Owner: Thoughts On Quotes URL:http://thoughtsonquotes.com Join Date: Thu, 04 Oct 2007 21:44:02 -0500 Rating:0 Site Description: Creative thoughts, famous quotes. Includes pictures and videos of authors. Books and other media. Commentary has leadership and personal growth and development messages. Quotes resource. Presidents, celebrities, authors, scientists, social leaders an Site statistics:Click here
Give Back to the World 2007-10-04 09:16:00 "It is every man's obligation to put back into the world at least the equivalent of what he takes out of it." -Albert Einstein, German Theoretical Physicist, Albert Einstein books//
We get a lot, and some take too much. Few give back more than they get - even fewer the equivalent of what they take. There is a mentality of entitlement the has spread throughout the world, and it's selfish appetite is nearly insatiable. Most people are polite, courteous and civil when it serves their self-interest, but not many are truly selfless. When is the last time you did something for another person without expecting anything in return? What difference are you making in the lives of those around you? In...
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We Are All Travelers 2007-10-04 08:56:00 "We are all travelers in the wilderness of this world, and the best we can find in our travels is an honest friend." -Robert Louis Stevenson, Scottish Novelist, Poet and Travel Writer, Robert Louis Stevenson books//
Our journey throughout life is filled with experiences that involve traveling into unknown territory. We are all explorers by nature, who seek out different paths to follow in pursuit of our destiny. Our way is lit by motivation to achieve our goals, and the road is cleared by our determination to succeed. Purpose propels us constantly forward, yet is it only about reaching our final destination? Or, is the journey what really matters? Stevenson seems to say neither - it's the...
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Golf - The Anti-Sport 2007-10-03 09:35:00 "Reverse every natural instinct and do the opposite of what you are inclined to do, and you will probably come very close to having a perfect golf swing." -Ben Hogan, American Golf Legend, Ben Hogan books//
I'm terrible at golf. Throughout my life, I have always excelled at "contact" sports, so every instinct I have is aimed at crushing that little dimpled ball. It doesn't matter how hard I swing, though, because even if I connect with the ball it still finds its way into the woods or water. The last time I took a lesson, the instructor asked me if there was anything I could think about that I don't hate before teeing up the ball. I tried thinking about family and fun experiences, but when...
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The Privilege of Friendship 2007-10-03 09:13:00 "I always felt that the great high privilege, relief and comfort of friendship was that one had to explain nothing." -Katherine Mansfield, New Zealand Modernist Writer, Katherine Mansfield books//
True friendship is hard to find. Trust is key, and so is the absence of judgement. Friends should always tell you the truth, especially when you are doing something wrong which hurts others. Friends stick by you, though, through both good and bad times, and their faith in you as a person is unquestionable. As Mansfield says, there is comfort in knowing that you don't have to explain everything you say, feel or do - they like you no matter what. You can joke around, blow off steam and share...
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I Already Did That 2007-10-02 17:11:00 "Perseverance is the hard work you do after you get tired of doing the hard work you already did." -Newt Gingrich, former Speaker of the United States House of Representatives, Newt Gingrich books//
Don't you get tired of dealing with the same problems over and over again? Just when you think you've got one fire put out another one always pops up. Your boss (or spouse) comes into your office and points out all of the flaws in the work you completed, without even acknowledging the things you fixed to get to this point. Some people call this "Seagull Management," and I'm sure you can figure out why (Hint: it has to do with crapping all over everything and then leaving you to clean up the...
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Do Right By Others 2007-10-02 15:32:00 "The time is always right to do what is right." -Martin Luther King, Jr., American Civil Right
s Leader, Martin Luther King Jr books//
I respect and admire those who quietly go about their business and do right by others. The ones that don't ask for recognition or awards, but instead shun the spotlight and allow the people around them to shine. These are the people who coach, teach, support, parent and advise us throughout our lives. They are the heroes only we know and appreciate. The role models or mentors who help us understand the tough choices we face and how to recognize the "right" things to do for ourselves. They are also the ones whose rebuke, which is always in private, is most...
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Calling All Moderates 2007-10-02 10:14:00 "By 'radical,' I understand one who goes too far; by 'conservative,' one who does not go far enough; by 'reactionary,' one who will not go at all." -Woodrow Wilson, former President of the United States, Woodrow Wilson books//
I believe that most people in America, and throughout the world, have sensible political ideologies that are usually in the middle. Personally, I consider myself to be slightly "left of center" on most issues, and the majority of people that I know are right-or-left-leaning moderates as well. Radicals make me nervous because they always want sweeping and drastic changes, whereas conservatives irritate me as they trudge through every issue looking for reasons not to...
