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Sunday, 4 January
Two thoughts from David Epstein
“We learn who we are in practice, not in theory.”
“In a wicked world, relying upon experience from a single domain is not only limiting, it can be disastrous.”
Monday, 5 January
Two thoughts from Benjamin Hoff
“When you know and respect your Inner Nature, you know where you belong. You also know where you don’t belong.”
“Reality is what one makes it. And the more negative reality one nurtures and creates, the more of it one has.”
Tuesday, 6 January
Two thoughts from Miyamoto Musashi
“The ultimate aim of martial arts is not having to use them.”
“When your opponent is hurrying recklessly, you must act contrarily and keep calm. You must not be influenced by the opponent.”
Wednesday, 7 January
Two thoughts from Aleksandr Solzhenitsyn
“For us in Russia, communism is a dead dog, while, for many people in the West, it is still a living lion.”
“One drop of truth can outweigh an ocean of lies.”
Thursday, 8 January
Two thoughts from Benjamin Disraeli
“Success is the child of audacity.”
“How much easier it is to be critical than to be correct.”
Friday, 9 January
Two thoughts from Julian Barnes
“Mystification is simple; clarity is the hardest thing of all.”
“You put together two things that have not been put together before. And the world is changed...”
Saturday, 10 January
Two thoughts from Samuel Beckett
“Ever tried. Ever failed. No matter. Try again. Fail again. Fail better.”
“The essential doesn’t change.”
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The Musashi quotes hit hard, especially that bit about not being influenced by an opponent's recklessness. I've noticed this aplies way beyond combat, like in negotiations where the other side is trying to rush you into a decision. Staying calm when theyare panicking creates massive leverage because urgency is contagious and most people catch it without realizing. That second quote about the ultimate aim of martial arts connects to what I've seen studying conflict resolution where the best practitioners rarely have to escalate.
Dear Jim,
Great quotes! Some of my faves this time:
David Epstein:
“We learn who we are in practice, not in theory.”
Benjamin Hoff:
“Reality is what one makes it. And the more negative reality one nurtures and creates, the more of it one has.”
Miyamoto Musashi:
“The ultimate aim of martial arts is not having to use them.”
“When your opponent is hurrying recklessly, you must act contrarily and keep calm. You must not be influenced by the opponent.”
Julian Barnes:
“Mystification is simple; clarity is the hardest thing of all.”
“You put together two things that have not been put together before. And the world is changed...”
Thank you for sharing as always!
Love
Myq