… and if indeed sometimes I happen to tell the truth, I hide it among so many lies that it is hard to find.

Posted on 5 August 2012 by philosiblog

… and if indeed sometimes I happen to tell the truth, I hide it among so many lies that it is hard to find. – Niccolò Machiavelli

Which one is the truth, and which are the lies?

What does that mean?
This is a twitter friendly version of a longer quote: “For a long time I have not said what I believed nor do I ever believe what I say, and if indeed sometimes I do happen to tell the truth, I hide it among so many lies that it is hard to find.” (from a letter to Francesco Vettori)

I’m not an expert on Machiavelli, but I have seen some indications that this quote is believed to be a bit sarcastic. But what if he was not, what if this quote is the truth, and so much of what else he said was laced with lies and deception?

How is the average person to tell the difference between what are lies and what is the truth? And not just from the quote’s author (as he is both dead and not saying any new lies at the moment), but from the people all around us, who might or might not be telling us the truth?

Why is verifying what you are told important?  Continue reading →

Posted in caution, common sense, deception, foolish, truth, virtue | Tagged , , , , | 1 Comment

Take the first step in faith. You don’t have to see the whole staircase, just take the first step.

Posted on 4 August 2012 by philosiblog

Take the first step in faith. You don’t have to see the whole staircase, just take the first step. – Martin Luther King Jr.

How often can you see the whole staircase? Yet still you start up the stairs, on faith. What other areas of your life might that be useful to try?

What does that mean?
Have any of you waited until you knew everything you needed to know before you started something? Or at least were reluctant to start until you could learn a little more? To me, that’s what the quote is saying.

It says that you should take the first step, with the faith that the rest of the staircase is there, and that you will be able to get to your destination, if you can manage to keep taking step after step.

As you take each step, the next step becomes the first step in the rest of the staircase, right? And in this manner, you can continue making progress, as long as you have faith that there will be another step waiting for you when you finish taking this step.

Why is faith important?  Continue reading →

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If you don’t learn from your mistakes, there’s no sense making them.

Posted on 3 August 2012 by philosiblog

If you don’t learn from your mistakes, there’s no sense making them. – Laurence J. Peter (also seen as Anonymous)

Get used to it, you’re going to make mistakes. Just try to do yourself a favor and learn from them, and try to make different mistakes next time, OK?

What does that mean?
This is another humorous quote, but again, it has a serious point hidden within. The quote is by the author of the book The Peter Principle which is an interesting description of failing your way to the top.

What is the point of the quote? It asks what are mistakes, if not opportunities to learn. And, as the quote continues, if you aren’t going to learn from them, what is the point in making them in the first place. I think I detect a little sarcasm, don’t you?

You probably would be much better off not making mistakes if you aren’t going to learn from them, right? But what does *that* imply? How ‘safe’ would your life have to be, to never make another mistake? Would that really be much of a life?

I don’t believe the quote is telling you to hide under your bed and avoid taking any chance of making a mistake. Instead, I believe it is attempting to point out that you will make mistakes, and the best course of action is to learn from them.

Why is learning from your mistakes important?  Continue reading →

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I couldn’t wait for success, so I went ahead without it.

Posted on 2 August 2012 by philosiblog

I couldn’t wait for success, so I went ahead without it. – Jonathan Winters

OK, I’ll give success another 15 minutes before I give up.

What does that mean?
This is a funny line, from a funny guy. Most people are in a hurry to be successful. Some work crazy hard, some desperately sit by the phone (waiting for it to ring), while others try short cuts. But all are in a hurry to get there as quickly as possible.

But in this quote, he just couldn’t wait for success. So he went on ahead without being successful. The implication is that he isn’t successful, he’s just out there doing it as best he can, hoping that some day success will catch up with him.

So many people chase after success, but this quote allows for the possibility that success will chase after you. Don’t wait, it says. Get out there and, with a little luck, it will find you. If not, you’ve still managed to do something, right?

