One must emulate both the fox and the lion, because a lion cannot defy a snare, while a fox cannot defy a pack of wolves.

Posted on 7 April 2012 by philosiblog

One must emulate both the fox and the lion, because a lion cannot defy a snare, while a fox cannot defy a pack of wolves. – Niccolò Machiavelli

Yes, the lion will drive off the wolves, but if the wolves use trickery, will the lion still win, or will the lack of flexibility cost him dearly?

What does that mean?
This is another Twitter shortened quote, which is stated more completely as: “A Prince must imitate the fox and the lion, for the lion cannot protect himself from traps, and the fox cannot defend himself from wolves. One must therefore be a fox to recognize traps, and a lion to frighten wolves.”

This quote is from a section on keeping faith (keeping promises), and details how and when a Prince should keep or break his word.  The opponents of the Prince are cast as the wolves, who would either attack him directly (beastly attacks of force) or lay traps for the purpose of entangling him (clever attacks by law or using the word of the Prince against him).

To survive the direct attacks, he argues, the wolves must be met by a lion, a great and fearsome beast, more than able (in theory) to scatter and defeat a group of hungry wolves. In this, he says that aggressive use of force is necessary against those who would use it against you. Against the wolves the fox is no match.

Similarly, the fox must be of sufficient cunning to recognize traps set by the wolves, and (being a fox), outsmart the less clever wolves. In this, he says that when the conditions under which a promise was made no longer exist, or when it has been breached by those of bad faith, a Prince should no longer be bound by these promises. He also urges a Prince to sever any promises made with a wolf, as the wolf has already broken faith with the promise in the attempt to use it against the Prince. Against these wolves, the lion is no match.

Neither the lion alone, nor the fox alone can survive against the wolf. The Prince needs a mix of both, and must know when to break a promise to disarm the wolf when they attempt to out-fox the Prince. It’s an interesting chapter, and one worthy of a further reading.

Why is flexibility important?  Continue reading →

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An act of goodness is of itself an act of happiness. No reward coming after the event can compare with the sweet reward that went with it.

Posted on 6 April 2012 by philosiblog

An act of goodness is of itself an act of happiness. No reward coming after the event can compare with the sweet reward that went with it. – Maurice Maeterlinck

The kid just handed your phone back to you. Quick, what do you do to make sure he remembers how great it feels to perform a good act?

What does that mean?
This quote says what I believe is a fundamental truth of life. Acts of goodness are a tremendous source of happiness. Every good deed puts a smile not only on their face, but yours as well. There is a great feeling that goes with the act as well. I don’t know I’d call it happiness, but that’s close enough a label for the feeling.

The quote then goes on to say that doing a good deed is it’s own reward. Nothing that happens afterward is equal, much less better, than the feeling you get from the act itself.

Search back through your past and think of the times you’ve done something nice for someone, without any thought of getting something back. Even something as simple as holding open a door or letting them go first. Oh yeah. Mmmmmm. At least it feels good to me.

Why is doing good deeds important?  Continue reading →

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It is not wisdom but Authority that makes a law.

Posted on 5 April 2012 by philosiblog

It is not wisdom but Authority that makes a law. – Thomas Hobbes

Locally, they just passed a ban on texting while driving. You already break about half a dozen laws if you text, drive and crash. No reason for yet another law, other than the authoritarians need more rules to make them feel better.

What does that mean?
Think about that for a moment. It would be nice if wisdom wrote the law, wouldn’t it? How many of you can think of some silly law that might have had a reason for existing, but is just silly now? But it’s not just the archaic laws that chafe.

Usually the first thing a person in authority does is fortify their position in power. In the USA, there are all kinds of goofy laws that seem to exist only to give those in power a better chance to stay there. That is not because they are wise, but because they have the authority to make it so.

Why is the difference between wisdom and authority important?  Continue reading →

Posted in compassion, contribution, governance, leadership, service, wisdom | Tagged , , , , | 1 Comment

There must be a beginning of any great matter, but the continuing unto the end until it be thoroughly finished yields the true glory.

Posted on 4 April 2012 by philosiblog

There must be a beginning of any great matter, but the continuing unto the end until it be thoroughly finished yields the true glory. – Francis Drake

You aren't thoroughly finished until you bring it home.

What does that mean?
How many people start things, then stop working on it? This famous explorer made it all the way around the world, and didn’t stop. By getting to the very end of that journey, that is when the glory came. In this case, he got a large cash reward, a promotion, and was knighted (a very rare thing for a commoner back then).

The quote says that starting something great has to happen, and there is often quite a bit of ceremony associated with the starting of something great. Think of all the ceremony associated with the laying of a cornerstone of a building, or the keel of a ship, or even the wedding of two people.

However much ceremony there is at the start, the real celebration is when all is finished. When the building opens. When the ship is launched. When the couple makes it to 25, 50 or even 75 years together. Therein lies the true glory, in the continuing on, all the way to the end.

Why is perseverance important?  Continue reading →

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A kind heart is a fountain of gladness, making everything in its vicinity freshen into smiles.

