Anybody can become angry. But to be angry… at the right time and for the right purpose is not within everybody’s power.

Posted on 7 August 2013 by philosiblog

Anybody can become angry. But to be angry… at the right time and for the right purpose is not within everybody’s power. – Aristotle

How do you release anger? Some people find having a safe target to be helpful, in this case, a speed bag. Would it help you?

How do you release anger? Some people find having a safe target to be helpful, in this case, a speed bag. Would it help you, or do you have other methods?

What does that mean?
This is a popular quote, but shortened for twitter. The longer version is: “Anybody can become angry – that is easy, but to be angry with the right person and to the right degree and at the right time and for the right purpose, and in the right way – that is not within everybody’s power and is not easy.”

This quote is about anger, and how easy it is to get wrong. The long version of the quote lists quite a few ways in which an anger can go wrong. It lists the following ‘dimension’ for anger:
– the correct person
– the correct amount
– at the proper time
– towards the proper end
– in the correct manner

The quote believes that anger, properly expressed, should match all of these dimensions of the anger to the offense which generated the anger. I have to agree, that doesn’t sound easy to me. Others believe that self discipline will be sufficient, and find it to be a useful tool.

The quote also implies that some people may not be able to accomplish this task. While I would like to think that it is not so, I have both observed and experienced an anger in which one or more of these dimensions has been exceeded. The particularly hot-headed may not be up to the task, becoming lost in the emotion.

Why is properly handling anger important?  Continue reading →

Posted in anger, calm, compassion, relaxation, time, understanding | Tagged , , , , | 12 Comments

Knowledge comes, but wisdom lingers.

Posted on 6 August 2013 by philosiblog

Knowledge comes, but wisdom lingers. – Alfred, Lord Tennyson

Elephants remember. They remember where the water is in the dry season. That's a wise thing to have linger.

Elephants remember. They remember where the water is in the dry season. That’s a wise thing to have linger in your mind, especially when you are thirsty!

What does that mean?
This is another one of those classic quotes. Short but sweet, and exactly on point. This quote starts by saying what we all know. “Knowledge comes” it says.

Knowledge is everywhere. We learn all kinds of things, or at least we are exposed to it. However, we don’t always retain that knowledge. And that can be a problem.

The quote concludes with “wisdom lingers.” While the knowledge that slips away disappears from our minds, that which stays becomes wisdom.

By his definition, wisdom is the accumulation of the bits of knowledge which we have retained. As the knowledge lingers, we remember, and we act, and we become wise.

Why is retaining knowledge important?  Continue reading →

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Woo Hoo! 900 posts and 3/4 of a Million page views!

Posted on 6 August 2013 by philosiblog

Sometime in the last day, my 900th post went up, and I had my 750,000 page view.

Thanks to all of you for making this happen.

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You come to love not by finding the perfect person, but by seeing an imperfect person perfectly.

Posted on 5 August 2013 by philosiblog

You come to love not by finding the perfect person, but by seeing an imperfect person perfectly. – Sam Keen

Love is a gamble. But you can improve your odds if you can find and understand their imperfections, and they, yours.

Love is a bit of a gamble. But you can improve your odds if you can find and understand their imperfections, and they, yours. Know, understand, appreciate.

What does that mean?
This quote is widely circulated, and in minor variations. I like this one the best: “We come to love not by finding a perfect person but by learning to see an imperfect person perfectly.”

It starts by saying we don’t come to love, or fall into love, because we have found a perfect person. After all, we are all humans, and therefore, all quite a bit shy of perfect. At least everyone I know is that way.

The quote concludes by saying that instead, we come, or fall into, love by seeing an imperfect person perfectly. You see the flaws, and you see them clearly. But we love them anyway.

When we are infatuated, we often miss the flaws, but by the time we are well and truly in love, we have cleared our eyes, and are seeing them for the human they are. Flaws and all, yet we love them none the less.

Why is loving them despite their imperfections important?  Continue reading →

Posted in communication, forgiveness, love, respect, sharing, understanding | Tagged , , , , | 9 Comments

I feel that each of us has the potential to make some contribution and together, working with a clear aim, we can change our world.

