must see the subtle and notice the hidden to be victorious.
adaptation | creativity | good | individuality | originality | personal growth

Absorb what is useful. Discard what is not. Add what is uniquely your own.
Byphilosiblog 20 March 201420 March 2014

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. You retain what helps you in your daily life: Pass the Test; Survive; Improve. The…

Read More Absorb what is useful. Discard what is not. Add what is uniquely your own.
altruism | cooperation | empathy | habits | kindness | patience | reflection | time

Half a loaf is better than no bread.
Byphilosiblog 19 March 201419 March 2014

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

Read More Half a loaf is better than no bread.
action | duty | freedom | governance | justice | power

In the absence of justice, what is sovereignty but organized robbery?
Byphilosiblog 18 March 201418 March 2014

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…

Read More In the absence of justice, what is sovereignty but organized robbery?
curious | growth | knowledge | learning | question | truth

Nature has planted in our minds an insatiable longing to see the truth.
Byphilosiblog 17 March 201417 March 2014

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

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