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Choosing Between Two Evils 2007-10-01 16:00:00 "When choosing between two evils, I always like to try the one I've never tried before." -Mae West, American Actress, Mae West books//
Choices are great, unless all of your options are bad. Food, politics and entertainment options come to mind immediately. Most things that taste really good have too much sugar or salt; the majority of politicians running for office are crooks or thieves; and, there aren't many fun things to do that don't involve drinking, smoking or gambling. Tough choices require tough decisions, especially when the consequences are negative no matter which you pick. Still, as West alludes, people usually choose the one they've "never tried before," rather than...
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We Are Ants 2007-10-01 15:41:00 "It is not enough to be busy; so are the ants. The question is: what are you busy about?" -Henry David Thoreau, American Author and Philosopher, Henry David Thoreau books//
Thoreau wants to know what you're busy about? Are you like the ants, always moving things around and travelling the same path every day again and again? I hear people talk about how "busy" they are all of the time, but it's often unclear to me why they do what they do. It seems like routines dominate peoples' lives - the tasks completed had a unique and innovative purpose at one time, but now, they are simply repeated as a means of comfort. No doubt, there are important tasks that take years to complete, and...
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Pessimist, Optimist or Realist? 2007-10-01 10:27:00 "The pessimist sees difficulty in every opportunity. The optimist sees opportunity in every difficulty." -Winston Churchill, former British Prime Minister, Winston Churchill books//
Are you a pessimist or optimist? You know, glass half empty versus glass half full? Pessimists piss me off, probably because they piss on everything. I admit that optimists can be annoying too, especially unrealistic optimists. Come to think of it, what is a realist? A realist is a critical opportunist. Pessimists always think the risks are too great, while optimists always overestimate their own abilities. Realist
s calculate the risks and compare it to their own abilities to determine if success is...
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Weeds in Your Garden 2007-10-01 10:08:00 "No garden is without its weeds." -Thomas Fuller, English Churchman and Historian, Thomas Fuller books//
None of us are perfect. Fuller uses the allegory of a garden to illustrate this point, and the 17th Century churchman likely found lots of weeds among the English royalty he advised. We all have weeds in our gardens, and it takes a lot of persistence to root them out. No matter how much we do to prevent them from growing, they always find a way of spreading and coming back. Some get distracted from cultivating the good things, and their entire energy is devoted to killing weeds rather than growing flowers. Both of these things are important to complete if, to continue the allegory, you...
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, Weeds
Working For Good 2007-09-28 22:34:00 "Work for something because it is good, not just because it stands a chance to succeed." -Vaclav Havel, former President of the Czech Republic, Vaclav Havel books//
What are your motives? Are they good? If so, are these good intentions employed to a meaningful end? Good is such a relative term, especially when applied to how we prioritize our efforts. Most people need "work" to produce a successful result, otherwise they feel like they're wasting time. Productivity has always been very important to me, and I have an extremely hard time investing personal resources or time on things that don't have a profitable outcome. How can Havel argue with that? I need to support my family. ...
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The Fear of Possibilities 2007-09-28 22:06:00 "The only limit to our realization of tomorrow will be our doubts of today." -Franklin Delano Roosevelt, former President of the United States, Franklin Delano Roosevelt books//
Anything is possible. Anything is possible. Anything is possible. It helps to internalize when I say affirmations three times. The future holds an unlimited number of possibilities for each of us, if we believe it to be true. Roosevelt points out that the only limitations imposed are the ones we put on ourselves. Is that true? I've heard that you have to "believe before you achieve," but I've also heard that you have to "see it to believe it." I think Roosevelt was talking about faith. Not the kind of faith in God,...
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Imagine A World 2007-09-28 14:46:00 "Imagination will often carry us to worlds that never were. But without it we go nowhere." -Carl Sagan, American Astronomer and Astrochemist, Carl Sagan books//
Imagine
a world where you were King.
Where all the people would bow and sing,
when the royal procession came out to bring
joy and happiness as its only offering.
Imagine a world where you could laugh
at every conversation and photograph -
of the good times you had while growing up
and the friendship that always fills your cup.
Now, imagine a world that's dull and grey,
where everyone is boring with nothing to say.
Days are repeated to the same simple end,
and when you wake up it starts all again.
Imagine the places you want to...