Why is getting started, or moving forward, important?  Continue reading →

Posted in effort, goals, obstacles, procrastination, success, work | Tagged , , , , | 1 Comment

He who has never failed somewhere, that man cannot be great. Failure is the test of greatness.

Posted on 1 August 2012 by philosiblog

He who has never failed somewhere, that man cannot be great. Failure is the test of greatness. – Herman Melville

How many times could you fail before you gave up? What if you redefined what the word ‘failure’ to something more useful?

What does that mean?
This is an interesting quote, but it does make sense. It’s not put the way I am used to thinking about it, how about you? It says that failure is a requirement for greatness. Normally, greatness is measured relative to the successes of the person.

That said, successes rarely come without a few failures. Those failures help to improve your aim, as you close in on your own personal greatness. Just like throwing stones at a can, if you pay attention, you know how to adjust your aim after each toss, using your failures as feedback.

Failure also takes it’s toll on those for whom the desire for greatness cannot withstand the pain of failure. In these two manners, by thinning the herd and improving your aim, failure truly is a test of the greatness of a person.

Why is failing important?  Continue reading →

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Hard work spotlights the character of people: some turn up their sleeves, some turn up their noses, and some don’t turn up at all.

Posted on 31 July 2012 by philosiblog

Hard work spotlights the character of people: some turn up their sleeves, some turn up their noses, and some don’t turn up at all. – Sam Ewing

This looks like hard work. Not for those who aren’t in good shape, at least not as a career. But if a friend needed to plant a tree, would you help dig the hole?

What does that mean?
I laughed when I first saw this one. It is so true! I can name a dozen or so people for each of the different categories. And hundreds that fill the spaces between them. And I imagine you can name a person, right off the top of you head, for each of them as well, right?

But the willingness to do work, hard work especially, is considered a good trait in most cultures with which I am familiar. And nearly everyone likes having a good, hard worker around (except their lazy peers, that is). Those are the ones who turn up their sleeves, another way to say ‘roll up their sleeves,’ an action to protect the shirt from the labor about to ensue.

Those who turn up their noses, well they aren’t much help. They’re too good to do what needs to be done. Whatever it might be, they just aren’t going to do it. Perhaps it’s beneath them, or it’s too gross, or they might get dirty. We all have our limits, but these people set theirs a bit high.

The last group are those who are suddenly too busy to help with that project, or will be conveniently out of town, or hosting a distant relative. Really, they’d love to be there, but they just cant. Then there are those who don’t eve bother to make an excuse, they just don’t show.

Why is your character, and willingness to work, important?  Continue reading →

Posted in character, effort, habits, limits, obstacles, work | Tagged , , , , | 2 Comments

One sees clearly only with the heart. Anything essential is invisible to the eyes.

Posted on 30 July 2012 by philosiblog

One sees clearly only with the heart. Anything essential is invisible to the eyes. – Antoine de Saint-Exupéry

Some photographers see with their eyes, others see with their hearts. You can do the same thing, with practice. The question is will you?

What does that mean?
This is an interesting part of the book “The Little Prince,” where the Prince was crying about his rose, and is talking with his new friend the fox.

The Prince is sad because he thought his rose was unique, but now knows better, because he has seen a row of rose bushes and many more roses. The fox explains that his rose is unique because of the relationship between them.

That relationship is the bond of the heart, which cannot be seen by the eyes. With that bond come feelings of responsibility and love. These are some of the greatest bonds on the planet, and are completely invisible to the eye.

Why is seeing with your heart important?  Continue reading →

Posted in attitude, compassion, empathy, observation, personal growth, vision | Tagged , , , , | 9 Comments

If you serve others as fully as you can, what you do will be a source of inner joy.

Posted on 29 July 2012 by philosiblog

If you serve others as fully as you can, what you do will be a source of inner joy. – Dalai Lama

What if all you’re good at is sports? How about a charity tournament? Or perhaps you could do a sign at the event, or do advertising. Lots to do, how can you help?