Posted on 3 April 2012 by philosiblog

A kind heart is a fountain of gladness, making everything in its vicinity freshen into smiles. – Washington Irving

"If you don't have a smile, you can have some of mine!"

What does that mean?
This quote is about a rather straight forward observation. Those who are kind-hearted tend to radiate gladness, or happiness. The use of the word fountain implies a never ending stream of gladness, pouring out over anything that gets too close.

This effervescence and effusion of gladness pours out in waves and, as it interacts with others, infuse them with that gladness. Everything nearby then bursts into smiles.

I’m sure you’ve been around the kinds of people who have this kind of impact on others. Sometimes you avoid them, sometimes you seek them, but you know what you’re going to do if you get too close, right?

While the quote doesn’t state it directly, it seems to be imploring us to have a kind heart, and use it to help raise the spirits of those around us. At least it sounds that way to me. Do you agree?

Why is a kind heart important?  Continue reading →

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I feel sorry for the person who can’t get genuinely excited about his work. Not only will he never be satisfied, but he will never achieve anything worthwhile.

Posted on 2 April 2012 by philosiblog

I feel sorry for the person who can’t get genuinely excited about his work. Not only will he never be satisfied, but he will never achieve anything worthwhile. – Walter Chrysler

Happy garbage men. How are they generating excitement and satisfaction?

What does that mean?
This is an interesting quote, as it talks about excitement and satisfaction and how they relate to work. I don’t know if any of you had thought about it in this manner before, because I hadn’t.

The quote starts by feeling sorry for someone who isn’t (or cannot become) excited about their work. Any job can become tedious or boring if one is not careful. While some jobs are custom built to be tedious, the tedium can strike any job if one is not careful about their attitude towards it.

The quote goes on to say why they think that way. It says the unexcited person won’t be satisfied with their work, which kind of goes without saying, doesn’t it? If you’ve had more than two or three jobs, you’ve almost certainly been there already. Some of us got it in our very first job. Lucky us!

The other part is a bit more projective, but follows logically, I believe. If you start from a person who isn’t excited about what they do, and further push it until they are no longer satisfied, how likely are they to get to the point where they achieve anything worthwhile at work? That, of course, presumes that they will stay in a “dead end” job forever, right?

Why is excitement important?  Continue reading →

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Hooray! Today marks my 400th post!

Posted on 1 April 2012 by philosiblog

Today’s post is #400 (this post should be #401). Thanks for reading, and I hope to get some feedback from you soon. Thanks!

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All good qualities must be sown and cultivated. We can’t expect to change overnight from an ordinary person into one with high realizations.

Posted on 1 April 2012 by philosiblog

All good qualities must be sown and cultivated. We can’t expect to change overnight from an ordinary person into one with high realizations. – Dalai Lama

What of your good qualities are you going to cultivate? What will you need to do to nurture them, and protect them from weeds and predators?

What does that mean?
It means nothing in life is easy. If you want something, you have to work for it. Yes, things come easier to some than others, but the harder you have to work for it, the more real it is, and greater the impact will be, both on you and on those you touch.

This quote deals specifically with the ‘good qualities’ of a person, their character, if you will. Just as you must plant seeds and then tend to them (cultivation), you must do the same for character. You determine what you wish to improve, plant the seed and cultivate it. Eventually, if you keep up with the cultivation, you will harvest what you have planted.

Why is cultivation important?  Continue reading →

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He who wishes to be obeyed must know how to command.

Posted on 31 March 2012 by philosiblog

He who wishes to be obeyed must know how to command. – Niccolò Machiavelli

General Douglas MacArthur (and staff), asking the Marines to wade ashore "pretty please" Not really. What is leadership mean to you?

What does that mean?
This one got a chuckle out of me, as I have been on both sides of this quote. If you are expecting someone to be a leader, and they don’t know how to lead, it’s really hard to follow them. Not because of any lack of respect (although that comes soon enough, and complicates things), but because there isn’t any lead to follow.

Similarly, if you are in a position of leadership, but don’t know how to lead, your people will have trouble following your (lack of) lead. Discipline, camaraderie, and common experiences help, but you still need to know how to give a command. You know General MacArthur didn’t ask the Marines to “storm the beach, pretty please,” right?

Why is leadership important?  Continue reading →

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Dream. Let nothing dim the light that shines within you.

Posted on 30 March 2012 by philosiblog

Dream. Let nothing dim the light that shines within you. – Maya Angelou

Did you dream of being Superman so you could fly, catch bad guys, be bullet proof, or to wear your underwear on the outside?

What does that mean?
To me, this quote says that we all have an inner light, a dream, within us. This is something important for each of us to know, nurture, and empower. What is a dream, if not a heartfelt desire to achieve an outcome? We all have dreams, but how many still shine bright, and how many have become dim?

This quote urges us to keep the light bright, and to never forget what we desire to accomplish. It urges us to stay focused on our dreams and hold them closely no matter what. Life, people, conditions and circumstances will conspire to dim that light over time. But if we can stay focused and maintain our dream, the light will shine brightly. Both within you, and for all the world to see.

Why is having a dream important?  Continue reading →

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Everybody wants to do something to help, but nobody wants to be first.

