It is not hard to compose, but what is fabulously hard is to leave the superfluous notes under the table.

Posted on 7 May 2012 by philosiblog

It is not hard to compose, but what is fabulously hard is to leave the superfluous notes under the table. – Johannes Brahms

How many extra notes are in your life? Is this how you do things, or is there a simple, straight forward way to do it?

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 to make something bigger, better, or more complex than the last one built. The urge to add something, even if it’s not useful, is hard to resist.

In engineering, there is a saying (only partly in jest), “Why make something dull and simple, when one can make it beautiful and complex?” That is roughly what Brahms is saying. Composing isn’t all that difficult. Resisting the urge to add all kinds of extra notes, he states, that’s the hard part.

I’ve struggled with this when designing software. I’m sure more than a few painters have gotten a little carried away with extra detail. Superfluous things seem to be an artists’ nemesis. Whether composing a photograph, a symphony, or a landscape, decorating a ceramic creation or a sculpture, there is always the struggle of trying to only do what is necessary, and nothing more.

Why is avoiding excess important?  Continue reading →

Posted in contemplation, creativity, discipline, focus, originality, self knowledge | Tagged , , , , | Comments Off on It is not hard to compose, but what is fabulously hard is to leave the superfluous notes under the table.

Having a more compassionate attitude helps you communicate more easily with your fellow human beings.

Posted on 6 May 2012 by philosiblog

Having a more compassionate attitude helps you communicate more easily with your fellow human beings. – Dalai Lama

Just because you are talking doesn’t mean you are communicating. If you haven’t shown compassion, you aren’t communicating with those around you as much as you are annoying them.

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 of compassion ties directly back to their inability to communicate.

On the other hand, if other people know how much you care, they are far more likely to listen to you. Their expectation, of course, is that you will listen to them, and understand them and their point of view.

By being compassionate, one can begin to understand where others are coming from, what their points of view are, and what they want from you. Note that compassion does not require that you agree with them, just that you understand what their values are and where they are coming from.

Once a level of compassion has been understood by both parties, communication can occur, which is the second half of the quote. This communication, ideally, will be both ways, with them showing you compassion as well as you showing it to them. Unfortunately, in the real world, it doesn’t always work out that way.

Why is compassion important?  Continue reading →

Posted in compassion, curious, dignity, listening, question, understanding | Tagged , , , , | 1 Comment

The vulgar crowd always is taken by appearances, and the world consists chiefly of the vulgar.

Posted on 5 May 2012 by philosiblog

The vulgar crowd always is taken by appearances, and the world consists chiefly of the vulgar. – Niccolò Machiavelli

Did the Travel Agent neglect to mention that the reason for the cheap rate on your vacation was because it was in the rainy season? The pretty pictures are there to impress the unsophisticated crowd. Take your time, look things up, do your research.

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 taken in by appearances, and the world consists mostly of the unsophisticated.”

With the quote restated, we now turn to the heart of the quote, appearances. This concept appears in other parts of his book, The Prince. He seems to be of the mind that it is more important to look good than to be good (or do good). He is also big on using deceit to fool people into believing one thing while the Prince does another.

When people look to appearances, they are looking at the superficial aspects of someone. Where did they go to school? What is their religion, and how often do they attend? How well do they dress, and what do their clothes say about them? Do they appear timid or powerful? These are some of the appearances on which the unsophisticated might concentrate.

Why are appearances important?  Continue reading →

Posted in caution, honest, judgement, patience, question, skepticism | Tagged , , , , | 1 Comment

The road to success is dotted with many tempting parking spaces.

Posted on 4 May 2012 by philosiblog

The road to success is dotted with many tempting parking spaces. ― Will Rogers

Take a break, but then get back on the road. It’s a REST AREA, not a PARKING SPACE!

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 quote, ‘the road to success,’ implies the destination for your journey. But the rest of the quote is about the temptations that exist on the road, trying to keep you from completing the journey.

