Bad friends will prevent you from having good friends.
In any great organization it is far, far safer to be wrong with the majority than to be right alone.
The possession of great powers no doubt carries with it a contempt for mere external show.
Tell me what you pay attention to and I will tell you who you are.
You have to be careful, if you’re good at something, to make sure you don’t think you’re good at other things that you aren’t necessarily so good at.
I was part of that strange race of people aptly described as spending their lives doing things they detest to make money they don’t want to buy things they don’t need to impress people they dislike.
Whomever I love is the most beautiful.
If you want to perform a good jump, sometimes you need to start by taking a step back.
When you sweep stairs, start at the top.
No person can like all, or be liked by all.
Confidence begets confidence.
An enemy that is surprised is already half-defeated.
To change and to change for the better are two different things.
What good is it to run when you’re on the wrong road?
It’s hard to scare someone who thinks he will benefit from dying.
“It has not” does not mean “it will not.”
Great pains cause us to forget the small ones.
Your friend’s enemy might be your best friend.
If you wish to be valued, make yourself scarce.
A fence between makes love more keen.
There is more disputing about the shell than the kernel.
There are plenty of preachers who don’t hear themselves.
When the thief is seen [stealing], he says he is joking; but when the thief is not seen, he steals.
No lie so gross that it does not find believers.
A good lie finds more believers than a bad truth.
An old lie is often more popular than a new truth.
Truth that is poorly timed is as bad as a lie.
Who does right is born of God.
Who is healthy and free is rich.
Repentance does not bring the lost back.
Lost time never returns.
When there is no love, all faults are seen.
Work is good, as long as you don’t forget to live.
Painted flowers have no scent.
Guard your mouth as well as you guard your chest.
Loving and singing are two things that should not be forced.
You must never try to make all the money that’s in a deal. Let the other fellow make some money too, because if you have a reputation for always making all the money, you won’t have many deals.
I would rather earn 1% off a 100 people’s efforts than 100% of my own efforts.
In times of rapid change, experience can sometimes be your worst enemy.
The tongue kills a man and the tongue saves a man. (Ashanti)
Only a fool tests the water’s depth with both feet.
One lie spoils a thousand truths.
…The distinctive aspect of mysticism is something that cannot be understood by study, but only by dhawq [tasting / immediate experience]… There is a big difference between knowing the meaning and the causes of health and satiety, and being healthy and satisfied.
You will recognize your own path when you come upon it, because you will suddenly have all the energy and imagination you will ever need.
Man is a being of a rational and an irrational nature.
If you want to get pleasure out of life, you must attach value to the world.
If we had to depend for our life upon the favor of others, we should never have lived at all; from their desire to appear important themselves, people gladly ignore our very existence. (Schopenhauer paraphrase)
The wisest word it is mocked, if the listener is an inclined/dull ear.
The man who is born with a talent which he is meant to use, finds his greatest happiness in using it.
I respect the man who knows distinctly what he wants.
Secrecy has many advantages. When you tell someone the purpose of any object right away, they often think there is nothing to it.
One can be very happy without demanding that others agree with him.
[I (Arthur Schopenhauer) observed once to Goethe... that when a friend is with us we do not think the same of him as when he is away. He replied:] Yes! because the absent friend is yourself, and he exists only in your head; whereas the friend who is present has an individuality of his own, and moves according to laws of his own, which cannot always be in accordance with those which you form for yourself.
Like everyone else I feel the need of relations and friendship, of affection, of friendly intercourse, and I am not made of stone or iron, so I cannot miss these things without feeling, as does any other intelligent man, a void and deep need. I tell you this to let you know how much good your visit has done me.
I am seeking, I am striving, I am in with all my heart.
Keep matters for a time in suspense. Admiration at their novelty heightens the value of your achievements. It is both useless and insipid to play with your cards on the table. … A resolution declared is never highly thought of—it only leaves room for criticism. And if it happens to fail, you are doubly unfortunate. Besides, you imitate the divine way when you inspire people to wonder and watch.
