As I walked out the door toward the gate that would lead to my freedom, I knew if I didn’t leave my bitterness and hatred behind, I’d still be in prison. Rest In Peace, Tata Madiba.
Category Archives: Wisdom
Annan on Education
“There is no tool for development more effective than the education of girls and women. No other policy is as likely to raise economic productivity, lower infant and maternal mortality, improve nutrition, promote health — including the prevention of HIV/AIDS — and increase the chances of education for the next generation.” [Kofi Annan]
Malala on Extremism
Extremists have shown us what frightens them most – a girl with a book! – Malala Yousafzai
Kofman on Trust
If you are not deceived occasionally, then you are not extending enough trust. Unless you experience the occasional deception, you are not optimising your relationship building process.
You are losing valuable opportunities to connect with people who might enrich your career… and your life. You don’t know in advance who will honor your trust and who will not – so when you extend trust, you are gambling on probabilities and you will make mistakes.
There are two types of mistakes you can make. Type 1 is to trust somebody who will deceive you – a “false positive.” Type 2 is to not trust somebody who will not deceive you – a “false negative.” But you can only reduce the probability of Type 1 mistakes by increasing the probability of Type 2 mistakes, and vice versa!
You can reduce the probability of trusting the “wrong” person by tightening your standards – and excluding a “wrong” person from your circle of trust is a benefit. But tightening your standards means a higher probability of rejecting a “right” person; and excluding a “right” person from your circle of trust is a cost.
There are no hard and fast rules – you just have to strike a balance with which you are comfortable – no easy matter!
Schopenhauer on Animals
Compassion for animals is intimately connected with goodness of character; and it may be confidently asserted that he who is cruel to animals cannot be a good man.
Steinbeck on Problem Solving
It is a common experience that a problem difficult at night
is resolved in the morning after the committee of sleep
has worked on it.
Chifley on Government
We have a great objective – the light on the hill – which we aim to reach by working for the betterment of mankind not only here but anywhere we may give a helping hand.
Carter on War
War may sometimes be a necessary evil. But no matter how necessary, it is always an evil, never a good. We will not learn how to live together in peace by killing each other’s children (Jimmy Carter, Former US President)
Swan on the Environment
The greatest threat to our planet is the belief that someone else will save it.
Kington on Tomatoes
Knowledge is knowing that a tomato is a fruit, wisdom is not putting it in a fruit salad. (Miles Beresford Kington, British journalist, musician)