If you’re on your way to somewhere important, and you pull into a ‘parking space,’ your journey is pretty much over at that point, right? Since the journey specified in the quote is ‘to success,’ stopping before you can get there means you are giving up. You’re handing your dreams and hard work over for a comfortable place to park. I don’t know about you, but that’s not a good thing where I’m from.

Why is perseverance important?  Continue reading →

Posted in destination, discipline, judgement, obstacles, perseverance, success | Tagged , , , , | Comments Off on The road to success is dotted with many tempting parking spaces.

I praise loudly; I blame softly.

Posted on 3 May 2012 by philosiblog

I praise loudly; I blame softly. – Catherine II (the Great)

Is this how those around you expect you to react when they screw up?

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 praised knows that all have heard, and can be proud. All who heart the praise know what they can get, if they can perform. Everyone is now motivated, and in a positive manner.

Conversely, those who merit blame are to be blamed quietly or in private, so that few others know. This helps the person being blamed avoid excessive shaming and embarrassment. This is key to encouraging people to take risks, as they know that if the risk doesn’t work out, their blame won’t “go viral” on them. There will still be repercussions, but the person will be spared the worst of the public humiliation. Back in the day of this quote, that was quite a kindness.

Why is kindness important?  Continue reading →

Posted in attitude, communication, dignity, discipline, inspire, kindness | Tagged , , , , | Comments Off on I praise loudly; I blame softly.

Where there is no law, but every man does what is right in his own eyes, there is the least of real liberty.

Posted on 2 May 2012 by philosiblog

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

Busy, busy! You can find time, make a little order among chaos.

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 by every day, ordinary people. It stresses that where there is no law, even when everyone does what they think is right, only the tiniest bit of actual liberty will exist.

This is because some will exert more influence than others, and opinions as to what is right will vary from person to person. This will lead, at best to a benevolent dictatorship, and at worst, chaos incarnate. And that’s just talking about meetings, not whole systems of governance!

The argument is that some set of rules is necessary, so that all may know their place, and get their turn. This helps to keep things moving smoothly, and reduces the shouting matches to the topic at hand, rather than on the process of the meeting. At least when one group isn’t trying to cheat, because that’s the right thing to do if they can win, in their eyes.

Why is order important? 

Continue reading →

Posted in decision, flexibility, governance, individuality, moderation, tolerance | Tagged , , , , | Comments Off on Where there is no law, but every man does what is right in his own eyes, there is the least of real liberty.

Doing the show was like painting the George Washington Bridge. As soon as you finished one end, you started right in on the other.

Posted on 1 May 2012 by philosiblog

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

Yes, it's easy to have a positive attitude at the beach on a sunny day. But can you keep that same attitude on the rainy days, too?

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, in the RCA building, New York City. At that time, the show had a run time of one hundred and five minutes, or one hour and forty five minutes. That is a lot of time to fill, and a lot of material to prepare for each and every show.

The bridge in the quote, the Washington Bridge, connects Manhattan and The Bronx, and is of a steel arch construction. All that steel must be covered in paint, or risk falling victim to it’s nemisis, rust. Over 500 linear feet of bridge span, plus two large arches, as well as all the bracing, required constant maintenance, meaning painting pretty much non-stop.

Jack was comparing working on his show tot he non-stop effort required to maintain the bridge. That incredible work load is a big part of why the next two hosts reduced the length of the show to it’s present one hour format.

Why are perseverance and attitude important?  Continue reading →

Posted in attitude, flexibility, improve, perseverance, setting an example, time | Tagged , , , , | Comments Off on Doing the show was like painting the George Washington Bridge. As soon as you finished one end, you started right in on the other.

If you are too busy to laugh, you are too busy.

Posted on 30 April 2012 by philosiblog

If you are too busy to laugh, you are too busy. – Proverb

These little people know how to take a little time out of their busy day for a laugh. What about you, do you know how to take the time to laugh?

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 is considered good medicine and part of the healing process for both body and spirit.