What does that mean?
This is a fairly straight forward quote. It urges us to take some time and help others. Specifically it urges us to serve others as fully as possible.

To me, that statement, “as fully as you can,” is an important part of the quote. What it means is that if all you have in the world is a hand full of change, but you share some with someone in need, you have helped as fully as you can. If you have a roll of hundred dollar bills in your pocket and just give a handful of change, that’s probably not “as fully as you can” is it?

The quote closes with the reward you receive for your service. Inner joy, according to the quote, is what awaits those who really put some effort in, and serves others as fully as they can. I have done so, and have felt it myself, so I will confirm that it is possible to gain inner joy from serving others as fully as you can.

Why is service to others important?  Continue reading →

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The innovator has for enemies all those who have done well under the old conditions.

Posted on 28 July 2012 by philosiblog

The innovator has for enemies all those who have done well under the old conditions. – Niccolò Machiavelli

Cell phones are full of innovations. From size to function, they are constantly changing. Can you think of any companies which have made enemies some enemies because of their innovations?

What does that mean?
This quote is about the difficulties faced by a new ruler. With a new ruler come new rules, and the status quo is overturned.

Those who have been doing well, the quote says, are going to be less than thrilled with the changes being brought about. They are the most likely to oppose the new order, out of self-interest (enlightened or otherwise).

Those who have a chance of doing well under the new order will not be as likely to match the emotional intensity and willingness to fight as those who are upset with the changes.

The quote is therefore a warning to those who are going to be changing things to be careful of those who would stand to lose when things change. Whether you’re a politician, a new CEO (or any level of business leader), or just the new kid on the block.

Why is caution in times of change important?  Continue reading →

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A person does not have to be behind bars to be a prisoner. People can be prisoners or “slaves” of their own concepts and ideas.

Posted on 27 July 2012 by philosiblog

A person does not have to be behind bars to be a prisoner. People can be prisoners or “slaves” of their own concepts and ideas. – Maharaji (Prem Rawat)

The door is open, yet he feels safer inside his cage. Is that any way to live?

What does that mean?
This quote, to me, is about being slaves of convention. A slave to a habit or regular action. A slave to a concept, be it our own idea, a family belief or value, or one of a society.

While the words may seem a bit inflammatory, I find it hard to imagine a more accurate description of the phenomenon. Normally, people who said to be in prison are in an actual physical structure which limits their ability to move or do as they would want to do.

This quote simply points out that by one’s own attitude, one can become a prisoner to convention, a slave to a belief or a habit. Look at professional athletes who won’t shave before big games, or have a ritual that they believe they must do in order to perform at their best? What else can we call such an odd devotion?

Why is challenging yourself important?  Continue reading →

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To live is the rarest thing in the world. Most people exist, that is all.

Posted on 26 July 2012 by philosiblog

To live is the rarest thing in the world. Most people exist, that is all. – Oscar Wilde

Whether you’re into mountain climbing or quirky photo manipulation, the question remains. Are you living a fulfilling life, or do you just exist?

What does that mean?
To live, so many of us believe we do it, yet if we examine what we are doing, it is rarely so. Most of us live only briefly, and between those bright spots, simply exist, slogging through the drudgery of everyday life.

While some people use a phrase like “Skydiving makes me feel so alive,” this isn’t exactly what the quote was getting at, at least in my opinion. What the quote is trying to get across is that many people are so constrained by how they think they should be that they never really live.

Instead of simply sitting there and existing, the quote implies that we should take matters into our own hands and make things happen. To live our lives, not just walk through them as if it were a dressed rehearsal for a dreary play, one which you would rather not be in.

Why is truly living important?  Continue reading →

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Fortune sides with him who dares.

Posted on 25 July 2012 by philosiblog

Fortune sides with him who dares. – Virgil

Bold and daring, or reckless? Sometimes hindsight tells you with greater accuracy.

What does that mean?
This is definitely not a quote for the timid. This is about taking charge of your future, it’s about making things happen, it’s about getting things done.

