It is vital that when educating our children’s brains that we do not neglect to educate their hearts.

Posted on 22 April 2012 by philosiblog

It is vital that when educating our children’s brains that we do not neglect to educate their hearts. – Dalai Lama

What can you do to help educate them to use their hearts for good and positive things, and not for negative things?

What does that mean?
Some people (the character of W.C.Fields would be a great example) have no love for children in their heart. But even the hardest hearted among us understand that the children are the next generation of adults.

Most will also realize that they have to be educated in how the world works. This applies both to the things of math and science, as well as the things of inter-personal relationships. To me, that is what this quote is all about. Educating the next generation of humans to know not only science and math, but the skills of the heart.

Why is education of the heart important?  Continue reading →

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No enterprise is more likely to succeed than one concealed from the enemy until it is ripe for execution.

Posted on 21 April 2012 by philosiblog

No enterprise is more likely to succeed than one concealed from the enemy until it is ripe for execution.– Niccolò Machiavelli

Nothing succeeds like a surprise party!

What does that mean?
“They never saw it coming!” That is the root of this quote. Whether it’s an unexpected hostile takeover in the business world, or a surprise popping of “the question,” nothing is more likely to be successful than a concealed plan coupled with proper timing and swift execution.

All of this presupposes a well planned ‘enterprise’ with proper research and good intelligence. If the company you’re going to take over hasn’t been forthcoming about the problems with their soon-to-launch product, the wolves might find they have been stalking a sheepdog, not a sheep. Similarly, if you aren’t sure they are going to say ‘yes’ when you pop the question, you have failed in doing your homework, right?

By concealing your intentions, you make it a surprise. When someone is surprised, you have them at a disadvantage. Therein lies your advantage, your best chance for success. Note the quote does not guarantee success, just discusses how to maximize your chances of success.

Why is surprise important?  Continue reading →

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The shoe that fits one person pinches another; there is no recipe for living that suits all cases.

Posted on 20 April 2012 by philosiblog

The shoe that fits one person pinches another; there is no recipe for living that suits all cases. – Carl Jung

These shoes may fit Dad well, but they're just not my size!

What does that mean?
Let’s face facts. One size most emphatically does not fit all! I’ve known that my entire life, as I have always been on the tall side. From this, we know that everyone is different, even identical twins (I’ve seen it where one is thin and the other less so).

We all have different needs, and different abilities. We have different preferences and tastes. Life is also unique. Every day is different, and every day we are different. Our friends and family change every day (hopefully only a little bit at a time). What worked for you yesterday, what you liked yesterday, that can be different today, right?

No one recipe suits everyone, whether it’s shoes, life, or food. We need to realize that when we hear someone telling us how to live our lives. What is appropriate for one culture isn’t right for the next. Even within a culture, the parents are always ‘behind the times’ and never seem to understand. We need to be flexible and make allowances for other people and their unique traits, needs, and desires.

Why is being flexible important?  Continue reading →

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Every person takes the limits of their own field of vision for the limits of the world.

Posted on 19 April 2012 by philosiblog

Every person takes the limits of their own field of vision for the limits of the world. – Arthur Schopenhauer

The world, flattened. Europe is in NW corner, the northern half of Africa is in the SW section. Arabia in in the center, with Asia taking the rest of the map (at least up to the edge of India). Note the land based boarders around most of the map, and all the divine windbags around the perimeter. The map dates from the late 1400's, after Henry the Navigator, but his maps were considered Top Secret, and not made public for quite a while.

What does that mean?
We all have our limits. For some, their limit is in the seeing, for others, it’s in the doing. Still others have limits built into their thinking, or their ability to believe.

This is neither an accusation nor a problem, unless you let it become so. It becomes a problem when we start rejecting the facts before us because they differ from our vision, because it pushes against our limits. It’s a problem when we stand by our limits when others can see more than we can, can do more than we can, can think better than we can, or believe in something we cannot. It’s even worse when we try to hold others back because our vision is so limited, that we try to limit the world, and everyone else, to that view.

Why is expanding your vision important?  Continue reading →

Posted in belief, doing, observation, thinking, truth, vision | Tagged , , , , | 4 Comments

The victorious strategist only seeks battle after the victory has been won.

Posted on 18 April 2012 by philosiblog

The victorious strategist only seeks battle after the victory has been won. – Sun Tzu

When do you stop the planning and join the battle?

What does that mean?
This is another Twitter friendly quote, which at full length is as follows: “Thus it is that in war the victorious strategist only seeks battle after the victory has been won, whereas he who is destined to defeat first fights and afterwards looks for victory.”

This is a classic, both in age and in substance. The quote starts discussing the strategy of the victorious strategist. They examine the strengths and weaknesses of their opponent, as well as the terrain, weather, morale, food supplies, and any other factors that might impact the outcome. Only then, with as reasonable a certainty of victory as is possible, do they attack. Victory then follows as the most likely outcome.

The other side of the coin is the defeated first rushes into battle, then starts to look for a way to win. If both sides follow this path, you will not have great victories, unless you also have great luck. Unfortunately, that is what too many people do, in war, love, and life in general.