Do not explain too much. Most people do not esteem what they understand and venerate what they do not see. ... Yet in this there should be moderation and no excess.
Do not condemn alone that which pleases all. There must be something good in a thing that pleases so many—even if it cannot be explained it is certainly enjoyed. Peculiarity is always hated and, when in the wrong, laughed at.
Nothing depreciates a person more than to show he is just like anyone else. The day he is seen to be all too human he ceases to be thought divine.
Things pass for what they seem, not for what they are. Few see inside, many get attached to appearances. It is not enough to be right if your actions look false and ill.
One half of the world laughs at the other, and fools are they all. Everything is good or everything is bad according to who you ask. What one pursues another persecutes. … We need not lose heart if something does not please someone, for others will appreciate I; nor need their applause turn our head, for there will surely be others to condemn it.
Know how to appreciate. There is no one who cannot teach somebody something, and there is no one so excellent that he cannot be excelled. To know how to make use of everyone is useful knowledge. Wise men appreciate everyone, for they see the good in each and know how hard it is to make anything good.
Do not be the slave of first impressions. Some marry the very first account they hear, all others must live with them as concubines.
Do not go with the latest speaker. There are people who go by the latest thing they have heard and thereby go to irrational extremes.
Know what is lacking in yourself. Many would have been great people if they had not had something wanting, without which they could not rise to the height of perfection. It is remarkable that some people could be much better if they could be just a little better in something. They do not perhaps take themselves seriously enough to do justice to their great abilities.
Do not become bad from sheer goodness—that is, by never getting angry. Such people without feeling are scarcely to be considered human. It does not always arise from laziness, but from sheer inability. To feel strongly on occasion shows personality; birds soon mock at the scarecrow. It is a sign of good taste to combine bitter and sweet. All sweets is diet for children and fools. It is a great evil to sink into such insensibility out of too great goodness.
Never die of another’s bad luck. Notice those who stick in the mud, and observe how they call others to their aid so as to console themselves with a companion in misfortune. They seek someone to help them to bear misfortune, and often those who turned the cold shoulder on them in prosperity now give them a helping hand. There is great caution needed in helping the drowning without endangering oneself.
Think with the wise, but talk with the vulgar.
Every story can be told in different ways.
Many pupils have gained more wealth than their masters.
Many know how to flatter; few know how to praise.
One minute of patience can result in ten years of peace.
If you wronged someone, never be tricked into believing that you have good reason for trusting him or confiding in him again—even in the a case of a matter that will reap him honor and profit if he conducts it well.
After all, due to certain people’s nature, their memory of a wrong can be so dominant that it will make them willing to harm themselves for revenge’s sake—either because they value this satisfaction more, or because their passion blinds them from recognizing what would really be in their best interests.
…Keep your eye fixed not so much on what they [people] ought in reason to do, as on what they would be expected/likely to do based on their disposition and habits.
The discontented person will not lightly expose himself to danger, no matter how much he may want to harm you. Instead, he will wait for opportunities that may never come.
The desperate person, on the other hand, will go about seeking and searching for these opportunities, and plunge headlong into all kinds of revolutionary hopes and schemes.
When people find you in a position where you are by necessity compelled to do what they want, they will hold you cheap and make little account of you. After all, people generally are influenced more by their interest or the indulgence of their spite than by what is right, what you deserve, what they owe you, or the thought that you have been brought low because of them or to help them in their distress.
Thus, you should flee this humiliation as you would flee fire.
We should place far more store on the real and substantial than on the ceremonial.
And yet it is unbelievable just how greatly courteous manners and pleasing words influence everyone. And this because all people believe they deserve to be greatly esteemed, and thus will feel hurt if they find you withholding the deference they are sure is their due.
Even though many people prove to be ungrateful, do not let that stop you from benefiting others—for not only is beneficence in itself a noble and almost divine quality, it may also happen that while you practice it, you will encounter someone so grateful that he will make up for all the others’ ingratitude.
