Commitment is an act, not a word. Jean-Paul Sartre What does that mean? To what are you committed? Really, really committed? The usual answers include your family, your friends, your system of beliefs, your values, even your country or your culture. But how committed are you? Are you committed to the level of “I only regret…
If we examine our thoughts, we shall find them always occupied with the past and the future. – Blaise Pascal What does that mean? I don’t know about you, but this quote is very true for me. I am either busy learning from past mistakes, or applying those lessons to future plans. Only rarely am…
Success is not counted by how high you have climbed but by how many people you brought with you. – Dr Wil Rose What does that mean? I like quotes that challenge the usual thought process. Many, perhaps most, score how successful a person is based on what the person has managed to accumulate in…
There’s only one corner of the universe you can be certain of improving, and that’s your own self. – Aldous Huxley What does that mean? The only thing you can be certain of your ability to change is yourself, or so the quote says. While we may have some influence with others, ultimately, they have the…
If we are optimistic, take a longer view, and we employ realistic methods, we can contribute to making the world a better place. – Dalai Lama What does that mean? This quote is all about improving the world in general. To me, that is one of our primary functions as the dominant species on the planet. Yes,…
A prudent man should always follow in the path trodden by great men and imitate those who are most excellent – Niccolò Machiavelli What does that mean? This is another Twitter friendly version of a longer quote. “A prudent man should always follow in the path trodden by great men and imitate those who are most excellent,…
A spark of fire helps to give light to the world. Think of this and act. None are too small, too feeble, too poor to be of service. – Hannah Moore What does that mean? This quote is a central point in my life, as it is all about taking action. This quote reminds us that…
Sunshine all the time makes a desert. – Arab Proverb What does that mean? This is a fairly straight forward quote. If all you have is sunshine, you’re going to have problems with plants life. Water, in the form of rain, is necessary for them to live. Rain, which comes from clouds, sometimes blot out…
It is fatal to enter any war without the will to win it. – Douglas MacArthur What does that mean? This quote is from one of the great Generals of the last hundred years. His exploits and his motivational speeches, and his ability to analyze a problem are all well known. This quote is a fairly…
The time to relax is when you don’t have time for it. – Sydney J. Harris What does that mean? Boy, do I feel this one today! I have so much to do, and no where near enough time in which to do it. But that’s exactly when you need to slow down and relax….
I may not be a first-rate composer, but I am a first-class second-rate composer. – Richard Strauss What does that mean? That’s just a little harsh, but he was judging himself against such greats as the other Strauss family and Wagner, whom were recognized as greats even in their day. For those not familiar with…
Warm-heartedness reinforces our self-confidence – giving us not a blind confidence, but a sense of confidence based on reason.– Dalai Lama What does that mean? Warm-heartedness, to me, is a form of self-confidence. It is a statement of having a trust in ourselves that is so great that we are willing and able to go beyond…
The best way to cheer yourself up is to cheer somebody else up. – Mark Twain What does that mean? This is another misattributed quote. I try to be extra cautious when dealing with quotes attributed to Mark Twain, as he is one of the most often attributed people, even when he didn’t say it….
Wisdom consists in being able to distinguish among dangers and make a choice of the least harmful. – Niccolò Machiavelli What does that mean? This may be another fake quote, as I have seen it attributed in many places, but cannot find it in The Prince, where it is alleged to be from. Perhaps it’s just a…
The man who has no imagination has no wings. – Muhammad Ali What does that mean? To me, this quote is all about possibility. If you can’t imagine it, how are you ever going to actually do it? Imagination is all about seeing the possibilities when all the others can see is are problems. Imagination is…