Think about what happens if you sit there and wait for something to happen. What usually happens is someone else gets moving and gets the thing you were waiting for. Is that what you want in your life? I know it’s not what I want to have happen in mine.

This quote says that fortune, or Lady Luck, favors the bold. It’s kind of like the saying “you miss 100% of the shots you never take.” It’s hard for luck to go your way when you are busy sitting on the sidelines waiting for something nice to happen.

Why are bold ideas important?  Continue reading →

Posted in action, caution, confidence, decision, leadership, plan | Tagged , , , , | 1 Comment

It’s not the hours you put in your work that counts, it’s the work you put in the hours.

Posted on 24 July 2012 by philosiblog

It’s not the hours you put in your work that counts, it’s the work you put in the hours. – Sam Ewing

Doing roofing work is Hot, Hard, and Hazardous. You can stretch it out into days if you take it easy. Or you can do it right, but quickly, and move on to the next thing to do.

What does that mean?
How many of you have seen people who were present at their jobs (they were putting in the hours), but who weren’t really getting all that much done (but were not doing the work)? From the teenager ‘working’ at the cash register to the boss you loved to hate, there are people in all jobs and in every walk of live who put in the hours, but don’t get much work done.

The flip side are the people who are busy as bees, going a hundred miles an hour, doing the worked of two or three of the people mentioned in the prior paragraph. They are the people you know will be hard to replace, because it would take several people to accomplish what they did each and every day.

The quote implies that we should try to be the latter person, and not the former person. Some one I once heart called it “leaving a big hole.” By working so hard and getting so much done, no one person could possibly replace you. The company would be in trouble if you ever decided to retire, transfer, or move on to another position or company. I like the thought of that, what about you?

Why is hard work important?  Continue reading →

Posted in effort, integrity, play, pride, setting an example, work | Tagged , , , , | 2 Comments

Be who you are and say what you feel because those who mind don’t matter and those who matter don’t mind.

Posted on 23 July 2012 by philosiblog

Be who you are and say what you feel because those who mind don’t matter and those who matter don’t mind. – Dr. Seuss

“Mom, I know you wanted me to become a doctor, but really, I’d rather be a Rodeo Clown.” Could you be who you are, or would you be what others want you to be?

What does that mean?
Dr Seuss had a certain way with words, didn’t he? “Be who you are” is how the quote starts out. It sounds so simple. After all, who else could you possibly be? Yet, in reality, we so often play the roles expected by others which sometimes they rub off on us, leaving us a little confused, upset, or resentful.

The good son or daughter, the good husband or wife, the good father or mother, the good worker or boss, the good citizen, the good friend. The list is practically endless. And note that the word ‘good’ here means ‘as expected’ or ‘proper’, and is not a value judgement.

All of the above goes double for what you say. In the modern world of political correctness, we have to be ever so careful not to offend anyone, even if it means you have to pretend to be someone that you’re not. But that’s now how the quote says to live our lives, is it?

Why is having integrity important?  Continue reading →

Posted in confidence, forgiveness, happiness, kindness, patience, tolerance | Tagged , , , , | 8 Comments

Generate great compassion, and you become a friend to the world.

Posted on 22 July 2012 by philosiblog

Generate great compassion, and you become a friend to the world. – Dalai Lama

Uh oh! It looks like someone is in need of comfort. Can you show your compassion in this situation?

What does that mean?
This is a quote that is interesting to me, as the person who said it, lives it. He spends a great deal of his time being compassionate, and also spends time inspiring others to be compassionate.

These actions have made for him plenty of friends, all around the world. That makes the quote complete, as his work had made him one of the most recognized faces on the planet, and made him appreciated, if not revered, even among those who follow other religions (or none at all).

By being nice to others, by helping others, we not only make specific friends, we begin to be known for our compassion. As more people know this about us, and recognise us for this. In this manner, we become friends not just to a person here, and another person there, but to everyone, and eventually, to the world.

Why is compassion important?  Continue reading →

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