We all like to be around kind people; their peaceful, relaxed nature puts us at ease

Posted on 27 November 2011 by philosiblog

We all like to be around kind people; their peaceful, relaxed nature puts us at ease. – Dalai Lama

What does that mean?
This quote talks about how kindness can impact others. Kindness can be shown in many ways, from saying hello to holding a door open to giving a complement to a stranger or helping someone across the street. But the quote is about more than just the act of kindness. It is about how nice it is to be around kind people.

In the case of this quote, it is about how a kind person can provide others with a pleasant, easy feeling. People who are habitually kind tend to be relaxed in nature, and peaceful as well. When you put all three (kindness, relaxed and peaceful) together, there is a kind of calm that can be very soothing.

Why is kindness important?  Continue reading →

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We cannot attribute to fortune or virtue that which is achieved without either

Posted on 26 November 2011 by philosiblog

We cannot attribute to fortune or virtue that which is achieved without either.– Niccolò Machiavelli

"Everybody tells me that I'm a great cook! Do you want to try my birdseed pizza? It's my personal specialty!" (No, not really. It's a picture of a sesame cracker.)

What does that mean?
The quote is saying that if you have had a stroke of luck, and ended up in an advantageous position, it’s fair to credit (good) fortune for your success. If you ended up in an advantageous position because of your virtues (hard work, honesty, etc), then it is fair to credit virtue for your success.

What the quote cautions you against is misattribution of your success to one of these reasons when neither is the case. The trouble with doing this is that you may end up believing the lie. If you believe you are achieving success due to your brilliance and hard work when you are not, that is not going to end well, is it?

Why is being honest with yourself important?  Continue reading →

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I never admire another’s fortune so much that I became dissatisfied with my own

Posted on 25 November 2011 by philosiblog

I never admire another’s fortune so much that I became dissatisfied with my own. – Cicero

The Bugatti Veyron GS - It's a nice car, I'd love to have one, but can you get a sheet of plywood home in it?

What does that mean?
This quote says that you can admire the fortune (the possessions) of someone else. It is understood that humans do that. It’s OK to window shop, to admire or like the shiny things in someone else’s nest.

It goes on to state that you shouldn’t get so wrapped up with what they have that you forget the value of what you have. You have what you have, and you shouldn’t obsess with what others have.

To me, this quote says that keeping up with the Joneses has been shunned by wise men for many centuries. Don’t be envious, greedy, jealous or bitter. It only leads to discontent, disappointment, or worse.

Why is being content important?  Continue reading →

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I would maintain that thanks are the highest form of thought, and that gratitude is happiness doubled by wonder

Posted on 24 November 2011 by philosiblog

I would maintain that thanks are the highest form of thought, and that gratitude is happiness doubled by wonder – Gilbert K. Chesterton

The calm before the storm. What are you thankful for, grateful for?

What does that mean?
This quote is about thanks and the giving of thanks. The quote states that thanks (the mindset of giving thanks) is the highest form of thought. Think about how you feel when you are truly thankful, and see if you agree with the quote. I know that I do.

The second part of the quote says that gratitude is happiness doubled by wonder. Think about happiness and how you feel when you are happy. Add in some wonder (as in wonderful or a wonder of the world) and see how close you are feel to gratitude. For me, it’s a pretty close match.

Why are gratitude and thankfulness important?  Continue reading →

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Tough times never last, but tough people do

Posted on 23 November 2011 by philosiblog

Tough times never last, but tough people do. – Dr. Robert Schuller

Tough times? Persevere, they won't last forever.

What does that mean?
Given the current economic situation, this seemed an interesting quote to tackle. It reminds us that the tough times come and go. Even if things seem bleak today, in a few years it will likely be very different. The quote then says that tough people do last. It implies that the people who can weather the tough times are sufficiently tough to handle just about anything.

Together, the two parts of the quote reminds us that while the difficulties are transient, people are durable. By durable I mean that tough people can persevere, that you can persevere, through anything that you might have to face.