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A Slippery Mind 2007-09-27 21:58:00 "Some minds remain open long enough for the truth not only to enter but to pass on through by way of a ready exit without pausing anywhere along the route." -Elizabeth Kenny, Famous Australian bush nurse, Elizabeth Kenny books//
A mind is a slippery thing. It selectively stores and rejects information, depending on the emotion attached to it. Rather than filing all relevant data and potential truths, only the items that support ones current belief system seem to have even the slightest chance of sticking around, and then only if it makes the person feel good. All the while, we continue to get dumber and more dense, fabricating the world around us from our own fragmented mental...
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Truth Among Friends 2007-09-27 20:59:00 "Truth
springs from argument amongst friends." -David Hume, Scottish Philosopher, Economist and Historian, David Hume books//
Most of your friends probably like to avoid confrontation with you, as "friendship" is usually an escape from controversy and a respite for peace. True friendship, though, has it's moments of intense disagreement, which often results in an abundance of hard truths spilling out that might normally be filtered. The harmony is disrupted, and loyalties are tested. It's unfortunate when these situations cause rifts between friends because it's very hard to find someone who will be completely honest without judging you. Sure, tempers will flair and expletive's will fly,...
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Enlightened Statesmen? 2007-09-27 20:37:00 "Enlightened statesmen will not always be at the helm." -James Madison, former President of the United States, James Madison books//
Statesmanship is defined as having wisdom in the management of public affairs. The term is also used to refer to politicians or other prominent figures who deal in national or international affairs relating to government. While the democracy that exists within the framework of the American republic has surely produced some of the greatest "statesmen" of all time, the success of our system of government does not always ensure that the best and brightest, or as Madison put it [the] "enlightened," are in control. For example, President George W. Bush is not...
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Keep Your Mouth Shut 2007-09-25 15:59:00 "It is better to keep your mouth closed and let people think you are a fool than to open it and remove all doubt." -Mark Twain, American Writer, Mark Twain books//
You know that moment in a conversation, or other type of communication, when your head or gut is telling you to shut up but your heart is screaming for you to bust open a can of "whoopass"? Or what about when you say something really foolish and you hear the "beep, beep, beep" of the imaginary verbal reverse button in your head? I'm sure most of us have struggled with applying "the filter" before we say things that are often regrettable. It takes a tremendous amount of self-confidence and restraint to follow Twain's advice, yet...
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The Certainty of Stupidity 2007-09-25 15:37:00 "Two things are infinite: the universe and human stupidity; and I'm not sure about the universe." -Albert Einstein, German Theoretical Physicist, Albert Einstein books//
Coming from Einstein, this quote probably seemed a little condescending or elitist, but it is true nonetheless. Even the smartest people I know do stupid things, which helps to temper my reverence towards them. I, myself, am prone to acts of stupidity from time to time too, such as getting off the wrong exit, wearing clothes that don't quite match and stating the obvious to others at times. I wonder if Einstein might have been referring to a more ethereal level of stupidity though, such as war, famine, discrimination or...
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Decent Dissent 2007-09-25 15:14:00 "We must not confuse dissent with disloyalty. When the loyal opposition dies, I think the soul of America dies with it." -Edward R. Murrow, American Journalist, Edward R. Murrow books//
Dissent
ers are often viewed unfairly in a negative light; however, dissent is a very positive force that drives government and organizations to examine itself and its actions thoroughly and completely. Dissent ensures that questions are asked and answered by the powers that be. Dissent probes motives to uncover truth. Dissent is an American tradition ingrained in our society. Loyal dissent is one of the truest forms of honesty and involvement, and it should be embraced by those in positions of power or...
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Unlocking Inner Strength 2007-09-24 15:38:00 "People do not lack strength, they lack will." -Victor Hugo, French Writer, Statesman and Activist, Victor Hugo books//
When confronted with dire circumstances, the stories of human strength always amaze me. Not just the physical strength displayed in a car crash or avalanche, but more especially the mental and emotional strength of those who go through devastating experiences and yet continue to exhibit a positive attitude. All of us have unique strengths and talents that help define who we are, and each of us also has that hidden strength of spirit that comes out when we need it most. When Hugo refers to the lack of "will," I tend to think of those who allow challenges or obstacles to...
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Small Opportunities 2007-09-24 10:40:00 "Small
opportunities are often the beginning of great enterprises." -Demosthenes, Ancient Greek Statesman and Orator, Demosthenes books//
One could argue that success is directly related to a person's ability to perceive and act upon the right opportunity. One could also argue that there are dozens, or hundreds, of such opportunities presented to every person throughout the course of one's life. If this is true, then why aren't more people successful? Demosthenes points out that great things usually start from small beginnings. I would argue that most people do recognize good opportunities when presented to them; however, they fail to achieve success because they don't realize that there's...