Why is thinking ahead important?  Continue reading →

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Go as far as you can see; when you get there, you’ll be able to see farther.

Posted on 17 April 2012 by philosiblog

Go as far as you can see; when you get there, you’ll be able to see farther. – J. P. Morgan

It might start as just a walk around the block, then it's jogging around the block. After that comes the fun-runs and the 5K's. Pretty soon, there's a marathon on the horizon.

What does that mean?
This quote seems to be saying that the horizon moves with you. No matter where you are, you can see only so far. When you move forward to the horizon, the horizon has moved as well. No matter how far you go, you can always go farther. The only limit is your endurance.

This quote, being from a prominent businessman from a prior century, is probably about setting goals in business. However, I believe this principle can be applied to every part of our life. No matter what you are doing, if you want to get better, enjoy it more, or make it more fulfilling, you simply must do this. It’s how you build a better you, right?

Why is self improvement important?  Continue reading →

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Life is a tragedy when seen in close-up, but a comedy in long-shot.

Posted on 16 April 2012 by philosiblog

Life is a tragedy when seen in close-up, but a comedy in long-shot. – Charlie Chaplin

When all else fails, comfort can be found in a trusted companion.

What does that mean?
As this quote is from a movie star, the term close-up means the camera (and therefore, the observer) is close to the subject and the details are very apparent. A long-shot is when the camera (and therefore, the observer) is very far away, and the details are very hard to discern.

To me, this is saying that if you get really close and look at the details of the situation, you will be alarmed at the tragedy you see. However, if you back up and take it in from a greater distance, with some context to go with it, the same situation can become funny.

It’s the same situation, but it’s what you focus on. If you want to feel bad, focus on the details of how life is being mean. If you focus on the pickle on your burger, when you specifically said no pickle, you’re going to be upset. If you take a bigger view, and realize that that’s the first thing all day that’s gone wrong, and it’s easy to remove, instead of tragedy, you might find humor or even comfort.

Why is comfort important?  Continue reading →

Posted in effort, focus, observation, peace, thankful, vision | Tagged , , , , | 1 Comment

We often talk about moral values, justice and trust, but the important thing is to put them into effect in our everyday lives.

Posted on 15 April 2012 by philosiblog

We often talk about moral values, justice and trust, but the important thing is to put them into effect in our everyday lives. – Dalai Lama

Justice for all, or just those who manage to get celebrity status? What action can you take to show that you value justice for everyone?

What does that mean?
This quote, to me, is another of the ‘actions speak louder than words’ kind. It mentions that many people talk about values like justice and trust. That is a good thing, the quote implies, and something to be encouraged. Most especially when the terms are clearly defined and those definitions debated.

The point of the quote, in my mind is the second half. In this, the quote says that while it is good to discuss these things, the truly important thing is to actually live them. The quote implores us to make them part of our lives, and live them every day. In short, it’s a call to become the best person we can possibly be, and live our values, not just discuss them.

Why is living our values important?  Continue reading →

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Men are driven by two principal impulses, either by love or by fear.

Posted on 14 April 2012 by philosiblog

Men are driven by two principal impulses, either by love or by fear. – Niccolò Machiavelli

Leaders are supposed to motivate you. Do you respond to love or to fear?

What does that mean?
While this quote has been reduced to a gross oversimplification, for the sake of giving advice to a leader, the generalization still holds some truth. Love and fear are the two things that most motivate a population towards their ruler.

While the ruler has to deal with people in large numbers, for the sake of determining policy and other decisions of state, the rest of us can take a more refined approach to the ‘impulses’ or motivations of others. For the sake of this post, we will examine this from a number of levels.

We can take the quote as it stands, and presume you are the leader of at least a small group of people, whether it’s a family, or even just planning an outing for a bunch of friends. We can also take the quote and apply it to a single other person, and we can also consider how others might apply it to you.

Why is motivation important?  Continue reading →

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No matter how many mistakes you make or how slow you progress, you are still way ahead of everyone who isn’t trying.

Posted on 13 April 2012 by philosiblog

No matter how many mistakes you make or how slow you progress, you are still way ahead of everyone who isn’t trying. – Tony Robbins and here

The rabbit moves fast, but he stops trying when he takes a nap. The tortoise may move slowly, but he makes progress, and he wins.

What does that mean?
How true is that! The person who isn’t trying is going nowhere, by definition. They aren’t doing what it takes to plan the task, they aren’t getting started, they aren’t doing what is necessary to keep things moving, and they most certainly aren’t going to ever get it done!

No matter how slowly you are moving, you are still moving. Even if it’s in the wrong direction, you’ll get it figured out and straightened out soon enough. Then you’ll be back on track and getting things done, working towards your goals.

No matter the number or severity of mistakes, you are still making progress if you learn from them, right? So keep the faith, and keep working at it. Notice what’s working and adjust what you do. You’ll eventually make some progress, which is what the person who isn’t trying will never do.

Why is action important?  Continue reading →

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Of all the properties which belong to honorable men, not one is so highly prized as that of character.