Why is perseverance important?  Continue reading →

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However beautiful the strategy, you should occasionally look at the results

Posted on 22 November 2011 by philosiblog

However beautiful the strategy, you should occasionally look at the results. – Winston Churchill

I can imagine this quote being about the meticulous & detailed planner from WW2, Field Marshal Bernard "Monty" Montgomery, whom Churchill once said was "Indomitable in retreat, invincible in advance, insufferable in victory."

What does that mean?
It means that you need to check your results regularly! Even the best laid plans, with all probable contingencies accounted for, can go pear-shaped in the blink of an eye. In fact, it’s been that way for so long, there’s a poem from 1786 that says that the best laid plans of mice and men often go awry (wrong).

The quote simply implores us to check the results we are getting in the real world, not just assume the results will be according to the textbook. There are always unexpected factors, and everyone’s favorite, the unintended consequence. To quote an old Russian proverb, “Trust, but verify.” Trust your plan will work, but check on it, just to be sure.

Why is feedback important?  Continue reading →

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It is easy to be proud and harsh and selfish – so easy. But we have been created for better things

Posted on 21 November 2011 by philosiblog

It is easy to be proud and harsh and selfish – so easy. But we have been created for better things. – Mother Teresa

What does that mean?
To me, this quote starts out with a very prudent warning. It says to be careful of how easy it is to be proud, harsh and selfish. These are easy choices, if we are not prepared and are not careful in our choices. When things go well, it’s easy to say you did it, or at least helped to do it. When things don’t go well, it’s easy to snap at others and pass the blame. When things generate benefits, it’s easy to grab the lion’s share.

The second half of the quote reminds us that we are here to do better things than that. We are here, not to take the harder path simply because it is harder, but because it is the right path. Being humble isn’t easy, nor is being kind, or generous. But because these choices benefit humanity the most, because it makes life easier for others, it is the proper thing to do, and what we should aspire to do every day.

Why is living up to our better selves important?  Continue reading →

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The nature of our motivation determines the character of our work

Posted on 20 November 2011 by philosiblog

The nature of our motivation determines the character of our work. – Dalai Lama

We all start with a blank canvas. What we choose to do with it and what our motivations are, will show in the final product.

What does that mean?
This quote warns us to be mindful of what we do, and what our motivation is when we do it. If we are doing something for the purpose of revenge, hate or anger, the result will not be beneficial to humanity, nor to ourselves. If we do something with compassion, love and beauty in our hearts, the result, no matter how small, will be of benefit to humanity and ourselves.

This quote is speaking the same basic thing we’ve heard hundreds of times in our lives (at least in mine) – If there is good (motivation) in your heart, you will succeed. If you have evil (motivation) in your heart, you will fail.

If you take a broad view of the quote, if you’re trying to do something to help, you will succeed in some manner, even if it is small. If you try to do something to harm, you will fail even if it appears you have succeeded. In this case, the failure is in not helping humanity and yourself, even if you succeed in your stated objective.

Why is a good heart important?  Continue reading →

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Men shrink less from offending one who inspires love than one who inspires fear

Posted on 19 November 2011 by philosiblog

Men shrink less from offending one who inspires love than one who inspires fear. – Niccolò Machiavelli

If you people can meet the next deadline, you can have chairs. Otherwise...

What does that mean?
This quote describes a lot of human interactions. When bad news arrives, it is usually told first to someone who does not inspire fear. When something that would be considered offensive to a ‘Prince’ (a person of authority, at home, at work or in society), there is a greater reluctance to tell such news to one who inspires fear than to one who inspires love.

If one looks at history, who would volunteer to tell Genghis Khan that he had a hygiene problem and should bathe more often? Anyone? On the other hand, would anyone fear for their life in delivering the same message to either President George Washington or Abe Lincoln?

Why is fear important?  Continue reading →

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A man cannot be comfortable without his own approval

Posted on 18 November 2011 by philosiblog

A man cannot be comfortable without his own approval. – Mark Twain

In my mind, I'm not comfortable, I feel awkward.

What does that mean?
This quote is talking about a basic function of our minds. We cannot be comfortable without our own mind being comfortable. We are what we think, and this quote is simply pointing this out. If we are uncomfortable in our own mind, we won’t ever find a way to become comfortable.