Posted on 4 August 2013 by philosiblog

I feel that each of us has the potential to make some contribution and together, working with a clear aim, we can change our world. – Dalai Lama

We can all do something. These folks are helping. We can as well.

I believe that we can all do something. These folks are helping, and so can we.

What does that mean?
To me, this is a great quote, and says quite a bit in just a few words. It starts by saying we all matter, we all have some potential. It does that by saying that we each have something to contribute. Something we can share, something we can do to help others, and make the world a better place.

The quote continues by saying this potential is even stronger when we act together. Alone, we can make small changes, but if we are united and work in concert, we can achieve amazing results.

Finally, the quote says that if we have a clear aim, a known and agreed on goal, we can help to make the world a better place. While we may not all have the exact same final goal, most of us have a fairly similar idea about the next step. And working towards a common goal, a clear aim, I believe we truly can change the world for the better.

Why is contributing to a better world important?  Continue reading →

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It is not the man who has too little, but the man who craves more, that is poor.

Posted on 3 August 2013 by philosiblog

It is not the man who has too little, but the man who craves more, that is poor. – Seneca

These are old phones. But they still make calls. It might be pushing the point a little, but can you survive with just a phone? Or do you crave the latest phone?

These are old phones. But they still make calls. Can you survive with just a phone? Or do you crave the latest phone?

What does that mean?
This is a classic quote, and explains the futility of comparing yourself to others. Yes, we need a yard-stick against which to measure ourselves, but trying to “keep up with the Joneses“, well that kind of thinking will just eat you up!

If you judge yourself against other people, you will always be unequal. They will always have a little more or a little less. Depending on who you measure against, you may find yourself wanting more, perhaps a lot more. Does that make you feel rich or poor?

The quote implies it isn’t a lack of stuff that makes us poor, but our attitude which does. There are places in any country where you can find people who are content, even happy, with very little. Because we have been trained to do so, we call them poor.

Why is curbing your cravings important?  Continue reading →

Posted in chocolate, desire, emotion, motivation, pride, self resepct | Tagged , , , , | 3 Comments

Don’t wait for something big to occur. Start where you are with what you have and that will lead you into something greater.

Posted on 2 August 2013 by philosiblog

Don’t wait for something big to occur. Start where you are with what you have and that will lead you into something greater. – Mary Manin Morrissey

Not my work. I still don't weld this well, but I get better each time. Don't wait until you can do something perfectly. Do it, and learn!

This is not my welding work. I still don’t weld this well, but I get better each time I try. Don’t wait to do something until you can do something perfectly. Do it, and learn!

What does that mean?
While there is some baggage associated with the author of today’s quote, there is also some wisdom in it, so that is where we will start.

The quote begins by asking us not to wait. In general, we humans tend to wait far too often and far too long. We wait for the right time, we wait for a sign, we wait to gather our resources or courage. All the while, time is slipping away.

The quote continues by urging us to start where we are, with what we have. It implies that waiting for everything to come together could be a long wait. We are somewhere, even if it’s not exactly where we want to be. We can do something with what we have and what we know.

The quote finishes by stating the larger things will come over time. It implies that if we get started, we will build our skills, our knowledge, and be better positioned to either take advantage of the ‘something big’ we have been waiting for, or to make ‘something big’ happen.

Why is action important?  Continue reading →

Posted in action, goals, improve, observation, procrastination, self improvement | Tagged , , , , | 2 Comments

Don’t bring your need to the marketplace, bring your skill.

Posted on 1 August 2013 by philosiblog

Don’t bring your need to the marketplace, bring your skill. – Jim Rohn

OK, let's get the couch up, and then tap the keg! Pizza in a half hour! Thanks for helping me out!

Let’s get the couch upstairs, then tap the keg! Pizza in a half hour! Thanks for the help!

What does that mean?
There is a longer version of this quote (see confirmation section at the bottom of the post), but for the purposes of this post, I will confine myself to this portion of the quote.

It talks about the marketplace, and what it does and does not do. Specifically, it starts by saying that the marketplace is not the place to bring your need.

The market place, the quote continues, wants to see what skill, or skills, you have. The marketplace has use for skills, and will provide you with benefits if your skills suit them.

