If you don’t build your dream someone will hire you to help build theirs.

Posted on 10 April 2013 by philosiblog

If you don’t build your dream someone will hire you to help build theirs. – Tony Gaskins

Are you building your dream, working to build one for someone else, or did you hire her to build part of your dream for you?

Is this you, building your dream, are you working to build one for someone else, or did you hire her to build part of your dream for you?

What does that mean?
This quote is about your future, and what your plans for it might be. If you have no specific plan, or aren’t working on your dreams, what will you be doing?

According to this quote, you’ll probably be working on the dream of someone else. While that’s not improper, illegal, or fattening, you could be working on your dream instead. Or better yet, if at all possible, work on both at the same time.

But why wouldn’t you be working, at least part time, on your dreams? Do you not have anything that motivates you enough to overcome your tendency to procrastinate? Are you uncertain how to get there, and stuck in analysis paralysis? That’s not good, is it?

Why is having a dream important?  Continue reading →

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Life is like a piano. What you get out of it depends on how you play it.

Posted on 9 April 2013 by philosiblog

Life is like a piano. What you get out of it depends on how you play it. – Tom Lehrer

How much practice are you willing to put in to become good at life?

How much practice are you willing to put in to become good at life?

What does that mean?
This quote is from a professor who is known for his ability to write songs, sing, and yes, play piano. And that is fitting, as we are most likely to use an example we understand.

The quote says that what you’ll get from life will depend on how you play it. For piano, to get the most out of it, you have to study, and you have to practice. You will have to play the fun music, as well as the basic skill drills. The fun, as well as the boring.

I don’t know about your life, but that sounds like my life. Lots of practice of things I know or are perfecting, studying to learn new things, and tons of really repetitive, boring things. Even things which are not pleasant have to be done, and done well.

If you are willing to do what it takes, repeat it as often as necessary, and keep working to get better, you’ll probably get a lot out of life. Perhaps not exactly what you want, but certainly more than if you hadn’t put in any effort.

Why is putting forth effort important?  Continue reading →

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The world is moved along, not only by the mighty shoves of its heroes, but also by the aggregate of the tiny pushes of each honest worker.

Posted on 8 April 2013 by philosiblog

The world is moved along, not only by the mighty shoves of its heroes, but also by the aggregate of the tiny pushes of each honest worker. – Helen Keller

All you did was push him up a hill. But to the guy in the wheel chair, it was a big deal. He got to go kayaking, his world got a mighty shove.

All you did was push him up a hill, 30 seconds of work. But to the guy in the wheel chair, it was a big deal. He got to go kayaking, his world got a mighty shove. Congratulations, hero.

What does that mean?
As is often the case, this is a shortened version of a longer quote. “I long to accomplish a great and noble task, but it is my chief duty to accomplish humble tasks as though they were great and noble. The world is moved along, not only by the mighty shoves of its heroes, but also by the aggregate of the tiny pushes of each honest worker.”

Yes, we all want, or have wanted at one time or another, to be the hero. We have wanted to be the one who completes the mighty shove which moves the world forward. The topic of our heroic epic may be different, but we have all been there, right?

The quote acknowledges that heroes exist, and that they do move the world with their mighty shoves, it also reminds us that there are others who help. It says that each of us contribute a small portion, and the aggregation of all those small pushes, both ours and those of others, also move the world.

The quote encourages us to not forget our contribution. It urges us to continue, in our own humble way, to contribute to moving the world. Even if it’s hard for us to measure, our contributions do make a difference. And that effort, the quote says, is our chief duty in life.

Why is persistence important?  Continue reading →

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To make this a century of dialogue we need to find ways to promote a greater awareness of the oneness of humanity.

Posted on 7 April 2013 by philosiblog

To make this a century of dialogue we need to find ways to promote a greater awareness of the oneness of humanity. – Dalai Lama

Even if your dialog feels a little wooden, you should still try to listen.

Even if their dialog seems a little wooden, you should still try to listen, and to understand.

What does that mean?
To me, this quote means that before we can have peace, before we can end strife, before we can solve all of the problems this world of ours faces, first we must be able to talk to one another. The first portion of the quote mentions this by pointing out our need for discussion, and to make this a century of dialog.

