|
 |
 |
Ideas that fuel my thinking ...
 |
"There comes a time when one must take a position that is neither safe, nor politic, nor popular, but he must take it because conscience tells him it is right." —Martin Luther King Jr., A Testament of Hope: The Essential Writings and Speeches
"The first duty of a man is to think for himself" —José Martí
"A nation of sheep will beget a government of wolves." —Edward R. Murrow
"The Roots of Violence: Wealth without work, Pleasure without conscience, Knowledge without character, Commerce without morality, Science without humanity, Worship without sacrifice, Politics without principles." —Mahatma Gandhi, Young India, 22 October 1925
"A change is brought about because ordinary people do extraordinary things." —Barack Obama
"A day without sunshine is like, you know, night." —Steve Martin
"Be careful about reading health books. Or some fine day you may die of a misprint." —Markus Herz
"The statistics on sanity are that one out of every four people is suffering from a mental illness. Look at your 3 best friends. If they're ok, then it's you." —Rita Mae Brown
"I generally avoid temptation unless I can't resist it." —Mae West
"Time flies like an arrow; fruit flies like a banana." —Anthony G. Oettinger
"Knowing yourself is the beginning of all wisdom." —Aristotle
"Count your age by friends, not years. Count your life by smiles, not tears." —John Lennon
"Hold fast to dreams / For if dreams die / Life is a broken-winged bird / That cannot fly." —Langston Hughes
"May you live every day of your life." —Jonathan Swift
"It is the mark of an educated mind to be able to entertain a thought without accepting it." —Aristotle, Metaphysics
"Turn your wounds into wisdom." —Oprah Winfrey
"Let no man pull you so low as to hate him." —Martin Luther King Jr.
"Any fool can know. The point is to understand." —Albert Einstein
"I know not with what weapons World War III will be fought, but World War IV will be fought with sticks and stones." —Albert Einstein
"It is amazing how complete is the delusion that beauty is goodness." —Leo Tolstoy, The Kreutzer Sonata
"Knowing others is intelligence; knowing yourself is true wisdom. Mastering others is strength; mastering yourself is true power. If you realize that you have enough, you are truly rich." —Lao Tzu, Tao Te Ching
"We must be willing to let go of the life we planned so as to have the life that is waiting for us." —Joseph Campbell
"Sell your cleverness and buy bewilderment." —Rumi
"Don't waste your time with explanations: people only hear what they want to hear." —Paulo Coelho
"He who knows all the answers has not been asked all the questions." —Confucius
"Yesterday I was clever, so I wanted to change the world. Today I am wise, so I am changing myself." —Rumi
"Folks are usually about as happy as they make their minds up to be." —Abraham Lincoln
"Success is getting what you want, happiness is wanting what you get." —W.P. Kinsella
"The best way to cheer yourself is to try to cheer someone else up." —Mark Twain
"I must learn to be content with being happier than I deserve." —Jane Austen, Pride and Prejudice
|
|
|
|
 |
"Who has deceiv'd thee so oft as thy self?" from Poor Richard's Almanack
"What you would seem to be, be really." from Poor Richard's Almanack
"Wink at small faults—remember thou hast great ones." from Poor Richard's Almanack
"Industry, Perseverance, & Frugality, make Fortune yield." from Poor Richard's Almanack
"Content makes poor men rich; Discontent makes rich men poor." from Poor Richard's Almanack
"Hide not your Talents, they for Use were made: What's a Sun-Dial in the Shade?" from Poor Richard's Almanack
"What signifies knowing the Names, if you know not the Natures of Things?" from Poor Richard's Almanack
"Death takes no bribes." from Poor Richard's Almanack
"There are three Things extreamly hard: Steel, a Diamond and to know one's self." from Poor Richard's Almanack
"He that won't be counsell'd, can't be help'd." from Poor Richard's Almanack
"He that is of Opinion Money will do every Thing, may well be suspected of doing every Thing for Money." from Poor Richard's Almanack
"Buy what thou hast no need of, and e'er long thou shalt sell they necessaries." from Poor Richard's Almanack
"Many a Man thinks he is buying Pleasure, when he is really selling himself a Slave to it." from Poor Richard's Almanack
"The Wise and Brave dares own that he was wrong." from Poor Richard's Almanack
"The Proud hate Pride—in others." from Poor Richard's Almanack
"Blessed is he that expects nothing, for he shall never be disappointed." from Poor Richard's Almanack
"Neglect mending a small Fault, and 'twill soon be a great One." from Poor Richard's Almanack
"Knaves & Nettles are akin; stroak 'em kindly, yet they'll sting." from Poor Richard's Almanack
"There are no fools so troublesome as those that have wit." from Poor Richard's Almanack
|
|
|
|
The Four Agreements by don Miguel Ruiz, Amber-Allen Publishing, ©1997
From the notes on the cover, "don Miguel Ruiz reveals the source of self-limiting beliefs that rob us of joy and create needless suffering. Based on ancient Toltec wisdom, The Four Agreements offers a powerful code of conduct that can rapidly transform our lives to a new experience of freedom, true happiness, and love."
