A ship is safe in harbour, but that’s not what ships are for.

Posted on 28 September 2011 by philosiblog

A ship is safe in harbour, but that’s not what ships are for. – Grace Hopper (Rear Admiral, USN) – Also seen as attributed to William Shedd.

This ship lives for the surf, not for the harbor.

What does that mean?
Well, this one is fairly self explanatory. A ship may be safe in a harbor, but if you wanted something safe, you would have built a fortress, not a ship. A ship, by nature of being lighter than water, is vulnerable to the wind and waves, the rocks and reefs and enemy action. But unlike a fortress, it can move wherever the wind and waves (and crew) choose to go.

A ship exists to ply the seas, to split the waves, to brave the weather and go to distant ports. Whether to trade goods, impress the locals, or bring the wrath of a nation, ships exist to go places. In a harbor they are almost useless. Out of harbor, they are at risk.

Why is a balance between safety and risk important?  Continue reading →

Posted in caution, effort, fear, preparation, risk, struggle | Tagged , , , , | 1 Comment

When it is obvious that the goals cannot be reached, don’t adjust the goals, adjust the action steps.

Posted on 27 September 2011 by philosiblog

When it is obvious that the goals cannot be reached, don’t adjust the goals, adjust the action steps. – Confucius

So, I heard you are headed to the other side of the mountain. Have you considered going around it instead of over it?

What does that mean?
To me, this says when the going gets tough, don’t give up. The toughness is a clue that you need to adjust your approach. This is important, as many people will bail out when it gets tough. Like the kid pushing on the door that says “Pull”, all you need is a better strategy.

The quote implies that you should stop, look around and try to figure out why things are going so slowly or so poorly. You should then evaluate the situation and try to come up with a better plan. Then, get back to working towards your goal. Take action and continue to work towards your goal.

Why is consistency important?  Continue reading →

Posted in accomplishment, action, adaptation, goals, obstacles, strategy | Tagged , , , , | 2 Comments

You only live once, but if you do it right, once is enough.

Posted on 26 September 2011 by philosiblog

You only live once, but if you do it right, once is enough. – Mae West

She is one of the original Naughty Girls of Hollywood.

What does that mean?
As the naughty vixen of the early talkies (movies with sound), she used this line as a calling card for her sensual side. However, this is a valid quote absent the innuendo. We do only live once, as far as our present consciousness knows. And the quote claims this is enough.

The trick, according to the quote, is to “do it right”. Mae implied that if you were naughty enough, you could experience it all in one lifetime. I would argue that you can lead a fulfilling life (as you define it) and do it all, if you are active and live your life.

Why is living your life important?  Continue reading →

Posted in accomplishment, doing, effort, potential, procrastination, self knowledge | Tagged , , , , | 1 Comment

Today, when we face problems or disagreements, we have to arrive at solutions through dialogue.

Posted on 25 September 2011 by philosiblog

Today, when we face problems or disagreements, we have to arrive at solutions through dialogue. – Dalai Lama

Nuclear Weapons Negotiations. A good place for dialog.

What does that mean?
This is a variation of “violence begets more violence” but is stated from the opposite direction. He is calling for dialogue, or discussion, as the peaceful path to the resolution of our differences. I presume that dialog will also be proper tomorrow. 8)

By using words instead of bullets and bombs, we can still disagree, but hopefully end up with fewer casualties. Also, if we listen as well as talk, we can learn what is important to the other side. We can also work on solidifying the common ground, and try to move closer together in the areas of contention.

Why is dialog important?  Continue reading →

Posted in anger, calm, cooperation, deception, desire, motivation, peace, question | Tagged , , , , , , | 2 Comments

A large part of mankind is angry not with the sins, but with the sinners.

Posted on 24 September 2011 by philosiblog

A large part of mankind is angry not with the sins, but with the sinners. – Seneca

There are those who consider this a sin, and are angry with you.

What does that mean?
To me, this speaks of the envy and bitterness that is part of the lives of so many people. They aren’t so mad that you are doing something prohibited by law or societal values, they are mad about you doing something they aren’t comfortable doing.

Stated another way, they are mad that you are having fun and they aren’t. This can show up in the form of jealousy, anger, or even violence. I imagine that you have seen it on both sides of many issues, one side telling the other to relax their standards and values, the other side saying back that they are too uptight.

