Tag Archives: @philo_quotes

The more sand has escaped from the hourglass of our life, the clearer we should see through it.

Posted on 4 February 2012 by philosiblog

The more sand has escaped from the hourglass of our life, the clearer we should see through it. – Niccolò Machiavelli What does that mean? This is a polite way of saying that old people rule! Seriously, it is a call to … Continue reading →

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Buying books would be a good thing if one could also buy the time to read them in

Posted on 12 January 2012 by philosiblog

Buying books would be a good thing if one could also buy the time to read them in. – Arthur Schopenhauer What does that mean? The Twitter version of this quote is interesting enough, but the full version of the … Continue reading →

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Life is really simple, but we insist on making it complicated

Posted on 10 January 2012 by philosiblog

Life is really simple, but we insist on making it complicated. – Confucius What does that mean? This quote hit me pretty hard, once I started thinking about it. What if it didn’t matter what kind of car you drove. What … Continue reading →

Posted in calm, contemplation, happiness, improve, refresh, relaxation, simplicity | Tagged , , , , | 3 Comments

It is double pleasure to deceive the deceiver.

Posted on 7 January 2012 by philosiblog

It is double pleasure to deceive the deceiver.  – Niccolò Machiavelli What does that mean? This quote is a little petty, but there is a certain satisfaction in putting something over on someone who regularly tries to deceive others. Successfully lying to … Continue reading →

Posted in conscience, contribution, giving, obstacles, pride, setting an example | Tagged , , , , | 2 Comments

Fear is not a lasting teacher of duty

Posted on 3 January 2012 by philosiblog

Fear is not a lasting teacher of duty. – Cicero What does that mean? This quote is about fear, and duty. Fear is a powerful motivator, but a brief one. Once the danger or threat is gone, so is the … Continue reading →

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To know what people really think, pay regard to what they do, rather than what they say

Posted on 28 December 2011 by philosiblog

To know what people really think, pay regard to what they do, rather than what they say. – Descartes What does that mean? This quote reminds us that people will say things that they think you want to hear, or … Continue reading →

Posted in action, common sense, integrity, observation, setting an example, thinking | Tagged , , , , | 1 Comment

A thing is not necessarily true because badly uttered, nor false because spoken magnificently

Posted on 27 December 2011 by philosiblog

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 … Continue reading →

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When you have to make a choice and don’t make it, that is in itself a choice

Posted on 20 December 2011 by philosiblog

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 … Continue reading →

Posted in choice, decision, freedom, intelligence, question, thinking | Tagged , , , , | 3 Comments

If thy brother wrongs thee, remember not so much his wrong-doing, but more than ever that he is thy brother

Posted on 15 December 2011 by philosiblog

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 … Continue reading →

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None are more taken in by flattery than the proud, who wish to be the first and are not

Posted on 14 December 2011 by philosiblog

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. … Continue reading →

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There is something in humility which strangely exalts the heart

Posted on 1 December 2011 by philosiblog

There is something in humility which strangely exalts the heart. – Saint Augustine What does that mean? Humility, or the act of being humble, is about being modest, and is the antithesis of arrogance and pride. Acting in a humble manner … Continue reading →

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Reject your sense of injury and the injury itself disappears

Posted on 30 November 2011 by philosiblog

Reject your sense of injury and the injury itself disappears. – Marcus Aurelius What does that mean? This quote is classic Stoic (as one might expect). It urges us to reject your sense of injury. This, in turn, causes the injury … Continue reading →

Posted in contentment, forgiveness, happiness, peace, relaxation, tolerance | Tagged , , , , | 7 Comments

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 What does that mean? This quote says that you can admire the fortune (the possessions) of someone else. It is understood that humans do … Continue reading →

Posted in desire, happiness, money, self-image, thankful, understanding | Tagged , , , , | 2 Comments

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 What does that mean? This quote describes a lot of human interactions. When bad news arrives, it is usually told first to someone who … Continue reading →

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Politics have no relation to morals

Posted on 5 November 2011 by philosiblog

Politics have no relation to morals. – Niccolò Machiavelli What does that mean? Having grown up in the greater Chicago-land area, this quote really makes sense to me. Morals are about doing what is right for the right reasons. The definition … Continue reading →

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