If an injury is to be inflicted on an enemy, it is to be so severe, that the enemy’s retaliation need not be feared.

Posted on 21 July 2012 by philosiblog

If an injury is to be inflicted on an enemy, it is to be so severe, that the enemy’s retaliation need not be feared. – Niccolò Machiavelli

While this is one interpretation of the quote, there are other options in the modern world you might want to try first.

This quote is also seen stated as “If an injury has to be done to a man it should be so severe that his vengeance need not be feared.”

What does that mean?
This is a quote about finishing a fight. If you have to take an argument to the level of a fight (or it has been brought to you as a fight), if an injury is to be inflicted, the quote recommends that you finish it in a conclusive manner.

That might sound a bit brutal, but consider the alternative. Consider someone who is in a fight, but the other guy can’t finish it. The first guy gets knocked down, but keeps getting back up, time after time. Which is more merciful, to finish it quickly, or keep pounding it out, over and over?

Note that with Nations, or the City States of the quote’s era, this method does not require the razing of towns and villages, nor the plundering of the countryside. It only requires an injury to a peoples which is sufficient to break their will to resist. Similarly, with children, a wishy-washy “No” only serves to encourage them to try again. Sometimes something more stern is required.

Why is a decisive ending important?  Continue reading →

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Some people are always grumbling because roses have thorns; I am thankful that thorns have roses.

Posted on 20 July 2012 by philosiblog

Some people are always grumbling because roses have thorns; I am thankful that thorns have roses. – Alphonse Karr

The rose is a spectacular flower. However, as seen in the background, it is accompanied by thorns. Do you grumble about the thorns?

What does that mean?
Roses, one of the more popular (and, arguably one of the most beautiful) European flowers, have large, sharp, and painful thorns. The thorns will even puncture most general purpose gardening gloves. Special gloves, or extreme caution is required if you are planning to pick a rose without bleeding for it.

There are many, as the quote states, who curse the thorns, whose presence make it difficult and painful to get the prize they so value. However, the quote also states the view from the other direction, the flip side, if you will. The author of the quote states that they are glad that the thorns have roses.

To me, this is a statement of the view of life you wish to have. Do you see the rose and thorns, but grumble because there are thorns of some nature or another keeping you from your prize? Or do you notice that life has both thorns and roses and are thankful that despite the thorns, the roses exist?

Why is your view of the world important?  Continue reading →

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When I let go of what I am, I become what I might be.

Posted on 19 July 2012 by philosiblog

When I let go of what I am, I become what I might be. – Lao Tzu

A pupa in it’s chrysalis. In order to become a butterfly, this caterpillar had to let go of what it was, in order to become what it might be. What is hiding within you, ready for you to become?

What does that mean?
I really like this quote. It talks about being stuck in the past. What you are now is based on what has gone before. But if you stay where you are, you will find it difficult to reach your full potential. The quote says when they let go of what they are now, they give themselves the room necessary to grow into the person they could become.

This quote is all about taking risks, and about growth. It also mentions that you have to let go of what you are presently if you are to continue to grow. Like the caterpillar, you have to let go of what you are if you are to become a beautiful butterfly.

When you let go, you allow yourself to accept the changes in life. Sometimes life changes anyway, but to reach your full potential, you have to let go of your old limits, and those things that hold you in this place. They might be old beliefs, they might be old values, and they might be old places. Sometimes, moving to the next level is as much about what you gain as what you leave behind.

Why is embracing change important?  Continue reading →

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No one loves the man whom he fears.

Posted on 18 July 2012 by philosiblog

No one loves the man whom he fears. – Aristotle

This might be OK if you’re the principal and get this reaction from a student after an ‘incident’, but if you’re the parent and you get this reaction, you might need to reassess your relationship.

What does that mean?
This quote goes way back in time. While this could apply to twisted love relationships, it can also apply to loyalty relationships, as well as leadership relationships.

It deals with the relationship between love and fear. Or more precisely, the way fear will crowd out love in a relationship. If you are in fear, it is really hard to even consider the feeling of love, as the fear in your heart pretty much precludes it.

What the quote says is that if there is fear in your heart, you cannot love someone, as there is no room left in your heart for it. Whether it be a family member, an abusive mate, or a leader (in politics, at work, or…), you cannot hold both fear and love in your heart at the same time.

Why is having respect important?  Continue reading →

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One thing you can give and still keep is your word.

Posted on 17 July 2012 by philosiblog

One thing you can give and still keep is your word. – Unknown

If this is the reaction you get when you promise to do something, you might not be keeping your word.

What does that mean?
This quote would make an excellent riddle, worthy even of the Sphinx. But the focus of this quote is on the giving of your word. This is an important thing in most cultures, and is part of the social bond of trust between the members of the society.

When you give your word, you are generally expected to keep it. Notable exceptions are when children promise to be good, or when adults promise something obviously impossible, often using the promise as a sarcastic statement.

However, if you become known as someone who gives their word freely, but only infrequently keeps it, you will soon find yourself unwelcome in most parts of society. In general, people don’t want to waste their time with someone who is untrustworthy.