Bringing your skill to the marketplace allows you to, should you have a desirable skill, to get either what you need, or find a way to get what you need.

In short, don’t go out and say “I really need a job!” as that doesn’t tell anyone what you are good at or why you should be hired. If you say “I have great skills at organization or planning, and you need me!” you are far more likely to get the response you desire.

Why is putting forth your skills important?  Continue reading →

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Life isn’t about waiting for the storm to pass… It’s about learning to dance in the rain.

Posted on 31 July 2013 by philosiblog

Life isn’t about waiting for the storm to pass… It’s about learning to dance in the rain. – Anonymous, more recently attributed to Vivian Greene

Why is it that kids seem to get the idea, and adults shy away?

Why is it that kids seem to get the idea, and adults shy away from doing it?

What does that mean?
This quote is about living our lives, not simply waiting around for a good time to start. Too many people wait for the right moment before starting to live their life. To me, that’s just too much wasted time.

The quote starts by saying what life is not. It is not about waiting. It is not about avoiding the storm. And it is most definitely not about waiting for the storm to pass.

Waiting just allows time to pass. What gets done while you wait? Time has gone by, and you have nothing to show for it.

The quote concludes by saying that life is about learning to dance in the rain. It’s about learning to live with, and even enjoy the inevitable storms of life. Sing or dance, enjoy your life, no matter what the weather might be.

We all will face storms in our lives. It is up to us to determine how we will respond to these disruptions. Will we hide inside, waiting for it to pass, or will we continue with our lives, enjoying even the roughest of weather? It is our choice.

Why is not waiting important?  Continue reading →

Posted in courage, decision, motivation, perseverance, procrastination, risk | Tagged , , , , | 40 Comments

All generalizations are dangerous, even this one.

Posted on 30 July 2013 by philosiblog

All generalizations are dangerous, even this one. – Alexandre Dumas (father, son)

What generalizations have you already made about this person? Their intelligence? Their habits? Their driving ability? How could that prove to be dangerous?

What generalizations have you already made about this person? Their intelligence? Their habits? Their driving ability? How could that prove to be dangerous? Only if you open your mouth, right?

What does that mean?
There seems to be some confusion as to which Alexandre Dumas is the author of this quote, the father or the son. However, either way, it is quite an interesting quote.

Generalizations are very broad statements, covering whole groups of people or things. There is the implication that there are few, if any exceptions. This is both their strength, as well as their weakness.

They are usually based on a common characteristic, which has been observed by many, and therefore as least slightly credible. However, as mentioned before, we often forget that there are exceptions. I feel sorry for the Asian who isn’t good at math (a common generalization in the USA).

The quote then ends by warning us against all generalizations. Even the one in the quote. That is because some generalizations might not be dangerous.

Why are generalizations important?  Continue reading →

Posted in belief, dignity, individuality, judgement, perspective, tolerance | Tagged , , , , | 2 Comments

The best and most beautiful things in the world cannot be seen or even touched. They must be felt with the heart.

Posted on 29 July 2013 by philosiblog

The best and most beautiful things in the world cannot be seen or even touched. They must be felt with the heart. – Helen Keller

Most would agree that this photo is beautiful. But what emotion does it touch? Is it freedom? Is it the endless possibilities? How does it touch your heart?

Most would agree that this photo is beautiful. But what emotion does it touch? Is it freedom? Is it the endless possibilities? How does it touch your heart?

What does that mean?
This quote begins by saying “the best and most beautiful things…” But what are the most beautiful things? That will be different for each person. Many will list objects as being on their ‘most beautiful list.’

Yet the next section of the quote implies that the best things aren’t actually things. They are unseeable and untouchable. With objects eliminated, we are left with ideals and emotions.

And I imagine that the people who mentioned objects are actually describing things which represent ideals or fill them with certain emotions. At least that is the way it was for me and the people with whom I spoke.

The quote ends by reminding us that these best things come from within, or are felt with by, the heart. Again, that keeps us away from the substantial and moves us to the things which bring out the feelings of beauty and awe from within us.

Why is feeling the beauty important?  Continue reading →

Posted in beauty, emotion, happiness, ideals, love, passion | Tagged , , , , | 11 Comments

Human happiness depends on taking others into account.

