The more we are concerned for the well-being of others, the closer we will feel to each other. – Dalai Lama What does that mean? He has many quotes about our relationship within the greater humanity, but this one is about our connection to our neighbor, our friend, and even our enemy. To me, this…
A kingdom founded on injustice never lasts. – Seneca What does that mean? This is also alternately translated in the following manner: “Unjust rule never abides continually.” This quote is an interesting observation of the basics of human nature. Humans are a resilient bunch, and we are often willing to put up with a great…
I now have 1200 posts! It has been a while, but I have finally reached 1200 posts. I never thought this would go on for so long, but here we are! While some are, like this post, devoid of meaningful content, that number is small, and I will have a full 1200 meaningful posts by…
Success is the ability to go from one failure to another with no loss of enthusiasm. – Winston Churchill What does that mean? We all have days when things refuse to go right for us. Sometimes we get mad, sometimes we get frustrated. But what happens next? If you can pull yourself together and try…
A meaningful life isn’t about acquiring money and other facilities; it’s about dedicating your life to helping others as much as you can. – Dalai Lama What does that mean? This quote is interesting to me because it discusses what makes life meaningful. We usually worry about happiness or success instead. The quote starts by…
For many men, the acquisition of wealth does not end their troubles, it only changes them. – Seneca What does that mean? This is a meta-quote, with Seneca quoting Epicurus : “The acquisition of riches has been for many men, not an end, but a change, of troubles.” In the quote, he is talking about…
To many, total abstinence is easier than perfect moderation. – Saint Augustine What does that mean? This is an interesting quote. Can you do just a little? Do you know what is the correct amount for you, and for the situation? Conversely, do you avoid the issue altogether and simply abstain? But is your will-power…
It is always helpful to remain honest and truthful in the face of difficulty. – Dalai Lama What does that mean? To me, this quote speaks of the challenge we face when the going gets tough. What will we do, and what should we do? That is even more important to answer when the answers…
I tend to have technical difficulties when I’m on vacation. I’ll have to figure out what is messed up when I get back. I hope to be back in the swing of things come Monday. See you then. In the mean time, here’s some vintage Seneca to view… Scroll down until you find one you…
Without courage, we cannot practice any other virtue with consistency. We can’t be kind, true, merciful, generous, or honest.” – Maya Angelou What does that mean? Courage is a powerful word. Whether it is one man standing against a line of tanks, or simply resisting your own personal temptation. Courage is a foundational virtue, without…
In addition to modern education, there is a need to learn how to achieve inner peace. – Dalai Lama What does that mean? There are not many people left in this world who would argue against a modern education for the children of the world. Yet as many people as there are who call out…
But [Injury] does not give Virtue; therefore she cannot take it away. – Seneca What does that mean? This quote is especially interesting in the translation. The longer excerpt (which I have included at the bottom of the post) doesn’t talk of injury having or giving virtue. Instead it says that virtue doesn’t give or…
States are as the men, they grow out of human characters. – Plato What does that mean? Consider your national identity. It might not be true for you, but at one point it was a sufficiently common trait to label a whole group. But the state, being a group of people, will reflect their common…
Pay more attention to compassion and you’ll find you’re happier. It’s that practical and simple. – Dalai Lama What does that mean? While I will acknowledge that some people are wired differently, this is the truth for the greater portion of humanity. Happiness, the emotion, has many sources, most of which are temporary at best….
To have whatever one wants is in no man’s power. But it is within one’s power to not want what one does not have. – Seneca What does that mean? This is an quote from a passage where the discussion is about waiting to eat something nice, but only having unappetizing bread. Specifically, in the…