"In the tradition of Castaneda, Ruiz distills essential Toltec wisdom, expressing with clarity and impeccability what it means for men and women to live as peaceful warriors in the modern world." —Dan Millman, author of Way of the Peaceful Warrior
|
|
1st Agreement
Strive to be impeccable with your communication
When you speak be true to yourself by expressing what is true about your life experience. Speak of others in a manner that is respectful to them and to their own experience. Rather than speaking boastfully, give credit to those who help bring you success. Do not use language to obfuscate a falsehood, to obscure an unprincipled action, or to attempt to improve the appearance of an impropriety. Do not indulge in keeping others in the dark or putting others in their place. Keep your promises.
2nd Agreement
Do not take things personally.
We all feel picked on, insulted and singled out when others seem to make judgments about us. People who are emotionally healthy can say to themselves, "I’m not going to let it bother me." Taking things personally means allowing minor mistreatment and injustices to enter our psyche, occupy our thinking, and control our behavior. We should take note of what others say and do, taking corrective action when necessary, but it is important to hold any minor indiscretions on the part of others in perspective, realizing the insignificance of any little bruises, and not allow ill feelings to control our consciousness.
3rd Agreement
Do not make false assumptions.
Instead of jumping to a conclusion about another’s judgments, have the courage and the presence of mind to ask what the judgment is. Do not assume guilt solely on the basis of circumstantial evidence, or make generalizations on the basis of limited information. Do your research, check out source references, and seek out a more complete context before forming an opinion.
4th Agreement
Strive to do your best.
What you do often will have no impact or will go unnoticed. Nonetheless, you must practice perfection, knowing that what you do and say can have a positive impact on those around you, set a pattern for your future activities, and may lead to a greater life experience for you and for those you touch.
|
|
The Golden Rule Across Cultures
Brahmanism ... This is the sum of duty: Do naught unto others which would cause you pain if done to you. Mahabharata 5:1517 Buddhism ... Hurt not others in ways that you yourself would find hurtful. Udana Varga 5:18 Christianity ... So whatever you wish that men would do to you, do so to them; for this is the law and the prophets. Matthew 7:12 Confucianism ... Surely it is the maxim of loving-kindness: Do not unto others that you would not have them do unto you. Analects 15:23 Islam ... No one of you is a believer until he desires for his brother what which he desires for himself. Sunnah Judaism ... What is hateful to you, do not to your fellowmen. That is the entire Law; all the rest is commentary. Talmud, Shabbat 31:a Taoism ... Regard your neighbor's gain as your own gain, and your neighbor's loss as your own loss. T'ai Shag Kan Ying P'ien Zoroastrianism ... That nature only is good when it shall not do unto another whatever is not good for its own self. Avesta: Dadistan-i-dink 94:5
 |
—Gocha Sutra [ computer generated ]
|
|
|
|
|
|
|