Once we have advanced to a point where we can discuss the problems of the world, or of individual nations, only then can we begin to find workable solutions. But how do we get to the point where we can hold such a dialog with each-other? How do we build the necessary trust and confidence?

The quote gives us an idea. We need, it says, to find ways to raise the awareness of the world that we are all one people, we are humanity. Without this oneness, people with different shaped eyes, noses, or ears will distrust each-other. People of different skin color, religions, or ethnic backgrounds will be suspect.

Why is unity important?  Continue reading →

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All cruelty springs from weakness.

Posted on 6 April 2013 by philosiblog

All cruelty springs from weakness. – Seneca

What is their weakness, that causes them to act in this manner? What are your weaknesses, and how do they prompt you to act?

What is their weakness, that causes them to act in this manner? What are your weaknesses, and how do they prompt you to act?

What does that mean?
The quote is also translated as:

“All savageness is a sign of weakness.”

In either case, the source, in the end, is weakness. Weakness of mind, weakness of spirit, weakness of character, it all ends badly.

Whether you chose to label the behavior of someone lashing out, from their fear and weakness, against others as savageness or as cruelty, the end result for the person on the receiving end is still the same, isn’t it?

This weakness is where and how some of the most cruel and savage (or even barbaric) treatment of our fellow humans. It also is the source for most of the cruelty to animals. The quote says, in effect, that our human failings are the source of much of human, and animal misery.

Why is having, and showing, strength important?  Continue reading →

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Life isn’t about getting more. It’s about becoming more.

Posted on 5 April 2013 by philosiblog

Life isn’t about getting more. It’s about becoming more. – Tony Robbins and here

There are many ways to become more. College is one of them. What other ways have you become more?

There are many ways to become more. College is one of them. What other ways have you used in the past, or are using in the present, to become more?

What does that mean?
This quote, to me, is all about our human obsession with more. More money, more power, more influence, more toys, more stuff in general. In my opinion, too many people fall into this trap and spend their lives chasing after getting more.

This quote points out another option. OK, it forcefully states that the prior example is explicitly not what life is about, and that this second part is what life is about. And that is becoming more. There still is more, but we are being asked to get more of us, not more stuff.

The quote contrasts the use of the word more, and applies it not to our stuff, but to ourselves. We are the focus, and we can all improve some aspect of ourselves, right? We may be perfect in most parts of our lives, but there’s still a little room for improvement somewhere, right? 8)

Why is ‘becoming more’ important?  Continue reading →

Posted in confidence, education, improve, money, passion, value | Tagged , , , , | 2 Comments

When someone shows you who they are, believe them the first time.

Posted on 4 April 2013 by philosiblog

When someone shows you who they are, believe them the first time. – Maya Angelou

This may be taking the quote a little far, at least at the first meeting. If they show their true colors, well...

This may be taking the quote a little far, at least at the first meeting. After they show you their true colors, it might well be the proper look.

What does that mean?
This quote is about perception, and how difficult it can be to overcome our pre-conceived notions of someone. This quote is about believing what a person demonstrates themselves to be, regardless of who they claim they are.

Consider someone who looks like a used car salesman. You meet them walking around in the mall, and you are instantly on your guard. You probably won’t believe that they are a nice person with a poor choice of wardrobe. It will take quite a bit of convincing.

Conversely, if we see someone who looks trustworthy, they may be able to do bad things to us multiple times before we believe who they truly are. To me, that is what this quote is about. Allowing a person to demonstrate who they really are, and believing them, the first time.

Why is being observant important?  Continue reading →

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Great minds have purposes; others have wishes.

Posted on 3 April 2013 by philosiblog

Great minds have purposes; others have wishes. – Washington Irving

A light house has a purpose, a what-to-do and a why. How about you?

A light house has a purpose, a what-to-do and a why. How about you?

What does that mean?
This is another Twitter-friendly quote. A slightly longer version of the quote goes like this: “Great minds have purpose, others have wishes. Little minds are tamed and subdued by misfortunes; but great minds rise above them.”

This quote is reminding us that our expectations are a big part of our results. If we just wish for things, but something challenging is in the way, it’s not going to happen. After all, it’s only a wish, only a dream. If it doesn’t happen, well that’s OK too, I guess.