Be careful of doing one person a pleasure if it must cause equal displeasure in another—for the person who becomes slighted will be sure to remember, and will magnify the severity of the offence since it benefits someone else; whereas the person who receives the pleasure will either forget it, or will consider the favor to be less than it was.
As long as it brings you no loss or discredit, it is a wise course, though little followed, to hide the displeasure that you feel against others. For it often happens that at some later time you have occasion to make use of these men, which you cannot well do if they consider you an enemy.
Should necessity or anger move you to speak sharply to anyone, at least be careful to say what will offend him only. For instance, if you would taunt someone, do not vilify his country, family, or kinsfolk.
Do not let the fear of making enemies or of causing displeasure to others keep you from doing what you ought to do. Doing one’s duty brings a person reputation, and this will help him far more than the making of a few enemies will hurt him. In this world we must either be dead outright, or must sometimes do things that offend.
But the same tact that guides us in bestowing pleasure is also shown in knowing when and how to do what displeases—that is, these things must be done on just occasion, at fit season, with modesty, for honorable causes, and in creditable ways.
From friends and kinsmen, you draw advantages that neither you nor they are aware of—advantages far in excess of those recognized as coming from them. After all, occasions on which you have to resort to them for aid are rare in comparison with the benefits daily afforded you under the belief that you can have their support when you will.
Greatness and honors are sought by all, because whatever is good or fair in them lies on the surface and is seen when they are looked at superficially, whereas the anxiety, weariness, fatigues, and risks that attend them are unseen and hidden. But if the evil inherent in them was as apparent as the good, we really would have no motive to desire them, other than this: the more men are feared, reverenced, and honored, the more they seem to approach and resemble God. And who would not wish to obtain such a likeness?
Ambition is not in itself an evil; nor should he be condemned whose spirit prompts him to seek fame by worthy and honorable ways. In fact, it is people like this who achieve noble and loft, whereas those untouched by the passion for fame are generally frigid souls that are more disposed for ease than effort.
But hateful and pernicious is that ambition which makes self-aggrandizement its sole end and aim, as we find in most princes, who, having this as their goal, and wanting to clear the path that leads to it, will put aside conscience, honor, humanity, and all else that is good.
Pursuits that are not pushed forward by this fiery spur [fame] are lifeless and empty.
…Even if there are many proofs and almost a certainty indicating the very opposite, a confident assertion or denial will often to some extent perplex and puzzle your listeners’ minds.
Though you have much to gain by conducting your affairs secretly, you have even more to gain by not appearing secretive to your friends. After all, most people feel slighted and offended when they see you unwilling to impart your affairs to them.
It is not desirable to gain a reputation for being suspicious and distrustful.
And yet, people are so false and crafty, resort to so many deep and ambiguous devices, and are so keen for their own interests and careless of those of others, that we can hardly err in believing little and distrusting much.
It would be best to do things or cause things to be done exactly as they ought to be, and so that they should be perfect in ecery way. But this is very difficult to do, and it is a mistake to spend much time in over-refining—for other opportunities will often escape us while working to attain this perfection. And even when we think we have succeeded in our efforts, we will later come to see that we have been deceived—for due to the nature of things in this world, it is seldom possible to find anything that has no imperfection or blemish whatsoever. Thus, we must be content to take things as they are, and to consider the least evil as good.
In all decisions and actions that we can make, there will be reasons that support the contrary—for nothing is perfect enough to be entirely free of blemishes.
Though we must be cautious in our undertakings, we should not go so far as to imagine so many difficulties that we think success is hopeless. On the contrary, we should consider how greater facilities may disclose themselves in the execution of our designs, and that as we proceed, obstacles may disappear of themselves.
Small and almost imperceptible beginnings are often the cause of great disasters or successes—and thus, maximum prudence lies in noting and weighing well all circumstances, even if small.