Why are legal and moral standards important?  Continue reading →

Posted in anger, common sense, courage, education, governance, opposition, setting an example | Tagged , , , | 2 Comments

Ordinary riches can be stolen; real riches cannot. In your soul are infinitely precious things that cannot be taken from you.

Posted on 23 September 2011 by philosiblog

Ordinary riches can be stolen; real riches cannot. In your soul are infinitely precious things that cannot be taken from you. – Oscar Wilde

These are the ordinary riches which can be stolen... and look, it would appear that they have been!

What does that mean?
Ordinary riches are the things we buy, keep, hoard, hide and treasure. Those can be protected, but they can still be stolen. The riches of your soul, of who you are and what you stand for, those cannot be stolen, and are far more precious than the ordinary trinkets of every day life.

They cannot steal your love of your fellow man, your compassion, your dignity or your best self. Those, the greatest riches you possess, cannot be stolen by others, but can only be abandoned by you.

Why are inner riches important?  Continue reading →

Posted in habits, leadership, optimism, passion, tolerance, virtue | Tagged , , , , | 2 Comments

If you hear a voice within you say “you cannot paint,” then by all means paint, and that voice will be silenced.

Posted on 22 September 2011 by philosiblog

If you hear a voice within you say “you cannot paint,” then by all means paint, and that voice will be silenced. – Vincent Van Gogh

A beautiful example of a forward 3/4 flip... Perhaps there's room to finish it, perhaps not... Try and try again.

What does that mean?
This is similar to yesterday’s post, which dealt with fear. Here, we are talking about overcoming doubt. This post, by a troubled and misunderstood artist, challenges you to prove the doubter within you wrong. The only way to shut up a doubter, internal or external, is to do it.

While you may not be the next Van Gogh, many would say that Picasso wasn’t either. Yet both made art, and both have a loyal following. What you do may not be the finest work ever seen, but you will have started, and the doubter should be quiet for a while. Keep after it and improve, and the doubter will be silenced for good.

Why is action important?  Continue reading →

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Do the thing you fear most and the death of fear is certain.

Posted on 21 September 2011 by philosiblog

Do the thing you fear most and the death of fear is certain. – Mark Twain

"Snakes. Why'd it have to be snakes?" Indiana Jones from the movie "Raiders of the Lost Ark"

What does that mean?
This quote is admonishing us to face our fears. And not just face them, but to do the very thing we fear. With that action, fear dies, it dissolves because it is just an illusion in our mind. Once you have faced your fear, and found the fear unfounded, how can you fear it again?

Here we are talking about ordinary fears, not true phobias. Those should be handled in conjunction with professional help. But the ordinary fears we have as humans, they are to be catalogued, analyzed, and demolished by doing the thing you fear. It’s empowering, to say the least.

Why is overcoming fear important?  Continue reading →

Posted in action, attitude, common sense, discovery, fear, motivation | Tagged , , , , | 2 Comments

Copy from one, it’s plagiarism; copy from two, it’s research.

Posted on 20 September 2011 by philosiblog

Copy from one, it’s plagiarism; copy from two, it’s research. ~ Wilson Mizner

She's so glad to be a grad. A lot of work goes into a degree.

What does that mean?
Also quoted as “If you steal from one author, it’s plagiarism; if you steal from many, it’s research.” and sometimes attributed to John Burke. And with the right accent, it almost sounds Russian…

This is the age old challenge to the student at school. To properly do a paper, you need to read and understand the ideas of others. The trick is to then show your comprehension and mastery of the topic by re-synthesizing the work, and describing it in your own words.

When you only select one source to read, you don’t usually get much in the way of additional ideas. And with only one viewpoint, it’s hard to do anything besides repeat what the original author said. With two or more, you can find many places where the works either compliment or contrast each other, allowing you ample room to make statements that are not simply cut-n-paste jobs.

Why is research important?  Continue reading →

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Argue for your limitations, and sure enough they’re yours.

Posted on 19 September 2011 by philosiblog

Argue for your limitations, and sure enough they’re yours. – Richard Bach

"I’m a seagull. I like to fly..."

What does that mean?
Put another way, if you argue for your limitations, who will argue against you and against your limitations? Unless you have a full-time side-kick, probably nobody. So whatever you say you can’t do, you won’t likely ever try, as you are already defeated in your mind.

That means if you argue for your limitations (the things you cannot do), you will be stuck with them. Contained within this quote is the opposite, if you argue for your abilities, sure enough they will be yours. Does that make sense? Just realize that simply saying something that is untrue will not make it so.

