A thing is not necessarily true because badly uttered, nor false because spoken magnificently. – Saint Augustine What does that mean? Think about that, about how those who lie easily and smoothly use their ability to speak to deceive us. They have spoken magnificently, yet they have spoken falsely. However, that is one of our natural…
It is a mistake to try to look too far ahead. The chain of destiny can only be grasped one link at a time. – Winston Churchill What does that mean? I have also seen this quote written as “It is a mistake to look too far ahead. Only one link of the chain of…
Even more important than the warmth and affection we receive, is the warmth and affection we give. – Dalai Lama What does that mean? In this season we are reminded how much better it is to give than to receive. While the little kids focus on what they get, the rest of us focus on what we…
There is no surer sign of decay in a country than to see the rites of religion held in contempt. – Niccolò Machiavelli What does that mean? Without going deep into the history of the Italian Renaissance City State era, the quote was a useful tool for the Princes of the era. It helped them spot the…
The quality of your life is in direct proportion to the amount of uncertainty that you can comfortably live with. – Tony Robbins and here What does that mean? I think that this is an interesting quote. It links the quality of your life to the amount of uncertainty you can handle. I understand that if you have…
Every saint has a past and every sinner has a future. – Oscar Wilde What does that mean? This quote states that everyone who has been declared a Saint was, at one time, something less than saintly. This is a word of encouragement, that every person who has been made a saint was once a normal…
The problem with the world is that we draw our family circle too small. – Mother Teresa What does that mean? To me, the quote is telling us that we treat people in different manners depending on the label we have given to them. Typically immediate family has highest priority, then come more distant relations…
When you have to make a choice and don’t make it, that is in itself a choice. – William James What does that mean? To quote the rock band Rush, “If you choose not to decide, you still have made a choice.” I believe that this is what the quote boils down to. For those…
The things you do for yourself are gone when you are gone, but the things you do for others remain as your legacy. – Kalu Kalu (unable to find Bio info – anyone?) What does that mean? This quote talks about motivation. If your motivation directed inward, to do things for your own benefit, they…
The true hero is one who conquers his own anger and hatred. – Dalai Lama What does that mean? This quote lauds those who can conquer their inner demons of anger and hatred. In doing so, the quote says that it is both a rare accomplishment and a worthy goal. The term hero is often overused in…
Make mistakes of ambition and not mistakes of sloth. Develop the strength to do bold things, not the strength to suffer. – Niccolò Machiavelli What does that mean? This is a twitter-friendly excerpt from a larger quote: “All courses of action are risky, so prudence is not in avoiding danger, but calculating risk and acting decisively. Make mistakes…
If there’s no action, you haven’t truly decided. – Tony Robbins and here What does that mean? This is a Twitter-Friendly version of “Remember, a real decision is measured by the fact that you’ve taken new action. If there’s no action, you haven’t truly decided.” This quote is about hesitation, reluctance to commit and the trouble you can get…
If thy brother wrongs thee, remember not so much his wrong-doing, but more than ever that he is thy brother. – Epictetus What does that mean? This is an old translation which I’d like to make sound a little more modern: “If your friend wrongs you, don’t focus on their wrong-doing, instead focus on the…
None are more taken in by flattery than the proud, who wish to be the first and are not. – Baruch Spinoza What does that mean? This quote talks about flattery and why it works better on some people than on others. Those most easily influenced by flattery, the quote says, are the proud. Their pride really…
It is not enough to be busy. So are the ants. The question is: What are we busy about? – Henry David Thoreau What does that mean? This quote is straight to the point. It says that being busy isn’t enough. Even ants are busy. How many people do you know who are always busy?…