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The Life in Your Years 2007-09-24 09:52:00 "And in the end, it's not the years in your life that count. It's the life in your years." -Abraham Lincoln, former President of the United States, Abraham Lincoln books//
Life is a tricky thing. We are often confronted with difficult challenges, as well as thousands of unimportant distractions. With so many "things" that need to be done every day, it's easy to take the most precious thing we have for granted - time. The activities that occupy our daily lives are, nonetheless, important for us to complete. We must work, clean, care for our children and each other, eat, sleep and commute or travel. The question becomes are we making the most of the time we have available in this life?...
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The Lost Art of Conversation 2007-09-14 21:54:00 "People say conversation is a lost art; how often I have wished it were." -Edward R. Murrow, American Journalist, Edward R. Murrow books//
There's nothing like the sound of silence. To most, silence is uncomfortable when in the company of others; however, to me, it is a pleasant indicator that the companionship has evolved to a level of trust that does not require constant affirmation. I enjoy a healthy conversation with a friend, but I appreciate the ability to sit in another person's company without feeling the pressure to talk. Sometimes it's good to think between conversations, rather than carry on about nothing of consequence in order to pass the time or fill space. Yet, I...
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2007-10-16 09:37:00 "The deepest craving of human nature is the need to be appreciated." -William James, American Psychologist and Philosopher, William James books//
One of the most memorable experiences of the past few years in my life was attending my wife's grandmother's funeral. It was a very sad day, but the minister did a good job of helping people think positively about her life. One thing he said, in particular, struck me profoundly. He said, "Significance is the most important thing in peoples' lives, and Doris got that through her family." It made me think about how you make another person feel significant and important to you, and the only answer I could come up with was gratitude. People feel...
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We Are What We Do, Right? 2007-10-16 09:04:00 "Moral excellence comes about as a result of habit. We become just by doing just acts, temperate by doing temperate acts, brave by doing brave acts." -Aristotle, Ancient Greek Philosopher, Aristotle books//
We are what we do - is that right? Individual actions may not always be a good representation of our character; however, as Aristotle says, "habits" may reflect more accurately where we stand in our personal development. Throughout my life, I have found that repetition is a critical part of learning, but repetition without comprehension does not build sustainable habits. "Moral excellence" is a lofty goal, and I wonder how long it took Aristotle to achieve it (if he did, at all). ...
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Try Something New 2007-10-15 09:25:00 "When people keep telling you that you can't do a thing, you kind of like to try it." -Margaret Chase Smith, former U.S. Senator from Maine, Margaret Chase Smith books//
I love a good challenge, especially when others don't think that the objective is achievable. I was always the kid who, when the gauntlet was thrown down, stepped up to the plate. As a result of my fearlessness, I broke several bones and got stitches all over my body. Looking back, I guess that I should have let someone else step up in certain situations. I don't regret taking risks though, and this character trait has followed me into adulthood. My wife and I have started several businesses with varying degrees of...
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Happy Endings 2007-10-13 22:08:00 "I don't believe in happy endings, but I do believe in happy travels." -George Clooney, American Actor and Movie Star, George Clooney books and DVDs//
Life should be fun. You should be able to enjoy every day without a lot of stress or worries, but that's not how most of us live. We're always concerned about achieving goals, pleasing others and, basically, working toward "happy endings." Why is the "end" so important though? Why isn't the journey the thing that really matters? For some, this is a no-brainer. They live each day to the fullest without a care in the world - they are present in every moment and find pleasure in most things that they do. These people are called "rich" or "bums"...
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Sympathy Weight 2007-10-12 22:19:00 "There's something sexy about a gut. Not a 400-pound beer gut, but a little paunch. I love that." -Sandra Bullock, American Actress and Movie Star, Sandra Bullock books and DVDs//
Man, I'm glad to hear someone likes the look of a little belly fat. I'm not sure if she's serious, though, because I don't know many people who think fat is fine. I did hear recently that "soft is sexy," but I think that was referring to women as opposed to men. As a young man, I had a hard body with some big guns. Now that I'm older, I've got the beginning of a spare tire with a big booty. I wish I only had a little paunch, but I guess I should be thankful that it hasn't grown into a 400-pound beer gut, as...
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, Weight
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