How often we hear it said, “Had this been done or that left undone, this or the other result would have followed.” And yet, were it possible to test these opinions, we should find them false.
How many acts are blamed when done, which, if we could see what would have followed had they not been done, would have been praised! And likewise, how many things are praised that under like circumstances would have been blamed!
By nature I am extremely firm and settled in my resolutions.
But nevertheless, after deciding on some important step, I often experience some type of repentance for the course I have chosen.
And this is not because I believe I would choose differently if I were to choose again. Rather, it is because before I chose, I had the difficulties of each choice better in view; whereas after my resolution is formed, I no longer fear the difficulties of those options I did not take, and I only consider those that I still to have to deal with, which, looked at alone, seem far greater than they would have appeared if contrasted with the others.
In order to free myself from this disquietude/torment, I have to diligently/carefully recall in my mind those other difficulties I had previously set aside.
Future matters are so deceptive and subject to so many accidents that even the wisest of all people regularly make miscalculations. ...
Therefore, is usually unwise to give up a present good due to apprehension of a future evil, unless the evil is either very certain and near, or far greater in degree than the good. Otherwise, due to a fear that may afterwards turn out to have been groundless, you may lose the good that lay within your grasp.
Never assume anything will happen, no matter how certain it may seem.
As long as you can do so without upsetting your plans, keep something in reserve to be used in case the opposite of your expectations occurs.
In narrating current events, some writers will enter on a discussion of what is likely to happen hereafter.
However, even when such forecasts are made by well-informed people and seem admirable to the reader, they are actually very misleading—for these types of logical conclusions are like chain links: they depend on one another, and if any of them fail, the other deductions will all fall to the ground. Even the smallest variation in the circumstances can be enough to cause an error in the conclusion.
Thus, it is impossible to form a judgment of the course of events that are still remote. Our opinions must be formed and modified from day to day.
I have noticed that when men of great sagacity have to decide on an important matter, they almost always end up distinguishing the various courses it may take, and, after considering two or three probable contingencies, form their final decision on the assumption that one of these will indeed happen.
Be warned that this is a dangerous method to follow—for in almost all cases, some other contingency will turn up that was not taken into account by these deliberations and met by these decisions.
Thus, in forming decisions, it much wiser to assume that the unlikely might happen, and only limit your deliberations when necessary.
The truest test of someone’s courage is his behavior when overtaken by unforeseen dangers. He who shows a good front to these—as we find very few do—really deserves to be called resolute and intrepid.
Things we do not anticipate move us beyond comparison more than those that are foreseen—and thus, I pronounce it to be a great and resolute spirit that stands undismayed amid sudden dangers and disasters; for this in my judgment is the rarest excellence.
The person who rushes blindly into dangers without discerning their true character—he is merely foolhardy.
The person who recognizes dangers and fears them no more than he should—he is the type of person that ought to be called brave.
Anything that is destined to perish by a gradual wasting away rather than sudden violence will end up enduring longer than you might suppose at first sight.
An example of this is hectic patient, who, after his case has been pronounced hopeless, will sometimes linger on not just for days, but even for weeks or months. And likewise, in the city that has had to be reduced by blockade, the unconsumed stores are constantly in excess of what all had reckoned them to be.
Wise economy consists not so much in knowing how to avoid expenses—for these are often unavoidable—as in knowing how to spend to advantage and get extra value for your money.
One who has sound sense can make great use of another who has fine parts; much more so than the other can make of him.
Revenge does not always spring from hatred or a cruel disposition—it is sometimes necessary, in order to set an example that will teach others they must not harm us.
And likewise, it is not necessarily improper to get revenge without feeling rancor against the person revenged.
Happy/lucky are they to whom the same opportunity offers itself twice. Even a wise person may neglect or misuse it on the first occasion—but to fail to recognize and profit by it the second time is certainly foolish.
If you would be someone employed in [worldly] affairs, never allow such affairs to leave your hold. You will not be able to recover them at your convenience.