By extension, we can only be comfortable with the approval of our minds. If we are comfortable in our minds about something, we can truly be comfortable. This comfort, whether given from within ourselves or given by others, I would call approval.

Why is approval important?  Continue reading →

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To achieve great things, two things are needed: a plan, and not quite enough time

Posted on 17 November 2011 by philosiblog

To achieve great things, two things are needed: a plan, and not quite enough time. – Leonard Bernstein

A couple of those rockets could use a little more direction!

What does that mean?
The quote tells us that great things happen when you have a plan and almost enough time. In other words, a deadline. One that is close enough to put some pressure on you to have to really focus and work hard and efficiently to get it completed.

We won’t forget about the plan, because without a plan, what do you have? A deadline, a lot of frenetic energy, and stuff getting done haphazardly. That’s not going to make for great things, as the quote suggests, is it? So we need a plan and time pressure to make great things happen.

Why is time important?  Continue reading →

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Do you want to know who you are? Don’t ask. Act! Action will delineate and define you

Posted on 16 November 2011 by philosiblog

Do you want to know who you are? Don’t ask. Act! Action will delineate and define you. ― Thomas Jefferson

What does that mean?
Did you ever wonder what kind of person you are or wish to be? Did you ever wonder what you want to be when you grow up, or at least when you grow older? Have you thought about a career, done research, poured over the results, and pondered the decision? All that you are doing is thinking.

The quote urges you to stop wondering and go out and do something. The things you actually do will define who you are, and who you will become. It will delineate (to draw or make a sketch of) what you are and what you want to be. In other words, that shoe company stole it’s catch phrase from the 3rd President of the United States of America. Just do it? Yep!

Why is action important? Continue reading →

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The truth is incontrovertible; malice may attack it, ignorance may deride it, but in the end, there it is

Posted on 15 November 2011 by philosiblog

The truth is incontrovertible; malice may attack it, ignorance may deride it, but in the end, there it is. – Winston Churchill

Bernard Madoff - serving 150 years in jail for his lies.

What does that mean?
This quote says that the truth is a stubborn thing. It says that people won’t always appreciate the truth. It says that some will attack it with malice in their hearts and minds. It says that some will deride it because of their lack of understanding.

But still, the truth remains. There it is. Unwanted, unappreciated, unwelcome. But it just won’t go away. There is a shorter quote that says the same basic thing as this quote, but in a slightly different way: “Truth will out.” The Bard did have a way with words, didn’t he?

Why is honesty important? Continue reading →

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You cannot teach a man anything; you can only help him to find it within himself

Posted on 14 November 2011 by philosiblog

You cannot teach a man anything; you can only help him to find it within himself. – Galileo

Can you help light the way?

What does that mean?
It’s kind of like the Old West saying “You can lead a horse to water, but you can’t make it drink.” You can only go so far when attempting to help someone learn. You can only make the conditions right for them to discover what they already know to be true.

It is up to the learner to figure it out. It will only make sense when you have come to the conclusion by yourself. When you remember what Galileo was up against when he was trying to teach the Church about astronomy, and what revolves around what, the quote becomes crystal clear, doesn’t it?

Why is learning for yourself important?  Continue reading →

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If you use violence, you may get temporary satisfaction. But the nature of violence is unpredictable – it gives rise to unexpected results

Posted on 13 November 2011 by philosiblog

If you use violence, you may get temporary satisfaction. But the nature of violence is unpredictable – it gives rise to unexpected results. – Dalai Lama

"She's really mad at me! I'm not sure what I've done, but I know I'm going to pay for it!" To me, this is the face of emotional violence.

What does that mean?
To me, this is all about a short-term feel-good solution compared to the proper, well thought out and properly executed solution. Yes, it might feel good to pop that guy who was mouthing off, but then what? Does he have buddies? Did some one call the cops? What happens next?

That is the problem with most short-term feel-good solutions. There is always the question of what happens next. Are you ready to face felony charges of aggravated battery over one jerk mouthing off? Are you ready to find out how good your major medical coverage is, as you spend a few weeks in the hospital recuperating?

Why is patience important? Continue reading →

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