Why is keeping your word important?  Continue reading →

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Nothing can stop the man with the right mental attitude from achieving his goal…

Posted on 16 July 2012 by philosiblog

Nothing can stop the man with the right mental attitude from achieving his goal… – Thomas Jefferson

Like this girl, my daughter likes to sweep up after yard work. That can be something to help me have a more positive attitude, having some together time.

What does that mean?
A more complete version of this quote is “Nothing can stop the man with the right mental attitude from achieving his goal; nothing on earth can help the man with the wrong mental attitude.”

Think about that for a moment. It seems so obvious, but how many times have you seen a Gloomy Gus saying “it’s never going to work,” but they are out there trying to make it work. It becomes a self-fulfilling prophesy, doesn’t it?

They don’t believe it can be done, so they don’t put forth their full effort. Then, they don’t get good results, which only serves to reinforce their belief, and the downward spiral begins. Pretty soon, they give up, or their boss pulls the plug on the project.

On the other hand, you’ve probably seen someone who was very excited about doing something. And despite long odds, and everyone else’s disbelief, they manage to achieve at least some measure of success, if not a complete victory. To me, this is what the quote is about.

Why is having a good attitude important?  Continue reading →

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Even a small experience of altruism brings a measure of mental peace right away.

Posted on 15 July 2012 by philosiblog

Even a small experience of altruism brings a measure of mental peace right away. – Dalai Lama

This is only one example of how one might help someone in a spontaneous manner. Go with your strong suit, but realize even if you’re not really tall, there are people shorter than you, and you can still help them reach things.

What does that mean?
This quote is talking about the link between altruism and mental peace. It says that when you do nice things for other people, you tend to feel better about yourself.

Part of what makes it work, I would imagine, is when you are doing something nice for someone else, you are taking the focus off yourself. In doing so, you tend not to focus on your troubles, instead you then focus on working to help others, and helping them with their troubles.

In this manner, your troubles are no longer in focus, and the effort to help others is in very sharp focus. It gets even better when you have the great feeling that comes with actually completing the task, and the reflection of the joy from the others you helped.

Why is what you focus on important?  Continue reading →

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A return to first principles in a Republic is sometimes caused by the simple virtues of one man.

Posted on 14 July 2012 by philosiblog

 A return to first principles in a Republic is sometimes caused by the simple virtues of one man. – Niccolò Machiavelli

He was offered the position of King of America, but turned it down. Simple virtue can be a very powerful statement, and set the course for the future.

What does that mean?
The more complete version of the quote is “A return to first principles in a Republic is sometimes caused by the simple virtues of one man. His good example has such an influence that the good men strive to imitate him, and the wicked are ashamed to lead a life so contrary to his example.”

This quote is about being an example. While the quote is specifically both an urging and a warning to a Prince, I believe it applies to our lives as well. A Prince could become that example and be the bright star all others look to for guidance. These include Cincinatus of ancient Rome and George Washington in more recent times.

The Prince would also be warned that a subject, still not loyal to him, might influence great numbers of the populace to follow the lead of the simple virtues, and topple the government. Examples of these include Mohandas Gandhi and Martin Luther King.

Why is leading by example important?  Continue reading →

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For changes to be of any true value, they’ve got to be lasting and consistent.

Posted on 13 July 2012 by philosiblog

For changes to be of any true value, they’ve got to be lasting and consistent. – Tony Robbins and here

Couldn’t quit Cold Turkey? Try smoking one fewer every three or four days. Cut back by two per week. Slow and steady may be an easier way for you to get the change started (and keep it going).

What does that mean?
This quote puts none too fine a point on it. To actually get a useful, valuable, and permanent change, you have to do two things. You have to stick with it (lasting), and you have to be regular about doing it (consistent).

By sticking with it, you will repeat the change over and over, until it becomes a part of you. By doing it regularly, it will be come a natural thing for you to do.

However, if you do it regularly, but only for a short time, it won’t make for much of a change. Similarly, doing it for years, every other month without fail, well, that isn’t going to make much of a change either, will it?

Why is change important?  Continue reading →

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Knowledge speaks, but wisdom listens.

Posted on 12 July 2012 by philosiblog

Knowledge speaks, but wisdom listens. – Jimi Hendrix

How well do you listen? How much do you learn when you’re talking?

What does that mean?
I like this one. Not only is the quote spot-on, it’s from a Rock-n-Roll guitar god. Who would expect such an incredible bit of insight from such a source? Not too many, I would imagine.

The quote says that knowledge speaks. Those with knowledge are usually more than willing to share what they know with those who are interested. And sometimes with those who have absolutely no interest, but simply happened to be near by. You’ve probably known a few people like that. Sometimes they even know what they’re talking about!

The quote then says that wisdom listens. Wisdom tends to get that way by finding the knowledge beyond the common knowledge. How many times have you found out that what you thought was the whole truth was only a tiny part of it?

While sometimes it’s an extension of knowledge (Higgs Boson, anyone?), other times it becomes wisdom (the growth of love from infatuation, to true love, to the love of your children, to the love of family, community and humanity, and sometimes beyond, to include all living things).