Yet some people are too busy to laugh. Too busy to stop and smell the roses. These people are just too busy to live their life. They are too busy driving themselves into the ground. They are too busy to enjoy what life they have left. They have allowed themselves to simply become far too busy.

The quote infers that we should take time to relax and laugh. Not necessarily at or with anything, but just to laugh. To have fun, to unwind, to have a good time. I believe if we all laughed as hard as we worked, the world would be a much happier place.

Why is laughter important?  Continue reading →

Posted in emotion, focus, habits, humor, laughter, personal growth | Tagged , , , , | Comments Off on If you are too busy to laugh, you are too busy.

Whatever steps, however small, one can take towards learning to reduce the influence of the negative emotions can be very helpful.

Posted on 29 April 2012 by philosiblog

Whatever steps, however small, one can take towards learning to reduce the influence of the negative emotions can be very helpful. – Dalai Lama

One step. And then another. Not large by themselves, but together, the amount first to yards, then miles.

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 to just make small steps, to make small changes. So long as you are making progress, no matter how small, you are doing well.

This quote is specifically about trying to reduce the negative emotions, and their influence over you. The implication is that even a little bit of negative emotion is bad for you. I would have to agree with that, as I feel life is short enough that we don’t need to fill it with any more negative emotions, if we can avoid it.

To me, that’s the whole point of the quote, trying our best to avoid allowing them to get the better of us. Even if the steps are small, the more we can move away from their influence, the happier our lives will be. And isn’t that the whole point of living?

Why are even the small changes important?  Continue reading →

Posted in action, confidence, faith, growth, perseverance, self-esteem | Tagged , , , , | Comments Off on Whatever steps, however small, one can take towards learning to reduce the influence of the negative emotions can be very helpful.

Princes and governments are far more dangerous than other elements within society.

Posted on 28 April 2012 by philosiblog

Princes and governments are far more dangerous than other elements within society. – Niccolò Machiavelli

Gandhi. He set the bar quite high for peaceful governance.

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 of us who live in more peaceful locales, the saying almost sounds crazy. For those living in Renaissance Italy, full of Princes and other petty nobility, this was a daily reality.

It is probably also a warning to the Princes that their governments may exist independently of them, and may fight to protect it’s existance, even at the expense of the Prince. It is also a reminder to the Prince to keep the government in check for the benefit of the third element of the power triangle, the rest of society. Now doesn’t that just sound Machiavellian?

Why is being wary of your government important?  Continue reading →

Posted in caution, duty, freedom, governance, obstacles, setting an example | Tagged , , , , | Comments Off on Princes and governments are far more dangerous than other elements within society.

Happiness is a perfume you cannot pour on others without getting a few drops on yourself.

Posted on 27 April 2012 by philosiblog

Happiness is a perfume you cannot pour on others without getting a few drops on yourself. – Ralph Waldo Emerson

Someone's about to pour a little kindness... in the form of chocolate chip cookies! Trust me, the baker of the cookies will get a few drops of kindness in return!

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, and it would be nice if it was that easy.

However, in my mind, the point of the metaphor is to show the one sided-ness of happiness. People often do things that mean little to them for the sole reason that it helps bring happiness to another. To me, that is what the pouring is about.

For those among us who can cause a spill just pouring a glass of water, the thought of not being able to dispense happiness without making a bit of a mess is equally interesting.

In my view, even unrequited love results in a little spill on the person doing the pouring. The bulk of the happiness (and the whole point of the exercise) is experienced by the target of the affection. However, the act itself brings a little happiness to the doer, even if in the long run it brings sorrow.

Why is helping others important?  Continue reading →

Posted in caring, chocolate, compassion, giving, happiness, kindness | Tagged , , , , | 3 Comments

Love all, trust a few, do wrong to none.

Posted on 26 April 2012 by philosiblog

Love all, trust a few, do wrong to none. – William Shakespeare

How many times have you been told to say 'Please' and 'Thank You'? That's wise advice!

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 to court some distance away after the passing of his father.

