p. 5 And I think quite a lot of people find the years straight out of college to be some of the hardest in life. All the educational framework which you've used to hold yourself up, and which in large part you've defined yourself by, is taken away and you're like a climbing rose without a trellis. And you either lie on the ground and rot or allow yourself to be pruned and get turned into a rosebush which can stand its own integrity.
p. 5 Suffice it to say, from that point on things began to improve. By which I don't mean that I jumped straight out of the [post-graduation/what-to-do-with-my-life] trough and shot up the greasy pole of success again, nor that I just exchanged low spirits for high spirits. I began to realize that hills and dales are equally impostors - like Kipling's triumph and disaster. Success can't keep its promises and failure can't hold its ground. One shouldn't be bamboozled by either state. The important thing is not to be in a certain state, but to be a certain kind of person in whichever state you find yourself. Sure, I think one has a duty to do as much as one can to fulfill one's potential, to strive for success, certainly to do good and avoid evil, but the outcome of one's efforts is of secondary importance. To quote a certain wizard's advice to a Mr. Underhill (significant name) who was lamenting that he lived in dark days: "All we have to decide is what to do with the time that is given us." Or to paraphrase Mother Teresa: We are not called to be successful; we are called to be faithful.
p. 7 At graduation I thought I'd arrived. Having done all I was told I should accomplish by way of earning a good degree from a good school, I thought I could expect life to unfurl smoothly before me in a series of ever more pleasant and successful scenes. It took me quite a while to realize that this wasn't to be my lot, that this is the lot of nobody, and that life actually proceeds according to what C.S. Lewis calls the "law of undulation." G.K. Chesterton called it the rolling English road.
Saturday, June 27, 2015
Monday, June 22, 2015
The Richest Man in Babylon by George S. Clason, r. Jun. 2015
p. 14 As for study, did not our wise teacher teach us that learning was of two kinds: the one kind being the things we learned and knew, and the other being the training that taught us how to find out what we did not know?
p. 16 And when youth comes to age for advice he receives the wisdom of years. But too often does youth think that age knows only the wisdom of days gone, and therefor profits not. But remember this, the sun that shines today is the sun that shone when thy father was born, and will still be shining when thy last grandchild shall pass into the darkness.
p. 17 The thoughts of youth are bright lights that shine forth like the meteors that oft make brilliant the sky, but the wisdom of age is like the fixed stars that shine so unchanged that the sailor may depend upon them to steer his course.
p. 22 You have learned your lesson well. You first learned to live upon less than you could earn. Next you learned to seek advice from those who were competent through their own experiences to give it. And, lastly, you have learned to make gold work for you.
p. 24 When I set a task for myself, I complete it. Therefore, I am careful not to start difficult and impractical tasks, because I love leisure.
p. 26 A small return and a safe one is far more desirable than risk.
p. 26 Enjoy life while you are here. Do not overstrain or try to save too much. If one-tenth of all you earn is as much as you can comfortably keep, be content to keep this portion. Live otherwise according to your income and let not yourself get niggardly and afraid to spend. Life is good and life is rich with things worthwhile and things to enjoy.
p. 37 Which desirest thou the most? Is it the gratification of thy desires of each day, a jewel, a bit of finery, better raiment, more food; things quickly gone and forgotten? Or is it substantial belongings, gold, lands, herds, merchandise, income-bringing investments? The coins thou takest from thy purse bring the first. The coins thou leavest within it will bring the latter.
p. 46 Better by far to consult the wisdom of those experienced in handling money for profit. Such advice is freely given for the asking and may readily posses a value equal in gold to the sum thou considerest investing. In truth, such is its actual value if it save thee from loss.
p. 47 To a man's heart it bring gladness to eat the figs from his own trees and the grapes of his own vines. To own his own domicile and to have it a place he is proud to care for, putteth confidence in his heart and greater effort behind all his endeavors. Therefore, do I recommend that every man own the roof that sheltereth him and his.
p. 53 Preceding accomplishment must be desire. Thy desires must be strong and definite. General desires are but weak longings. For a man to wish to be rich is of little purpose. For a man to desire five pieces of gold is a tangible desire which he can press to fulfillment.
p. 97 Our wise acts accompany us through life to please us and to help us. Just as surely, our unwise acts follow us to plague and torment us.
