Two quotes about human relationships from the Chinese philosopher Confucius, who said something very akin to ‘The Golden Rule’ almost 1,500 years ago…
“Do not do to others what you do not want done to yourself.”
“Have no friends not equal to yourself.”
- Confucius (551 - 497 BC)
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American writer, feminist and gay activist, Rita Mae Brown, participated in the Stonewall riots in New York City in the 1960’s, which brought the discrimination against homosexuals to light , forever raising America’s awareness of discrimination based on sexual orientation.
“Good judgment comes from experience, and often experience comes from bad judgment.”
- Rita Mae Brown (1944- )
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A wisdom quote from writer, attorney and judge, Frederick L. Collins, which may be the quickest and surest way to discern those people who are truly interested in others and those people.
“There are two types of people - those who come into a room and say, ‘Well, here I am!’ and those who come into a room and say, ‘Ah, there you are’."
- Frederick L. Collins (1850-1939)
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This quotation, by the very successful Prussian leader who forged unification of Germany in the late 1800’s, seems to be every bit as true today as it was when first stated. As we listen to modern day politicians say that they ‘approve of something in principle’, and notice that action doesn’t follow, we witness the truth of Bismarck’s words, standing like guardians, outside the boundaries of historical time.
“When a man says he approves of something in principle, it means he hasn’t the slightest intention of putting it into practice.”
- Prince Otto von Bismarck (1815-1898)
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Sydney Harris, a journalist, syndicated columnist, drama critic, teacher and lecturer from Chicago, points out that taking responsibility for our actions and our life cannot be done through the passive voice, the primary voice used by people who feel victimized.
“We have not passed that subtle line between childhood and adulthood until we move from the passive voice to the active voice… that is, until we have stopped saying ‘It got lost’, and say, ‘I lost it’.”
- Sydney J. Harris (1917-1986)
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While in modern times we think of Leonardo DaVinci’s extraordinarily accomplishments, this quotation raises our awareness for the patience that he had to have mounted while enduring disappointments, challenges and obstacles inherent in seeking to understand the world though such diverse mediums including science, engineering, anatomy, art, mathematics, music, writing, inventing & architecture.
“Patience serves as a protection against wrongs as clothes do against cold. For if you put on more clothes as the cold increases, it will have no power to hurt you. So in like manner you must grow in patience when you meet with great wrongs, and they will then be powerless to vex your mind.”
- Leonardo DaVinci (1452-1519)
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While writing his many plays, stories and novels, Shaw supported himself as a journalist, writing for various publications as a book, art and music critic. He lived to age 94 and was a very prolific writer and therefore, as evidenced by this quotation, wasn’t all wrapped up in himself.
“Give a man health and a course to steer; and he'll never stop to trouble about whether he's happy or not.”