It is vital that when educating our children’s brains that we do not neglect to educate their hearts. – Dalai Lama 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…
No enterprise is more likely to succeed than one concealed from the enemy until it is ripe for execution.– Niccolò Machiavelli 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…
The shoe that fits one person pinches another; there is no recipe for living that suits all cases. – Carl Jung 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…
Every person takes the limits of their own field of vision for the limits of the world. – Arthur Schopenhauer 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…
The victorious strategist only seeks battle after the victory has been won. – Sun Tzu 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…
Go as far as you can see; when you get there, you’ll be able to see farther. – J. P. Morgan 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,…
Life is a tragedy when seen in close-up, but a comedy in long-shot. – Charlie Chaplin 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…
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 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…
Men are driven by two principal impulses, either by love or by fear. – Niccolò Machiavelli 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…
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 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…
Of all the properties which belong to honorable men, not one is so highly prized as that of character. – Henry Clay 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…
Indecision and delays are the parents of failure. – George Canning 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…
Courage is the ladder on which all the other virtues mount. – Clare Boothe Luce 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…
It ain’t what they call you, it’s what you answer to. W. C. Fields 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…
I am often asked whether I am optimistic for the future of humanity. My simple answer is yes. – Dalai Lama 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…