Posted on 12 April 2012 by philosiblog

Of all the properties which belong to honorable men, not one is so highly prized as that of character. – Henry Clay

Character. It's what Scouting is all about. What could you learn from a Scout?

What does that mean?
This quote is showing it’s age. I’d hate to have to do a sentence diagram of it. Let’s see if I can make it into slightly better English. “Honorable people have many valuable qualities, the most highly prized of which is character.” Is that a little easier to understand?

So, going from the reworded quote, honorable people (the best of the best of us) have many valuable qualities (have many virtues, attributes, or patterns of behavior that define us). The most interesting point is the qualification that this applies to honorable people, as not all people are.

It finishes by stating that the most valuable quality of all that a honorable person might have is character. The use of the term ‘prized’ in the original gives the connotation that not only is it valuable, but it is also pursued by many, and held in high regard by nearly all.

Why is character important?  Continue reading →

Posted in altruism, character, honest, integrity, loyalty, virtue | Tagged , , , , | 1 Comment

Indecision and delays are the parents of failure.

Posted on 11 April 2012 by philosiblog

Indecision and delays are the parents of failure. – George Canning

Decisions, decisions. Which one goes better with which outfit?

What does that mean?
Indecision and delays. These are the things that keep stuff from getting done. When you can’t make a decision, when you can’t act promptly, that’s what’s going to keep your project on the drawing board when you should be busy making things happen.

When you don’t get things done, it’s hard to succeed, right? As the opposite of success is failure, if you don’t get things done, you’re going to end up failing, and sooner rather than later. Not being able to make quick and clear decisions will hobble any project, whether it be at home or in business. If you’re an employee, you’re going to be going down the ladder, not up it. If you’re the boss, your business will be doing the same thing. That’s not good!

Why is decisiveness important?  Continue reading →

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Courage is the ladder on which all the other virtues mount.

Posted on 10 April 2012 by philosiblog

Courage is the ladder on which all the other virtues mount. – Clare Boothe Luce

Courage is the ladder... and climbing up ladders takes courage, for dad at least!

What does that mean?
While the verbage is a bit archaic, I believe it is as true today as it was when it was first spoken. Reworded, Courage is the ladder all the other virtues need in order to ascend. Basically, courage is a foundational virtue, one without which the others are very limited.

How honest are you willing to be if you have no courage? Would you be able to walk up to someone and tell them that you liked them? If, instead, they smelled funny, would you able to tell them they need to bathe more often?

Do you see how a lack of courage limits the ability of the virtue ‘honesty’ to ascend to any great height? Without courage, honesty can’t get anywhere. What this also means is that you will be trapped, a shadow of your potential, a mere fraction of your best possible self, without courage.

Why is courage important?  Continue reading →

Posted in courage, discipline, ideals, personal growth, struggle, virtue | Tagged , , , , | 3 Comments

It ain’t what they call you, it’s what you answer to.

Posted on 9 April 2012 by philosiblog

It ain’t what they call you, it’s what you answer to.
W. C. Fields

You are not a word, especially one not of your own choosing. You are more than that, so if someone says it, ignore them. Don't answer to that word. Strip both the word, and the idiot who used it, of their power to hurt you and your self-esteem. Click on the Photo link at the bottom of the post for her story.

What does that mean?
This quote is quite moving, and touches me deeply. It’s also interesting, as the character portrayed by the actor was always quite the rascal, praising his favorite alcoholic drinks, and being less than kind in his talk about women, kids, and dogs.

This quote means a lot to me, as it was my first and best defense against the bullies of my day. I was always tall and quite thin (bean pole was a very old fashioned term for my physique). I just ignored them. It didn’t hurt any less, but they went away quicker than if I tried to engage them in a discussion.

To me, that’s what this quote is about. There are mean people in this world. They will say mean things. Sometimes, they will direct their comments at you. The quote implies that you should ignore them. If you answer to them, you are accepting the name they have given you. And that’s rarely a good thing, right?

Why is self-esteem important?  Continue reading →

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I am often asked whether I am optimistic for the future of humanity. My simple answer is yes.

Posted on 8 April 2012 by philosiblog

I am often asked whether I am optimistic for the future of humanity. My simple answer is yes. – Dalai Lama

If all you ever heard was the bad news, it would be easy to be a pessimist.

What does that mean?
I agree with the quote. Yes, there are terrible things going on in the world. Yes, there is civil unrest, war, inhumane treatment of people. However, that’s what we see on the news. How often do you see acts of kindness on the news? How often do you see details of people giving to charity (unless it’s a very large amount)?

Yet, it happens. Like the tree falling in the woods, if a reporter isn’t there doesn’t mean it didn’t happen. There are people all over the world right this moment who are helping one another, feeding one another, and loving one another. And they will never be on the news.

So, yes, I am optimistic about the future of humanity. Even with all the sound and fury on the internet and on TV, all the protests, attacks, and murders. Humanity will survive, and do well. The future will be better, slowly but surely.

Why is optimism important?  Continue reading →

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