p. 105 If you desire to help thy friend, do so in a way that will not bring thy friend's burdens upon thyself.
p. 113 I like not idle gold, even less I like too much of risk.
p. 116 Then be not swayed by foolish sentiments of obligation to trust thy treasure to any person. If thou wouldst help thy family or thy friends, find other ways than risking the loss of the treasure. Forget not that gold slippeth away in unexpected ways from those unskilled in guarding it. As well waste thy treasure in extravagance as let others lose it for thee.
p. 154 It was like having an adventure to make the change [to a cheaper lifestyle]. We enjoyed figuring this way and that, to live comfortably upon that remaining seventy percent.
p. 167 Some men hate [work]. They make it their enemy. Better to treat it like a friend, make thyself like it. Don't mind because it is hard. If thou thinkest about what a good house thou build, then who cares if the beams are heavy and it is far from the well to carry the water for the plaster…. Remember, work, well-done, does good to the man who does it. It makes him a better man.
p. 16 And when youth comes to age for advice he receives the wisdom of years. But too often does youth think that age knows only the wisdom of days gone, and therefor profits not. But remember this, the sun that shines today is the sun that shone when thy father was born, and will still be shining when thy last grandchild shall pass into the darkness.
p. 17 The thoughts of youth are bright lights that shine forth like the meteors that oft make brilliant the sky, but the wisdom of age is like the fixed stars that shine so unchanged that the sailor may depend upon them to steer his course.
p. 22 You have learned your lesson well. You first learned to live upon less than you could earn. Next you learned to seek advice from those who were competent through their own experiences to give it. And, lastly, you have learned to make gold work for you.
p. 24 When I set a task for myself, I complete it. Therefore, I am careful not to start difficult and impractical tasks, because I love leisure.
p. 26 A small return and a safe one is far more desirable than risk.
p. 26 Enjoy life while you are here. Do not overstrain or try to save too much. If one-tenth of all you earn is as much as you can comfortably keep, be content to keep this portion. Live otherwise according to your income and let not yourself get niggardly and afraid to spend. Life is good and life is rich with things worthwhile and things to enjoy.
p. 37 Which desirest thou the most? Is it the gratification of thy desires of each day, a jewel, a bit of finery, better raiment, more food; things quickly gone and forgotten? Or is it substantial belongings, gold, lands, herds, merchandise, income-bringing investments? The coins thou takest from thy purse bring the first. The coins thou leavest within it will bring the latter.
p. 46 Better by far to consult the wisdom of those experienced in handling money for profit. Such advice is freely given for the asking and may readily posses a value equal in gold to the sum thou considerest investing. In truth, such is its actual value if it save thee from loss.
p. 47 To a man's heart it bring gladness to eat the figs from his own trees and the grapes of his own vines. To own his own domicile and to have it a place he is proud to care for, putteth confidence in his heart and greater effort behind all his endeavors. Therefore, do I recommend that every man own the roof that sheltereth him and his.
p. 53 Preceding accomplishment must be desire. Thy desires must be strong and definite. General desires are but weak longings. For a man to wish to be rich is of little purpose. For a man to desire five pieces of gold is a tangible desire which he can press to fulfillment.
p. 97 Our wise acts accompany us through life to please us and to help us. Just as surely, our unwise acts follow us to plague and torment us.
p. 105 If you desire to help thy friend, do so in a way that will not bring thy friend's burdens upon thyself.
p. 113 I like not idle gold, even less I like too much of risk.
p. 116 Then be not swayed by foolish sentiments of obligation to trust thy treasure to any person. If thou wouldst help thy family or thy friends, find other ways than risking the loss of the treasure. Forget not that gold slippeth away in unexpected ways from those unskilled in guarding it. As well waste thy treasure in extravagance as let others lose it for thee.
p. 154 It was like having an adventure to make the change [to a cheaper lifestyle]. We enjoyed figuring this way and that, to live comfortably upon that remaining seventy percent.
p. 167 Some men hate [work]. They make it their enemy. Better to treat it like a friend, make thyself like it. Don't mind because it is hard. If thou thinkest about what a good house thou build, then who cares if the beams are heavy and it is far from the well to carry the water for the plaster…. Remember, work, well-done, does good to the man who does it. It makes him a better man.
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