Monday, December 31, 2012

Sunday, December 30, 2012

Success, Confucius

君子求諸己 小人求諸人。

- 孔子

What the superior man seeks is in himself. What the mean man seeks is in others.

- Confucius (551BC–479BC)

Saturday, December 29, 2012

Advice, Johann Wolfgang von Goethe

One ought, every day at least, to hear a little song, read a good poem, see a fine picture and, if possible, speak a few reasonable words.

- Johann Wolfgang von Goethe (1749-1832)

Hero, French Proverb



No man is a hero to his valet.

- French Proverb

Advice, Daniel H. Burnham


Make no little plans; they have no magic to stir men's blood...Make big plans, aim high in hope and work.

- Daniel H. Burnham (1846-1912)


Success is made through motivation, focus and patience. Someone once said that the strangest secret in life is that “Everything we hope for becomes reality.” Successful people always possess the desire for something more. They are not satisfied with what they have, and so they strive for something better. There have been no victors who did not want success. A person with no ambition is like a boat without a rudder.

Friday, December 28, 2012

Advice, Hilary Swank as Holly Kennedy from P.S. I Love You (2007)

Something is never nothing. It's always something.

- Hilary Swank as Holly Kennedy from P.S. I Love You (2007), written by Cecelia Ahern

Attitude, W. Clement Stone



There is little difference in people, but that little difference makes a big difference. The little difference is attitude. The big difference is whether it is positive or negative.

- W. Clement Stone (1902-2002)

Thursday, December 27, 2012

Success, Confucius

仁者先難而後獲。

- 孔子

The man of virtue makes the difficulty to be overcome his first business, and success only a subsequent consideration.

- Confucius (551BC–479BC)

Wednesday, December 26, 2012

Creativity·Ideas, George Bernard Shaw

Imagination is the beginning of creation. You imagine what you desire, you will what you imagine and at last you create what you will.

- George Bernard Shaw (1856–1950)

Tuesday, December 25, 2012

Life, Peter Boyle as Wizard from Taxi Driver (1976)

Look, look at it this way, you know uh, a man, a man takes a job, you know, and that job, I mean like that, and that it becomes what he is. You know like uh, you do a thing and that's what you are. Like I've been a, I've been a cabbie for seventeen years, ten years at night and I still don't own my own cab. You know why? 'Cause I don't want to. I must be what I, what I want. You know, to be on the night shift drivin' somebody else's cab.

- Peter Boyle as Wizard from Taxi Driver (1976)


http://en.wikiquote.org/wiki/Taxi_Driver

Monday, December 24, 2012

Study, Confucius

學而不思則罔思而不學則殆。

- 孔子

He who learns but does not think, is lost! He who thinks but does not learn is in great danger.

- Confucius (551BC–479BC)

Sunday, December 23, 2012

Art, Francois Cavanna

When Michelangelo finished the painting of the Sistine Chapel's ceiling, he spent the rest of his life trying to remove the paint that had poured into his sleeve.

- François Cavanna (1923- )

Saturday, December 22, 2012

Beauty, Sailor Moon

It's sad that a selfish woman like you will never know how wonderful being in love is! Your beautiful world of ice will just be a dark land of death! How could a world without life be beautiful?

- Sailor Moon

Friday, December 21, 2012

Knowledge·Wisdom, Zhuangzi

吾生也有涯,而知也无涯。

- 莊子 養生主

There is a limit to our life, but to knowledge there is no limit.

- Zhuangzi (莊子), Nourishing the Lord of Life (養生主)


http://ctext.org/zhuangzi/nourishing-the-lord-of-life

Thursday, December 20, 2012

Life, Hippocrates

Greek

Ὁ βίος βραχύς,
ἡ δὲ τέχνη μακρή,
ὁ δὲ καιρὸς ὀξύς,
ἡ δὲ πεῖρα σφαλερή,
ἡ δὲ κρίσις χαλεπή.

- Hippokratēs

Life is short,
art is long,
opportunity fleeting,
experiment uncertain,
and judgement difficult.

- Hippocrates (460BC–370BC)

Wednesday, December 19, 2012

Hero, Steve Trevor

Wonder Woman: You're a strange one, Steve Trevor. You have no special powers, yet you're willing to risk your life here. Aren't you afraid of dying?
Steve Trevor: Some things are worth dying for, Angel.