Why are limitations important?  Continue reading →

Posted in advice, attitude, belief, choice, decision, limits | Tagged , , , , | 9 Comments

Everyone can understand from natural experience and common sense that affection is crucial from the day of birth; it is the basis of life.

Posted on 18 September 2011 by philosiblog

Everyone can understand from natural experience and common sense that affection is crucial from the day of birth; it is the basis of life. – Dalai Lama

Affection - any wonder why people love their dogs?

What does that mean?
This one seems straight forward enough. He says that affection, the showing of love and compassion, is crucial from the day of our birth. He also says that affection is the basis of life. I would add that it is part of what sustains us in life, part of what makes life worth living.

There are scientific studies that emphasize this point, stating that a lack of affection can be enough to cause a baby to “fail to thrive” or simply give up on life and die. A similar phenomenon is sometimes seen in older or terminal patients as well. That seems to point to affection being an important part of our life, at least it does to me.

Why is affection important?  Continue reading →

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A happy life is one which is in accordance with its own nature.

Posted on 17 September 2011 by philosiblog

A happy life is one which is in accordance with its own nature. – Seneca

Does this look like a happy person, one who knows themselves well and is living their life in accordance with their own nature?

What does that mean?
To me, that sounds a little clunky. I presume it has to do with how Latin references work, and how they are translated then into English. I would like to restate it in a more personal form:

“You will live a happy life if you live your life in accordance with your own nature.”

Hopefully that clears things up a little. At least, I think that it does.

The only question left is what does “your own nature” mean? To me, it is the understanding of who we are and what we stand for. Then, to understand that, we are going into the realm of self-knowledge.

Why is self-knowledge important?  Continue reading →

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Arrogance is all about trying to prove yourself. Confidence is about improving yourself.

Posted on 16 September 2011 by philosiblog

Arrogance is all about trying to prove yourself. Confidence is about improving yourself. – Sean Stephenson

No 'i' in team? They're not a team, they are my supporting cast.

What does that mean?
Well, it’s kind of self explanatory, isn’t it? If you have something to prove, then it’s all about you, and you are being arrogant. If you are trying to improve yourself, then it’s not about you, but about learning, improving and you are therefore becoming more confident.

You’ve seen it on TV and the movies, and possibly even in real life. Two people on the same “team,” but one is all about themselves and proving themselves (and arrogant as all get-out), and the other is all about improving themselves and the team (and fairly confident, although sometimes not). That’s the difference in the approach to life that this quote is describing.

Why is humility important?  Continue reading →

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It is wise to keep in mind that neither success nor failure is ever final.

Posted on 15 September 2011 by philosiblog

It is wise to keep in mind that neither success nor failure is ever final. – Roger Babson

The Cub Fan mantra: "Wait until next year!"

What does that mean?
To me, this is a core belief. I believe neither is final. If you try to do something and fail, you can always make an adjustment and try again, and again and again. Eventually, you will find a combination that works. Just ask Thomas Edison.

If you succeed, that’s not the end of it. If you succeed in wooing the girl of your dreams, what then? Yes, you succeeded, but now begins the next chapter. How do you move forward? As always, through a mixture of failures and successes.

In business, no failure is ever final, even bankruptcy can be a new beginning, another change. Similarly, no success is ever final, as new competitors will arrive and challenge you, or try to steal your customers.

The only time I can think of failure as being final is if the failure involves you dying. Fatality is (so far as I know) pretty final, at least for that individual. But for the friends and family, life continues on.

Why is attitude important?  Continue reading →

Posted in attitude, doing, emotion, failure, success, work | Tagged , , , , | 3 Comments

A heart that loves is always young.

Posted on 14 September 2011 by philosiblog

A heart that loves is always young. – Greek Proverb

Love, it will keep their hearts young.

What does that mean?
Can you remember the euphoria of the early stages of love? I believe this is what is being described in this quote. Your strength, vigor, energy and enthusiasm all seem to spike, as does you mood. At least that’s how it went for me. If you can revive that feeling later in life, as I have, it seems to be the same, and you feel at least a decade younger, perhaps more.

I would also presume that this could apply not just to the love of a person, but to the love of a cause as well. I expect that anything that brings out great passion in you would also bring a similar surge of enthusiasm. Have you ever talked to an old person about their grand kids? Their eyes light up, and their energy surges, right? Need I say more?

Why is passion important?  Continue reading →

Posted in emotion, focus, love, motivation, passion, work | Tagged , , , , | 2 Comments