Category: Aphorisms and Observations
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Fool, Philosopher, Sage
The fool is never satisfied with what he has, but is quite satisfied with what he is. The philosopher is never satisfied with what he is, but is satisfied with what he has. The sage is satisfied with both. Unfortunately, there are no sages, few philosophers, and a world full of fools.
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On Repetition
Anyone can see the need for repetition in physical training. One push-up is as good as none. But one hundred per day, every day, will do your upper body a world of good. People are less likely to appreciate the necessity of repetition in mental and spiritual training. Thus liberals often foolishly rail against 'rote…
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The Leap of Despair
Despair requires as much of a leap as faith does. In either case we jump beyond what we can strictly know.
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Relations with Extroverts
Relations with extroverts should be left on the superficial level. Never seek a deep relation with a person who is surface all the way down.
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Ataraxia
One way to retain peace of mind is by refraining from giving others a piece of one's mind.
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Of Books and Men
A book is a man at his best. Who knows what Plato was like in the flesh? Maybe he suffered from halitosis. Perhaps he was unbearably domineering. But in his books I have him at my beck and call, for instruction, uplift, or just to keep the pre-Socratics from improperly fraternizing with Aristotle. Each book…
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Don’t Worry, Be Happy
The dreaded event will either occur or it will not. If it occurs, then the worrier suffers twice, once from the event, and once from the worry. If it does not occur, then the person suffers from neither. Therefore, worry is irrational.
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The Art of the Aphorism in an Aphorism
A good aphorism is the tip of an iceberg of thought. One gets the point but is spared the proof.
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Salvation: Of the Soul or From the Soul?
While in many religions the aim is to save one's soul, in Buddhism the aim is to disembarrass oneself of the conceit that one has one.
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How To Look At Things
Look at them as if for the first time — and the last.
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Debate Neither Sophists Nor Dogmatists
One cannot have a profitable discussion with someone who does not care about the truth, nor with someone who believes himself to be in such secure possession of it as to render further investigation unnecessary .
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On Forming Societies at Faint Provocation
Paul Brunton, Notebooks II, 154, #56: I am not enamoured overmuch of this modern habit, which forms a society at faint provocation. A man's own problem stares him alone in the face, and it is not to be solved by any association of men. Every new society we join is a fresh temptation to waste…
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On Replying in Kind
Suppose A launches a vicious verbal attack on B. B will be tempted to respond in kind, but ought to give some thought to the point of so doing. For even if B does not escalate the attack, but merely throws back what was thrown at him, the attacker may well feel justified in having…
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Make Luft Not War
An excellent saying for chess players and Luftmenschen alike. Especially apropos for those of us who are both.
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An Advantage of Ignorance
Of those I do not know well, I can think well. And I should.