  • By loving all, you are opening your heart to all people, even (some might say especially) to those who don’t love you, or who don’t have your best interests uppermost in their minds.
  • Which leads us to the next part of the quote. By trusting but a few, you are protecting yourself from those who are not worthy of your trust, who might wish to harm you or gain from your loss.
  • Finally, by refusing to do wrong to anyone, you help generate good-will and may even help win over some. It is also is the moral, ethical, and legally responsible way to live your life.

Taken together, these three things make an excellent road-map for a just, happy, and prosperous life. At least in my mind. What do you think?

Why is following wise advice important?  Continue reading →

Posted in advice, character, integrity, kindness, love, wisdom | Tagged , , , , | 6 Comments

We are all in the gutter, but some of us are looking at the stars.

Posted on 25 April 2012 by philosiblog

We are all in the gutter, but some of us are looking at the stars. – Oscar Wilde

You'd have to be nuts to want to stay in the gutter! Look to the stars, and then reach for them. Take action, and improve yourself. Visit the gutter less often, and stay for a shorter period of time. Get backup on your feet!

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 around, and end up in the lowest place available, the gutter. Being in the gutter was an expression of utter despair and hopelessness, of having gone down as low as one could possibly go.

In this case, the quote implies that we are all struggling in our own gutter of sorts, a place where we have nought but despair and hopelessness. The quote, however, differentiates between those who just lay there and bemoan their fate, and those who look up at the stars.

The quote implies that this second group is different, and not just lying there cursing fate. The implication of ‘looking at the stars’ is that they have goals, that the gutter is not their home, and that they have some hope of moving beyond their present circumstances.

Why is self improvement important?  Continue reading →

Posted in dream, growth, independence, perseverance, reflection, self improvement | Tagged , , , , | 10 Comments

I don’t need a man to rectify my existence. The most profound relationship we will ever have is the one with ourselves.

Posted on 24 April 2012 by philosiblog

I don’t need anyone to rectify my existence. The most profound relationship we will ever have is the one with ourselves. – Shirley MacLaine

When you don't know everything there is to know about yourself, anything can happen. Self knowledge is the foundation for the rest of your life. This picture is the collapse of the Tacoma Narrows Bridge, which shouldn't have failed, based on what they knew at the time.

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 place of ‘a man.’ I won’t take a stand on the initial intent, as I wasn’t there, and don’t know her. I leave that to those who were, or who do, respectively.

To me, what the quote says is that no one needs another to make their life right (that’s what the ‘rectify’ in the quote means). We all can, and I believe we all should, make our lives right within ourselves. In my mind, as long as we are looking for someone else to be the fix or to correct for our shortcomings, we are not yet a whole and complete person.

The quote says, and I agree, that our most profound relationship is within ourselves. We can’t be a friend to anyone while we are still a stranger to ourselves, right? If we are less than whole within ourselves, how can we be anything greater than that with others.

Why is self knowledge important?  Continue reading →

Posted in contemplation, courage, discovery, improve, question, self knowledge | Tagged , , , , | Comments Off on I don’t need a man to rectify my existence. The most profound relationship we will ever have is the one with ourselves.

What is right and what is practicable are two different things.

Posted on 23 April 2012 by philosiblog

What is right and what is practicable are two different things. – James Buchanan

Minor damage, not worth the hassle and time to fix. It doesn't leak, and the insurance didn't cover it, so it's not practicable to fix, even though it's the right thing to do.

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 something can be practical (or useful), but not practicable (feasible). The example they use is a busy person going to visit France. Learning French would be practical (useful), but their busy schedule makes it not practicable (not feasible).

So, with that definition squared away, what the quote is saying is that not everything that is right is can be feasibly accomplished. You might make the case that it is right for something to be done (or changed), but it won’t always be something that can be done without major social, technological, or societal upheaval.

Why is doing what is right important?  Continue reading →

Posted in belief, discipline, hope, ideals, self knowledge, setting an example | Tagged , , , , | Comments Off on What is right and what is practicable are two different things.