THE PROBABLE, LIKELY, NOT THE CERTAIN

"If you can look into the seeds of time and say which grain will grow and which will not, speak then unto me."

William Shakespeare, late 16h/early 17th century English playwright, poet, actor

Mr. Shakespeare said this knowing no one knows in advance what or who, will or will not, when.

However, observing conditions as they are, attempting to understand what may come as a result, is a whole different matter.

That you can and should do.

INTELLIGENT INTENTION

"Our actions are the results of our intentions and our intelligence."

E. Stanley Jones, 20th century theologian

Hopefully you are intelligent enough to see this.

However, if not, but your intention is to accept it as true, good enough.

SELF FORGIVENESS

"How unhappy is he who cannot forgive himself."

Publilius Syrus, 1st century BC Syrian slave/Latin writer

William Blake said, "It is easier to forgive an enemy than to forgive a friend."

Even more difficult to forgive ourselves.

More important too for if you can't forgive yourself how can you ever truly forgive anyone else.

Them, you, let it go.

MONEY FOR WHAT YOU DO, NOT WHAT YOU COULD DO

"Ben Franklin may have discovered electricity but it is the man who invented the meter who made the money."

Earl Warren, 30th governor of California, 14th Chief Justice of the US Supreme Court

Well, maybe not exactly, but the core message is true.

It's not what you create as much as what you do with what you create.

WHAT YOU SAY, HOW YOU SAY IT, BOTH EQUALLY IMPORTANT

"The first principle of a free society is an untrammeled flow of words in an open forum."

Adlai E. Stevenson II, 20th century American politician

In society, at work, in all relationships; you have a right to express your opinion, along with an obligation to do so in an honest, respectful way.

SOME, JUST NOT TOO MUCH

"Trust not too much to appearances."

Virgil, 1st century BC Roman poet

Because appearances may only be what might be not what is.

Anything important to you should be more than just apparent.

THE TRUTH ABOUT POWER AND POSITION

"Power and position often make a man trifle with the truth."

George A. Smith, 19th century religious leader

It doesn't have to be that way but as the quote suggests it is often enough.

Try for it not to be when you are that man, that woman.

WHAT IT TAKES

"A pint of sweat, saves a gallon of blood."

George S. Patton, 20th century US Army general

It other words planning and a lot of hard work saves much waste later.

WHAT'D YOU SAY?

"To listen well is as powerful a means of communication and influence as to talk well."

John Marshall, fourth Chief Justice of the US Supreme Court

And much more difficult to do, which is why there is so little effective communication in the world.

Ever taken a public speaking course?

Ever even heard of one teaching you to listen?

CHANGE FOR THE BETTER

"Do not lose courage in considering your own imperfections."

Saint Francis de Sales, Late 16th/early 17th century Catholic bishop

You need courage to consider your imperfections, even more to accept them, and a lot more to attempt to change them.

But that is what you should do.

HOW MUCH DO YOU HAVE TO WASTE?

"Time is what we want most, but what we use worst."

William Penn, 17th century English philosopher

Whether or not the time it takes you to read this quote is a waste of time depends on what, if anything, you do differently after.

YOU SHOULD BE LAUGHING AT YOU

"This morning, when I put on my underwear, I could hear the fruit-of-the-loom guys laughing at me."

Rodney Dangerfield, 20th century American comedian

The ability to see and laugh at our own shortcomings is critical to success.

How funny are you?

GREAT ADVICE IN THE MOST ABSURD POLITICAL TIME OF OUR LIVES

"Anyone who has the power to make you believe absurdities has the power to make you commit injustices."

Voltaire 17th century French author/historian/philosopher

Listen very carefully to what others say is truth.

Sometimes it is, often it's not.

Which you believe is and is not will have much to do with the course of your life. 

THE ESSENCE OF CIVILITY

"No duty is more urgent than that of returning thanks."

James Allen, 19th century British philosopher/author

And we have the opportunity to do so throughout the day, everyday.

. . . To the person who holds a door open for you.

. . . To the one who waves you in front of them on the freeway.

. . . To the individual who helps you any way possible without asking for anything in return.

Let them know you appreciate their help.

MAN, WOMAN, BOY, GIRL . . . ALL OF US

"Man must cease attributing his problems to his environment, and learn again to exercise his will - his personal responsibility in the realm of faith and morals."

Albert Schweitzer, 19th/20th century French/German philosopher/physician

Think how much better things would be if, starting today, we all took personal responsibility for our own circumstances?

This does not mean you solve your problems, I'll solve mine.

Only that all solutions for us both begin with each of us as individuals.

WHO DID THIS TO YOU? YOU DID THIS TO YOU

"We choose our joys and sorrows long before we experience them."

Khalil Gibran, 19th/20th century Lebanese-American artist/poet.

We do, the result of our thoughts, actions and the people we choose to associate with as well as those we don't.

People, your happiness, your destiny is on you much more than it's not.

Looking for reasons to explain why you're not happy?

Look to yourself.

SWEAT THE SMALL STUFF

"The years teach much which the days never know."

Ralph Waldo Emerson, 19th century American essayist/lecturer/poet.

A lot of small almost imperceptible incremental change often adds up to significant major change.

Pay attention to today, you might just see tomorrow.

YOUR IMAGINATION MIRROR

"Fantasy mirrors desire. Imagination reshapes it."

Mason Cooley 20th century American professor.

Fantasy: What you want to accomplish.

Imagination: The beginning of your plan to realize your fantasy.

IF FOR NO OTHER REASON

"From the equality of rights springs identity of our highest interests; you cannot subvert your neighbor's rights without striking a dangerous blow at your own."

Carl Schurz, first German born US Senator

Not just good political advice, which it is in this time of divisiveness.

Good advice, period!

To think and act otherwise may result in you being one of the first to lose your rights.

TIME TO QUIT? PROBABLY NOT

"It does not matter how slowly you go so long as you do not stop."

Confucius, 5th century BC Chinese philosopher

We all have a lot of quit in us, often too much for our own good.

Don't you beat you.

Lose by some means other than your own.

YOU ARE THE ONLY ONE YOU NEED ATTEMPT TO GET AHEAD OF

"My goal is not to better than anyone else, but to be better than I used to be."

Dr. Wayne Dyer, 20th/21st century American psychologist

If you improve yourself each day you will have done all that anyone, yourself included, can expect of you. 

Time to refocus your efforts?

THINKING ABOUT MACHINES THINKING

"The real problem is not whether machines think but whether men do."

B. F. Skinner, 20th century American psychologist/social philosopher

The next time you find yourself thinking about machines thinking, think about this.