Why is listening important?  Continue reading →

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It is seldom that liberty of any kind is lost all at once.

Posted on 11 July 2012 by philosiblog

It is seldom that liberty of any kind is lost all at once. – David Hume

Out for the morning walk, with newspaper in hand, this old man seems fit in body and mind. He appears to be vigilant about his conditions.

What does that mean?
This is a quote about small steps. Excepting the violent overthrow of a government, the erosion of liberty tends to move slowly. While this quote is about politics, I believe it applies to many other parts of our lives.

Excepting catastrophic illness or accidents, our mobility or ability to act with our bodies seldom occurs all at once. We slowly get worse with age and disuse. Do we stop lifting weights because we get old, or do we get old because we stop lifting weights? Ask me again in twenty years.

Excepting catastrophic illness or accidents, our wits and our wisdom are seldom lost all at once. We slowly get worse with age and disuse. Do we stop thinking clearly because we get old, or do we get old because we stop thinking clearly? Again, ask me again in twenty years.

Why is vigilance important?

Continue reading →

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No man is happy who does not think himself so.

Posted on 10 July 2012 by philosiblog

No man is happy who does not think himself so. – Publius Syrus

If you need one of these to feel happy, the problem might not be your lack of money. Allow yourself to be happy and enjoy what you have.

What does that mean?
This quote, if worded as a question, makes a little more sense to me. It would be: “From whom do you need permission in order to feel good about yourself?”

I believe the quote itself answers the question. If you don’t give yourself that permission, no one else, and nothing else, can possibly hope to be able to do it for you.

Yes, a trinket might provide a brief distraction from your unhappiness, and you might mistakenly label that sensation “happiness.” The same can be said for a pleasant companion.

But until you decide that you are going to allow yourself to be happy, you will never will be. The easy solution is to think yourself to be happy. Nothing else will hae a lasting impact on your lack of happiness.

Why is attitude important?  Continue reading →

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I always wanted to be somebody, but now I realize I should have been more specific.

Posted on 9 July 2012 by philosiblog

I always wanted to be somebody, but now I realize I should have been more specific. – Lily Tomlin

If all you asked for was a dependable way to get from here to there, this might be the vehicle for you. My Aspen wasn’t quite this bad, but it was close. Be specific!

What does that mean?
As this is a quote from a comedienne, you expect it to be funny. However, there is, as with all good humor, an underlying truth hiding inside. In this case, it’s about specificity, or more precisely, the lack thereof.

She states that she always wanted to be somebody. The implication is that she now has managed to become somebody. However, there is also the implication that the somebody she became wasn’t exactly what she had hoped she would become.

By being more specific about what she wanted to become, she could have been a little more specific when it came to making decisions about her future. By knowing her destination, it would have been easier to get to where she wanted to be. By saying “over there,” well, she got “over there,” only it wasn’t quite where she thought she wanted to be.

Why is specificity important?  Continue reading →

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If you focus only on yourself and neglect others, you will lose; but you will gain if you value others as much as you cherish yourself.

Posted on 8 July 2012 by philosiblog

If you focus only on yourself and neglect others, you will lose; but you will gain if you value others as much as you cherish yourself. – Dalai Lama

Feeling unfulfilled? Perhaps if you made a list of all the ways you help others, you’ll feel better. Or you could find more ways to help others, and get busy helping others. At least it works for me.

What does that mean?
This quote reminds me of the basic plot of the book ‘A Christmas Carol’ by English author Charles Dickens. At the beginning of that story, Ebenezer Scrooge is focused solely on himself, usually to the detriment of all the other people around him.

By the end of the story, he cares about others every bit as much as he cares about himself. He sends a great feast to his most loyal employee, and spends the rest of the day with his family, with which he was previously estranged.

In the story Scrooge had lost everything truly important because of his focus on himself and that which he believes is important (money, in his case). At the end, he has regained everything that is truly important to him by focusing on the needs and wants of others as much as his own.

To me, that is what this quote says. If you ignore the needs of others, you’re not going to have much of a life, and you will never find true happiness. However, if you can first notice and then help others, you will be able to get what is truly important, and happiness will be there for you.

Why are others important?  Continue reading →

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The promise given was a necessity of the past: the word broken is a necessity of the present.

Posted on 7 July 2012 by philosiblog

The promise given was a necessity of the past: the word broken is a necessity of the present. – Niccolò Machiavelli

A trip to the park was promised. It rained. Do you cancel the trip, or is there some puddle stomping in your future?

What does that mean?
This is a quote, once again, that was directed at a Prince or ruler of a City State. It deals with the all too familiar situation where a promise made has been overcome by events. What seemed like a simple promise now is either a real pain to complete, or flat out impossible.

Now what? What is a ruler to do? What is anyone, for that matter, to do? Whether you’re a boss dealing with a promise you made to a customer or your employees, or a parent who promised something to a child, just what are you going to do about it?

Do you break your promise, or do you break yourself trying to fulfill that promise? In the middle ages, some chivalric orders would have done the latter. Today, many people simply do the former. While the exact situation will impact your decision, it might be something to think about.

Why are promises important?  Continue reading →

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