You’ve known people like that. They don’t get much of what they want, do they? You’ve probably also known some of the other type of people. Those who have a purpose in mind, and are willing to work around, over, under, or through any obstacle in their way.

Some do it with the highest ethics, and others with the lowest. You can imagine which path I believe we should take. But those people get things done. The question before us today is are you a person who does, or one who wishes?

Why is having a purpose important?  Continue reading →

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Hatred, in the course of time, kills the unhappy wretch who delights in nursing it in his bosom.

Posted on 2 April 2013 by philosiblog

Hatred, in the course of time, kills the unhappy wretch who delights in nursing it in his bosom. – Giacomo Casanova

So, you got your angry face on. You hate them. Now what? How is your life better?

So, you got your angry face on. You hate them. Now what? How is your life better?

What does that mean?
This is an interesting quote, and it is about the end result of a lifetime of hatred. As you might guess, it doesn’t end well for the hater. The interesting twist is that the writer of this quote is none other than the legendary lover, Casanova.

The quote warns us not to hold hatred close to our hearts. It says in doing so, we will surely kill ourselves with it. There is also the caveat that it may take a little time, and that you will become an unhappy wretch in the process, but death is inevitable.

While it might not be the literal truth, hatred (when held strongly and closely) will cause you some health issues. If you allow it to become an obsecession, it will likely cause you other troubles, including financial and possibly even legal troubles. And that is definitely not good.

Why is forgiveness important?  Continue reading →

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All is in the course of change; and you yourself are constantly changing and, in a sense, passing away; and so too is the entire universe.

Posted on 1 April 2013 by philosiblog

All is in the course of change; and you yourself are constantly changing and, in a sense, passing away; and so too is the entire universe. – Marcus Aurelius, from the book Meditations, IX. 19

Time will change us all. How do you plan to deal with the inevitable?

Time will change us all. How do you plan to deal with the inevitability of these changes?

What does that mean?
The sad thing about the quote is that it is absent of context. It exists in Meditations as just that single line. To me, it means many things, but deals mostly with the certainty of change. The quote starts by reminding us that everything is always changing.

The quote continues by reminding us that we are part of everything, that we are changing. Each day we find new experiences, new ideas, and new opportunities availing us. We learn, we try, we succeed, we fail, and we adapt.

And in this change, the person we used to be dies just a little. Like old hair or old skin cells die and fall away, aspects of ourselves which are no longer useful pass from us. We change, we grow, and at the same time, we let go of that which we no longer need or want.

The quote finishes by saying the entire universe is doing the same thing. In the nearly two millenia since this quote was written, stars have died, some in spectacular explosions, some more quietly. Yet the universe, changed as it is, continues onward. As do we all.

Why is accepting change important?  Continue reading →

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We need material development, but we need to understand that by itself it doesn’t bring peace of mind.

Posted on 31 March 2013 by philosiblog

We need material development, but we need to understand that by itself it doesn’t bring peace of mind. – Dalai Lama

Peace of Mind - I find it by scattering my troubles like the wind scatters leaves.

Peace of Mind, I find it by scattering troubles as the wind scatters leaves. What do you do?

What does that mean?
This is an interesting quote. Given the person speaking it, one usually presumes that there will be a noticeable bias against materialism. Yet that is not seen in this quote. I wonder if that means I have been making improper assumptions about him for a while… Probably, my bad.

This quote recognizes that technology has benefits for humanity, and some of that technology shows up as stuff. While TV’s and cell phones are often considered shiny toys that distract, they are also very useful, when used properly. And that is a thought with which it is hard to argue.

The quote finishes by warning us that chasing the shiny things will not bring us peace of mind. Nor will it bring us happiness, except for a brief moment. When that moment passes is when our peace of mind begins to suffer. We now start looking for the next shiny thing to bring us happiness and peace of mind. Down that road lies madness, for happiness will always be a shadow moving before you, but always just out of reach.

Why is being able to find peace of mind important? Continue reading →

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Sometimes even to live is an act of courage.

Posted on 30 March 2013 by philosiblog

Sometimes even to live is an act of courage. – Seneca

This shot is literal, as she has found the courage to "face" her fears.

This shot is literal, as she has found the courage to “face” her fears. She has found the courage to continue, will you?