Posted on 28 July 2013 by philosiblog

Human happiness depends on taking others into account. – Dalai Lama

I HAD a happy. But you stepped on it. Hrumph!

I HAD a happy. But you stepped on it. Now I am a very grumpy cat. Hrumph!

What does that mean?
To me, this quote talks about two things at the same time. First, it addresses our personal happiness. It also addresses the happiness of all human-kind at the same time.

I read this quote to say that our personal happiness, as a human being, depends on taking others into account. By that, I believe we cannot have a true and lasting happiness if we know it came at the expense of another person, or their happiness.

At the same time, I read the quote to say that the happiness of the entirety of humanity depends on the exact same thing. It is hard for us, in large groups, to be happy when we know the happiness we enjoy was taken from others.

To me, the point of the quote is to remind us that while we have the right to pursue that which makes us happy, we have the moral obligation to not harm others, or deprive them of their opportunity to pursue happiness, in the process.

Why is taking others into account important?  Continue reading →

Posted in altruism, flexibility, happiness, improve, kindness, tolerance | Tagged , , , , | 2 Comments

Whatever is well said by another, is mine.

Posted on 27 July 2013 by philosiblog

Whatever is well said by another, is mine. – Seneca

One size does not fit all. Does the words, well said, apply to you?

One size does not fit all. Are the words, no matter how well said, appropriate to you?

What does that mean?
Well, this is an interesting quote. One way to take it is to presume that he is taking other people’s quotes. In short, plagiarism.

While I would recommend against outright stealing the work of others, the way humans work is to build on the foundations laid by others. In that way, you make something your own, while still crediting the source.

The other way to interpret this quote is to say that he isn’t stealing the work, but that he is incorporating it into his life. What I mean by that is if you find something useful, you make it part of who you are, and how you do things.

If you find a well said comment about compassion and became more compassionate as a result, have you not made the saying yours? To me, this kind of tribute isn’t plagiarism in any way shape or form. How do you take this quote?

Why is incorporating things well said into your life important?  Continue reading →

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Life is an echo. What you send out comes back.

Posted on 26 July 2013 by philosiblog

Life is an echo. What you send out comes back. – Zig Ziglar

Do something nice for someone. For them. For you. For what might come of it.

Do something nice for someone. For them. For you. For what might come of it.

What does that mean?
This is a neat quote, and it is a twitter-friendly version of a longer quote, which goes like this: “Life is an echo. What you send out comes back. What you sow you reap. What you give you get. What you see in others exists in you.”

This is the American way of saying that Karma happens. Echos come back. It’s hard to reap what you didn’t sow. We are all cut of the same cloth. These are just the basic facts of humankind.

The quote starts with something we all know is true. Echos come back, even if they sound a little different. The quote then extends itself by reaching deeper into our experiences. Most of us have probably had a time when a kindness (or the opposite) has come back to us.

The next two (in the longer version) work along similar lines. The final sentence is, to me, the most interesting. It reminds us that we are all family. It also reminds us that both the flaws we see in others, as well as their better qualities, also exist within ourselves.

Why is treating others well important?  Continue reading →

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I shall never allow myself to stoop so low as to hate any man.

Posted on 25 July 2013 by philosiblog

I shall never allow myself to stoop so low as to hate any man. – Booker T. Washington

Will you take the high road, or will you join them in the mud?

Will you take the high road, or will you join them in the mud? The choice is yours.

What does that mean?
This is something he said a lot. It has been recorded in slight variants, including substituting ‘permit’ for ‘allow’ as well as “I shall allow no man to belittle my soul by making me hate him.”

The question the quote implies is how low would you go? Will you allow someone to entice you to stoop to the level of hating them? Or would you resist and love them (or at least ignore them) instead?

The author of this quote states that he wouldn’t allow himself to ever stoop so low as to hate the other person. That is a very powerful and absolute statement, isn’t it? Could you make such a statement?

We all have the choice of how we will react to others. Even if the other person is a jerk and tries to provoke us, we still are the ones who control our actions and our emotions.

Why is choosing to take the high road important?  Continue reading →

Posted in anger, confidence, dignity, emotion, self resepct, struggle | Tagged , , , , | 4 Comments