But if you continuously retain your hold on them, one will lead to another, even without your using any special diligence or industry to get them.
To protect yourself against a brutal and bloodthirsty tyrant, no rule or remedy can be prescribed that will avail anything to you, except what is recommended in the case of the plague: Flee as fast and as far as you can.
There is no man so prudent as to not sometimes make mistakes. Good fortune lies in our making fewer than others do, or in matters of lesser importance.
See the extent people deceive themselves! They regard the sins they do not commit as heinous, and those they do commit as trivial.
During wartime, I have often received news that seemed to indicate our affairs were desperate, but was followed shortly later by other news of a reassuring kind; or sometimes the good news came first and the bad news later.
In fact, these contrary rumors were not uncommon at all—a lesson to a wise captain not to be too easily depressed or elated.
It is no wonder we are ignorant of what has happened in past ages, or of what is currently happening in distant countries and remote cities. After all, if you note it well, you will see that we lack true knowledge even when it comes to what is presently going on day to day in our own town.
The very same things that readily succeed and “accomplish themselves” when undertaken at the proper moment, will, if attempted prematurely, not only fail, but will often become impossible to succeed when their time does come.
By failing to use an opportunity when it offers itself, it might be lost forever; and for many things we must decide and act quickly.
However, when we are surrounded by difficulties and trouble, procrastinating and gaining time can either extricate ourselves from troubles, or at least allow us to understand them better.
Both in wars and in many other important matters, I have often seen preparations neglected due to impression that they were too late, and yet it has been seen afterwards that they would have been in time, and that the omission to make them has caused much loss.
This results from the fact that things often move slower than we anticipate them to, and that what we imagine will be over in a month often is still ongoing after a few months.
Though human life is short, rest assured that he will find it long enough who knows to make wise use of his time, and does not unprofitably waste it; for a man’s nature fits him for great efforts, and anyone who is diligent and resolute will get through an incredible amount of work.
Everyone has defects—some more, some fewer. It follows then that no friendship, fellowship/service, or dependent-relation/companionship can endure unless both sides have some tolerance towards each other.
Therefore, we ought to understand one another, and remember that change will never free us from all imperfections, but only introduce us to new and perhaps greater ones.
So we should try to tolerate one another.
However, let us be careful to be compliant only in such matters that can be put up with, and in themselves are not of great importance.
Trades and industries are at their best when they are not yet generally understood to be profitable. When seen by all to be so, they fall off; because, from many resorting to them, the competition prevents them from being any longer lucrative. In all things, it profits to be up betimes.
In matters of business, take this as a maxim: it is not enough to give things their beginning, direction, or impulse; we must also follow them up and never slacken our efforts until they are brought to a conclusion. ...He who follows a different plan will often assume things to be ended which in truth are hardly begun, and the difficulties whereof are not yet reached...
Far higher satisfaction will be found in controlling than in gratifying the passions. For such gratification is brief, and of the body; whereas the satisfaction we feel when passion has been subdued is lasting, and is of the mind and conscience.
Although we act on the best advice, yet, so uncertain is the future, the results are often uncertain. Still, we are not on that account to give ourselves up like beasts a prey to Fortune, but like men to walk by Reason. And he who is truly wise should be better pleased to have been guided by good advice though the result be untoward, than to have prospered in following evil counsel.
It is a great mistake to make absolute, categorical, “by the card” pronouncements concerning the things of this world. Almost all of them have some exceptional qualities and distinctions due to differences in their circumstances, making it impossible to refer everything to the same standard.
Such exceptional qualities and distinctions cannot be found in books, but must be taught by discretion.
Whatever has occurred in the past or is occurring in the present will repeat itself in the future. However, the names and surfaces of things will have changed, and unless we have a discerning eye, we will not recognize them and act or judge accordingly.
The same or similar proverbs, though differently expressed, are found among all nations—and this is because they spring from experience or observations of things, which is everywhere the same or similar.
A good name hides thievery.
Don’t hate someone for telling the truth.