What does that mean?
While I don’t know the exact situation in which this quote was originally used, I believe it has application in our lives today in many forms. This quote has special meaning to me today, as a distant friend is dying of cancer. She has fought as best she can, and will soon find rest. But she chose to live, and to fight, and demonstrate her courage daily.

Similarly, Pope John Paul II, when diagnosed with Parkinson’s disease, a degenerative neural condition, he chose to continue to live his life in public. He wished to demonstrate that sick people shouldn’t hide, and that there was dignity in the act of living. Despite declining health, he remained as active as he could, if only to prove his point.

In parts of the world, this quote could apply to those suffering from severe hunger or poverty. It can apply where human rights are violated and pain and suffering are a way of life. What we might consider unbearable is the daily lot of many people. Yet they find the courage to continue on with their lives.

To me, these examples say a lot about the human spirit, don’t they?

Why is finding the courage to continue on important?  Continue reading →

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Stimulate the heart to love, and all other virtues will rise of their own accord.

Posted on 29 March 2013 by philosiblog

Stimulate the heart to love, and all other virtues will rise of their own accord. – W. T. Ussery

How do you treat your friends? Does love, gratitude and courage help you be more virtuous around them?

Does love, gratitude and courage help you behave more virtuously around them?

This is a thinly sourced quote, apparently from a book titled Sermons, from the Baptist Publishing Company, Nashville, Tennessee, from 1912. I still don’t have a bio for him. Does anyone have any information on him?

What does that mean?
This is an interesting quote, in that it is tangential to Cicero’s quote, claiming that gratitude was the greatest virtue, and one from Clare Boothe Luce, claiming that courage is the basis of all the other virtues.

But let’s consider that for a moment. How well do they work together? We have, as contenders for the first-among-equals in virtue love, gratitude, and courage. The connection between love and gratitude is fairly straight forward. The link between courage and love can be seen in this post.

In short, I consider all three to be aspects of a critical portion of what it takes to be a virtuous person, no matter when in time you live. From Cicero’s day to today and every day in-between, love, backed by courage and gratitude, is the backbone of a good person.

Why is love important?  Continue reading →

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Friendship improves happiness and abates misery, by the doubling of our joy and the dividing of our grief.

Posted on 28 March 2013 by philosiblog

Friendship improves happiness and abates misery, by the doubling of our joy and the dividing of our grief. – Cicero

Having a friend around when grieving can be an immense help.

Having a friend around when grieving can be an immense help.

What does that mean?
This quote is attributed both to Cicero and as a Swedish Proverb. Not sure how those go together, but I have to agree with the idea. Having friends, and having them with me when I was in an intense emotional state has always been a help to me.

The quote talks about improving happiness by doubling our joy. When you do things which make you happy or joyful, do you usually want to be alone, or with others? Doesn’t the sharing of the joy make it that much better? And you can always talk with them again, afterwards, reliving the joy, which doubles it again, right?

The quote also talks about abating misery by dividing our grief. When you are stricken with grief, we usually want someone around to comfort us. Yes, sometimes we wish solitude for a time, but we usually go back to our friends, and divide the grief by supporting each-other. At least that has been my experience, does your differ appreciably?

Why is having friends while grieving important?  Continue reading →

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Once you really commence to see things, then you really commence to feel things.

Posted on 27 March 2013 by philosiblog

Once you really commence to see things, then you really commence to feel things. – Edward Steichen

The pretty blue marble, as seen from the outside. Someday...

The blue marble, as seen from the outside. Someday I will see it in person.

What does that mean?
This quote is by a world famous photographer, which is a very visual medium. The photographer sees something, but a good photographer shows the viewer something. That is a transition that is often missed as people take classes on the technical aspects of this art form.

The quote has a predicate, on which the rest of the quote is built. “Once you really commence to see things…” or when you can finally see things, is how it starts. Think of the most memorable photos you can remember. I would imagine most of them show you something you hadn’t seen before, or at least not like that, right?

The quote finishes by saying that now you see things, you can really commence to feel them. Think about the photos again. What did those photos show you, and what did you start to feel, which you hadn’t really felt before? To me, that is the heart of this quote. Seeing things, whether by way of photographs or in person, and then feeling a connection to what you see.

Why is seeing or comprehending important?  Continue reading →

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