- Steve Trevor from Justice League, The Savage Time

http://en.wikiquote.org/wiki/Justice_League

Tuesday, December 18, 2012

Life, Zhuangzi

人生天地之間,若白駒之過郤。

- 莊子 知北遊

Life between heaven and earth is like a white colt's passing a crevice.

- Zhuangzi (莊子), Knowledge Rambling in the North (知北遊)


http://ctext.org/zhuangzi/knowledge-rambling-in-the-north

Sunday, December 16, 2012

Solitude·Self-reliance, Zhuangzi

儵魚出遊從容,是魚樂也。

- 莊子 秋水

These thryssas come out, and play about at their ease - that is the enjoyment of fishes.

- Zhuangzi (莊子), The Floods of Autumn (秋水)


http://ctext.org/zhuangzi/floods-of-autumn

Success·Failure, George Bernard Shaw


People are always blaming circumstances for what they are. I don't believe in circumstances. The people who get on in this world are the people who get up and look for the circumstances they want, and, if they can't find them, make them.

- George Bernard Shaw (1856–1950)

Friday, December 14, 2012

Advice, Laozi, Dao De Jing

大直若屈,大巧若拙,大辯若訥。

- 老子, 道德經

The moat straightness seems crooked. The greatest skill seems clumsy, and the outstanding eloquence seems inarticulate.

- Laozi, Dao De Jing

Thursday, December 13, 2012

Life, Nina Dobrev as Elena from Vampire Diaries

All you can do is be ready for the good, so when it comes, you invite it in. Because you need it. I need it.

- Nina Dobrev as Elena Gilbert from Vampire Diaries, Pilot [1.1]

Wednesday, December 12, 2012

Advice, Laozi, Dao De Jing

善行無轍迹,善言無瑕讁;善數不用籌策;善閉無關楗而不可開,善結無繩約而不可解。

- 老子, 道德經

The skilful traveller leaves no traces of his wheels or footsteps; the skilful speaker says nothing that can be found fault with or blamed; the skilful reckoner uses no tallies; the skilful closer needs no bolts or bars, while to open what he has shut will be impossible; the skilful binder uses no strings or knots, while to unloose what he has bound will be impossible.

- Laozi, Dao De Jing

Tuesday, December 11, 2012

Choice, Jessica Alba as Invisible Woman in Fantastic Four: Rise of the Silver Surfer

Susan Storm: Why are you destroying our planet?
Silver Surfer: I have no choice.
Susan Storm: There’s always a choice.
Silver Surfer: Not always.

- Jessica Alba as Susan Storm, Fantastic Four: Rise of the Silver Surfer (2007)

Monday, December 10, 2012

Advice, Laozi, Dao De Jing

是以聖人欲上民,必以言下之;欲先民,必以身後之。

- 老子, 道德經

So it is that the sage, wishing to be above men, puts himself by his words below them, and, wishing to be before them, places himself behind them.

- Laozi, Dao De Jing

Sunday, December 9, 2012

Hero, Scarlett Johansson as Natalie Rushman from Iron Man 2 (2010)

Natalie Rushman: I need your impression.
Tony Stark: Well, you have a quiet reserve about you...
Natalie: I meant your fingerprint.

- Scarlett Johansson as Natalie Rushman from Iron Man 2 (2010)

Saturday, December 8, 2012

Advice, Laozi, Dao De Jing

希言自然,故飄風不終朝,驟雨不終日。

- 老子, 道德經

Abstaining from speech marks him who is obeying the spontaneity of his nature. A violent wind does not last for a whole morning; a sudden rain does not last for the whole day.

- Laozi, Dao De Jing

Friday, December 7, 2012

Happiness, Albert Schweitzer


Success is not the key to happiness. Happiness is the key to success. If you love what you are doing, you will be successful. The only ones among you who will be really happy are those who will have sought and found how to serve.

- Albert Schweitzer (1875–1965)

Life, Nina Dobrev as Elena Gilbert from Vampire Diaries

Dear Diary, I made it through the day. I must have said "I'm fine, thanks" at least 37 times. And I didn't mean it once. But no one noticed. When someone asks "How are you?", they really don't want an answer.

- Nina Dobrev as Elena Gilbert from Vampire Diaries, Pilot [1.1]

Thursday, December 6, 2012

Advice, Laozi, Dao De Jing

聖人處無為之事,行不言之教。

- 老子, 道德經

The sage manages affairs without doing anything, and conveys his instructions without the use of speech.

