It is not hard to compose, but what is fabulously hard is to leave the superfluous notes under the table. – Johannes Brahms What does that mean? This is a classic. Not just by age, but by it’s nature. Humankind has always been building things, it’s part of our nature. And there is always the urge…
Having a more compassionate attitude helps you communicate more easily with your fellow human beings. – Dalai Lama What does that mean? How well do people without compassion communicate? They’re in editorial cartoons all the time, failing badly at communicating with others. Whether it’s because they are too aloof, too disconnected, or just plain mean, their lack…
The vulgar crowd always is taken by appearances, and the world consists chiefly of the vulgar. – Niccolò Machiavelli What does that mean? Here, the word ‘vulgar’ is used to imply a lack of refinement and sophistication in the people making up the bulk of the population. Restating the quote, it becomes “The unsophisticated people are always…
The road to success is dotted with many tempting parking spaces. ― Will Rogers What does that mean? I like this quote, and am familiar with more than a few of the parking spaces it mentions. However, I try to think of them more as ‘rest areas’ than parking spaces. The term used by the…
I praise loudly; I blame softly. – Catherine II (the Great) What does that mean? This quote would help make the world a better place in which to live, if we could all agree to live in it’s spirit. By praising loudly, all can hear, notice, and be motivated in a positive manner. The person…
Where there is no law, but every man does what is right in his own eyes, there is the least of real liberty. – Henry Martyn Robert What does that mean? This quote is from the guy who wrote Robert’s Rules of Order. It was patterned after the way Congress was run, but adapted for use…
Doing the show was like painting the George Washington Bridge. As soon as you finished one end, you started right in on the other. – Jack Paar What does that mean? This quote is from the early days of The Tonight Show (then called “Tonight, starring Jack Parr”), which was then based in Studio 6B,…
If you are too busy to laugh, you are too busy. – Proverb What does that mean? Laughter. It’s one of the best sounds a human can make, and one of the best sounds a human can hear. It makes you feel better, both emotionally and biologically (due to chemicals produced by the body). Laughter…
Whatever steps, however small, one can take towards learning to reduce the influence of the negative emotions can be very helpful. – Dalai Lama What does that mean? I like this quote. This quote says that even small steps help. I believe that is a great attitude to have. This quote reminds us that it’s OK…
Princes and governments are far more dangerous than other elements within society. – Niccolò Machiavelli What does that mean? This may come as somewhat shocking to some people, and painfully obvious to many others. Anyone who has been following the violence by the Syrian government against it’s own people knows exactly what this quote means. For those…
Happiness is a perfume you cannot pour on others without getting a few drops on yourself. – Ralph Waldo Emerson What does that mean? This is an interesting quote due to the metaphor it uses. Happiness as a potion, a liquid like perfume, to be poured out onto another. It has a certain ring to it,…
Love all, trust a few, do wrong to none. – William Shakespeare What does that mean? This line is from the Bard’s play “All’s Well That Ends Well“, Act 1 Scene 1, where the line is spoken by the mother to the son. This quote is truly worthy life advice for one who is being sent…
We are all in the gutter, but some of us are looking at the stars. – Oscar Wilde What does that mean? Historically, the reference to being in the gutter usually refers to a drunk who is so drunk and unable to control their body that they literally, as well as figuratively, fall down, roll…
I don’t need anyone to rectify my existence. The most profound relationship we will ever have is the one with ourselves. – Shirley MacLaine What does that mean? This was the original quote before it was ret-coned into a more politically correct form. It also makes more sense this way. The PC way has ‘anyone’ in…
What is right and what is practicable are two different things. – James Buchanan What does that mean? Let’s start with the definition of practicable, as it is not a commonly used word anymore. At theFreeDictionary.com, practicable is defined (in short form) as “feasible”, which differs subtly from practical, which is defined as “useful.” Therefore…