Posted on 29 March 2012 by philosiblog

Everybody wants to do something to help, but nobody wants to be first. – Pearl Bailey

First Aid Training. What do you know, what can you do?

What does that mean?
How often have you seen it in movies, someone is on the ground and a crowd of people surround them. Yet everyone hesitates. No one approaches, they all just look. Who will be the first to step into the circle and approach the person on the ground?

The same is true in real life. Yes, you’ll find fewer dramatic pauses in real life than in the movies, but a lot of what happens still happens because no one wants to be the first to step in and do something about the situation (whatever the situation might be).

There have been all kinds of beatings of and by children on the internet. Most everyone involved later mentions regrets, and also mentions fear of being the first to do something to stop it. In my mind, this is the darkest place we can end up, if we fail to heed the wisdom of the quote.

Please note that this quote covers a wide range, anything from physical violence to medical needs, as well as all forms of social injustice. Where would we be if Rosa Parks had been unwilling to be the first?

Why is helping important?  Continue reading →

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Happiness always looks small while you hold it in your hands, but let it go, and you learn at once how big and precious it is.

Posted on 28 March 2012 by philosiblog

Happiness always looks small while you hold it in your hands, but let it go, and you learn at once how big and precious it is. – Maxim Gorky

"Don't it always seem to go, that you don't know what you've got 'till it's gone." And butterflies fly away so easily.

What does that mean?
If you’ve ever been to a wedding and seen the father of the bride cry, you know what this quote means means. For the rest of you, it may be a bit tougher to understand. Perhaps you had a pet you loved, which has died. Perhaps you have a favorite Aunt, Uncle, or Grandparent who has died.

You might not have really spent a lot of time with them or thinking about them while they were arround. But once they were gone, you realized what had slipped through your fingers, and how big and precious they were to you. Does that make a little more sense?

Another example might be the recent death and the surge in record and video sales for Whitney Houston. Her voice was magnificent. But we forgot about her, while she was here. She fell on hard times, and she seemed smaller. Then, when she was gone, we realized how big and precious she was. And the same goes for everyone else who died, every day, every month, of every year.

Why is being in the moment important?  Continue reading →

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Be kind, for everyone you meet is fighting a hard battle.

Posted on 27 March 2012 by philosiblog

Be kind, for everyone you meet is fighting a hard battle. – John Watson (aka Ian MacLaren)

A smile. A kindness. A burden lightened. Do your part.

What does that mean?
This is often misattributed to Plato and Philo, but is far more recent than that. It was also originally worded slightly differently, but this is good in modern English. See the ‘confirmed’ link below for more details on this quote’s history.

This quote makes more sense on a Monday afternoon, when everyone is on the way out of the building, headed home after the dreaded first day back at work (for those who work a traditional schedule). How does everyone look? There may be some who are excited about what they are doing after work, but most are just thrilled the day is over.

They’ve had a rough day, and fought a hard battle (or two), and are glad to be headed home. Is that the proper time to give someone a hard time, or should you have pity on them, and be kind? There is plenty of time later in the week to harass them about how well their team did over the weekend, right?

Why is being kind important?  Continue reading →

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Freedom lies in being bold.

Posted on 26 March 2012 by philosiblog

Freedom lies in being bold. – Robert Frost

Get up, dust yourself off, and get back on, or you will forever be timid of horses. Without your boldness around the horse, you will have lost the freedom to ride.

What does that mean?
Let’s start by looking at the opposite. As opposite of free that I can think of is being a prisoner. By definition they have no freedom. How bold are they? Other than the occasional ‘bold and daring escape attempt,’ bold is usually only seen in the past tense.

Now, consider the opposite of bold. Timid seems one of the better matches, and the timid are rarely very free. The timid are held in check by those who are less timid. They are ordered around, and obey out of fear. That doesn’t sound very free does it?

So we’ve seen how lacking one, the other is rarely seen. Now consider the possibility of both. When one is free, one has the choice of being bold. By being bold, one may maintain their freedom despite the attempts of others to apply restrictions. Thus, each of the two support and reinforce the other. At least that’s how it seems to me.

Why is boldness important?  Continue reading →

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Actions driven solely by anger are of no use at all; realizing this can help strengthen your determination to resist it.

Posted on 25 March 2012 by philosiblog

Actions driven solely by anger are of no use at all; realizing this can help strengthen your determination to resist it. – Dalai Lama

“You called me a what? HaHaHa! Oh, HaHaHa!” Wouldn’t that be a great reaction?

What does that mean?
Does anger really accomplish anything? Some might say that it is useful for motivation, but there are few other things of which I can think that it can do for a person. Take a moment and consider if passion, not anger is truly the motivator, and that anger is simply an emotional outlet, contributing nothing significant to the result?

The quote says that blind anger, the use of anger with no tempering emotions or attitudes, is of no use at all. I agree, and would caution that anger, used blindly, puts whatever action it has spurred you to try in grave jeopardy. When you realize the futility of anger as the sole driving force behind action, it becomes much easier to set it aside and use other emotions to move you to action.

Why is avoiding blind anger important?  Continue reading →

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