- Laozi (老子, 604 BC-? ), Dao De Jing


http://ctext.org/dao-de-jing

Wednesday, December 5, 2012

Life, Nina Dobrev as Elena Gilbert from Vampire Diaries

Dear Diary, Today will be different. It has to be. I will smile, and it will be believable. My smile will say, "I'm fine, thank you. Yes, I feel much better." I will no longer be the sad little girl that lost her parents. I will start fresh, be someone new. It's the only way I'll make it through.

- Quotes·Quotation by Nina Dobrev as Elena Gilbert, Vampire Diaries, Pilot [1.1]


http://en.wikiquote.org/wiki/The_Vampire_Diaries_(TV_series)

Tuesday, December 4, 2012

Female, Laozi, Dao De Jing


谷神不死,是謂玄牝。

- 老子, 道德經

The valley spirit dies not, aye the same; The female mystery thus do we name.

- Laozi (老子), Dao De Jing (道德經)


http://ctext.org/dao-de-jing

Monday, December 3, 2012

Saturday, December 1, 2012

Education, B. F. Skinner


Education is what survives when what has been learned has been forgotten.

- B. F. Skinner (1904-1990)

Friday, November 30, 2012

Thursday, November 29, 2012

Life, Confucius


未能事人 焉能事鬼 未知生, 焉知死。

- 孔子

While you are not able to serve men, how can you serve spirits? While you do not know life, how can you know about death?

- Confucius (孔子, 551BC–479BC)


References

¶ Memento mori (Latin)
Remember your mortality.

Wednesday, November 28, 2012

PC, Bill Gates


I think it's fair to say that personal computers have become the most empowering tool we've ever created. They're tools of communication, they're tools of creativity, and they can be shaped by their user.

- Bill Gates (1955- )

Death, Nina Dobrev as Elena from Vampire Diaries


Elena: People are going to stop giving you breaks, Jeremy. They just don't care any more. They don't remember that our parents are dead, they have their own lives to deal with. The rest of the world has moved on. You should try to.
Jeremy: I've seen you in the cemetery writing in your diary. Is that... is that supposed to be you moving on?

- Nina Dobrev as Elena Gilbert from Vampire Diaries, Pilot [1.1]

Tuesday, November 27, 2012

Honor, Confucius


為政以德 譬如北辰居其所而眾星共之。

- 孔子

He who exercises government by means of his virtue may be compared to the north polar star, which keeps its place and all the stars turn towards it.

- Confucius (孔子)

Monday, November 26, 2012

Life, Confucius


見賢思齊焉,見不賢而內自省也。

When we see men of worth, we should think of equaling them; when we see men of a contrary character, we should turn inwards and examine ourselves.

- Confucius (孔子)

Friday, November 23, 2012

Thursday, November 22, 2012

Success·Failure, John C. Maxwell


Way to success

Approximately 95 percent of us have never written out our goals in life, but of the 5 percent who have, 95 percent have achieved their goals.

- John C. Maxwell (1947- )


There are numerous studies that show similar results- it has a very simple conclusion. “Dream big, but make it specific; don’t keep it to yourself; let the whole world know. Write down the vision every day; pour your heart and soul into its success- it will become a reality before you know it.”

Work, Publilius Syrus


To do two things at once is to do neither.

- Publilius Syrus (1C BC-?)

Wednesday, November 21, 2012

Advice, Diogenes


What was very difficult, and what was easy

When Thales was asked what was very difficult, he said, "To know one's self." And what was easy, "To advise another."

- Diogenes of Sinope (412–323 BC), better known as Diogenes the Cynic or simply Diogenes, philosopher


Great leaders have something in common- they are adept at giving praise, whereas the opposite holds true for incompetent leaders who are skilled in pointing out other people’s faults. When a leader starts being harder on himself than on others; this type of natural leadership becomes a valuable influence. A person who can conquer someone will be considered strong, but someone who can conquer themselves will be considered truly great.

Beauty, Scott Westerfeld, Uglies


What you do, the way you think, makes you beautiful.

Scott Westerfeld (1963- ), Uglies

Tuesday, November 20, 2012

Advice, Dee Hock


Make a short list of things done to you that you abhorred. Don’t do them to others. Ever! Make another list of other things done to you that you loved. Do them to others. Always!

- Dee Hock (1929- )