Things you have learned and...

[Bijo]

...want to tell others (here).


Are there any important lessons / things that you have learned throughout time, throughout life? Tell me: I want to know and maybe learn from your input, as others can learn too from your words. Especially those older members -- above 30 -- I'd like to read from, though age doesn't really matter.


Here are some of my own (mostly old):

-- passion can distort truth and cloud reason

-- pain, suffering, and toil might bring the mind to seek higher purposes

-- to seek truth is a virtuous thing to do

-- there are many simpletons in the world

-- many care not about truth especially if it isn't palatable: palatable lies are much more preferred by them

-- many are still controlled by their emotions, desires, selfishness, irrationality, etc.

-- to rid oneself of passion, emotions, desires, is virtuous and can lead to a clear mind not distracted by those factors, and this in turn will aid in seeking and finding truth

-- conflict is a constant; it is the hard-wired way of nature whereof we're part, and conflict is what humans exercise
-- ^therefore, human peace exists not and is most likely impossible

-- while people suffer, while wars are fought, while people die, while many starve of hunger and thirst, while some are tortured, and so on, many simpletons who have no such problems care about trivial (selfish) matters

-- power, in whatever form whatsoever, doesn't necessarily corrupt people but in most cases just exposes them for what they always were: they were monsters to begin with

-- there's no need for a b'lief in Heaven and Hell: just look at our planet, nature, our way of doing, etc., and there you see a hell already

-- if God is there, He's not almighty or He's an almighty Sadist
-- ^to believe and trust in God is like being a crazy fool

-- many draw outer strength from inner weakness

-- very important things are: justice, truth, virtue, peace, and human-social responsibility.... too bad they are hardly practised.

-- perhaps "we're better off" if we, and everything else, the whole planet, are totally destroyed, our foolish human race, and the cruelty of nature, never to return

-- the more (ugly) truth you know, the more you might suffer

-- a clean-cut well respectable-looking person does not signify a good, moral, etc., person

-- it's not always about who's saying what, but about what's being said

-- if I'd drop dead right now, I'd be the happiest man alive

-- humans, what are they? A bunch of fools that works and plays.

-- a girl broke a nail and told me it was such a bad thing to happen. I told her honestly that it was indeed a terrible thing to overcome her, as her problem was truly much more significant and more grand than other problems of the world such as starvation, war, criminals, corruption, and so on.

-- if this whole planet would explode and everything on it, I'd be the happiest man in the world

And for the record I'm not cynical nor pessimistic nor sarcastic :)

[ShadeHonestus]

I would add that a person seeking to be considered honorable, humble or moral, ceases to be, once their focus and measure of argument becomes the humbling of their opponent.

[drone]

Follow the money.

[Philippus Flavius Homovallumus]

Do not judge yourself in comparison to others, judge yourself more harshly.

[Quid]

Call mum!

Quid

[Hosakawa Tito]

From "All I really needed to know I learned in Kindergarten"

Share everything.
Play fair.
Don't hit people.
Put things back where you found them.
Clean up your own mess.
Don't take things that aren't yours.
Say you're sorry when you hurt somebody.
Wash your hands before you eat.
Flush.
Warm cookies and cold milk are good for you.
Live a balanced life - learn some and think some and draw and paint and sing and dance and play and work every day some.
Take a nap every afternoon.
When you go out in the world, watch out for traffic, hold hands and stick together.
Be aware of wonder. Remember the little seed in the Styrofoam cup: the roots go down and the plant goes up and nobody really knows how or why, but we are all like that.
Goldfish and hamsters and white mice and even the little seed in the Styrofoam cup - they all die. So do we.
And then remember the Dick-and-Jane books and the first word you learned - the biggest word of all - LOOK.

[discovery1]

Voiding your bowels in a public restroom is ok.

[Gawain of Orkeny]

Ive learned that the more you learn the more you realize how little you really know .

[DemonArchangel]

Always be willing to listen.

[Don Corleone]

Nobody has ever laid in their deathbed regretting having wasted so much time with family, wishing they'd spent more time doing things for themselves.

[Pindar]

Are there any important lessons / things that you have learned throughout time, throughout life? Tell me: I want to know and maybe learn from your input, as others can learn too from your words. Especially those older members -- above 30 -- I'd like to read from, though age doesn't really matter.

One thing I learned as I ventured out into the wide world was the emotional investment/component that underlies so many positions people hold and that this applies regardless the level of education.

[Big King Sanctaphrax]

Don't shave naked in front of a hot radiator.

[LeftEyeNine]

Two serious ones out of experience, being my guidelines ever since.

- Life does not have a meaning, it never was meant to have.

- Live up for yourself before anything and anyone else.

- "He's not such a person" is the only valid goal. You set the parameters.

[Louis VI the Fat]

Lessons...uh:
whatever opinions you may hold, please don't ever think you're Jesus and should shoot 32 of your fellow students to make your point. And don't blame the illuminati, Americans or Jews. And war is not the solution.

Also, remember that if you think emtions are the root of all evil, that the world is better of destroyed, that girls shouldn't worry about girlie things, then you probably need to get laid.

[Pannonian]

Friends don't set friends' genitals on fire.

[Strike For The South]

Dont Die

No fat chicks

[KukriKhan]

Words I try to live by, written by a guy smarter than I:

Spoiler Alert, click show to read: 

Go placidly amid the noise and haste,
and remember what peace there may be in silence.
As far as possible without surrender
be on good terms with all persons.
Speak your truth quietly and clearly;
and listen to others,
even the dull and the ignorant;
they too have their story.

Avoid loud and aggressive persons,
they are vexations to the spirit.
If you compare yourself with others,
you may become vain and bitter;
for always there will be greater and lesser persons than yourself.
Enjoy your achievements as well as your plans.


Keep interested in your own career, however humble;
it is a real possession in the changing fortunes of time.
Exercise caution in your business affairs;
for the world is full of trickery.
But let this not blind you to what virtue there is;
many persons strive for high ideals;
and everywhere life is full of heroism.


Be yourself.
Especially, do not feign affection.
Neither be cynical about love;
for in the face of all aridity and disenchantment
it is as perennial as the grass.


Take kindly the counsel of the years,
gracefully surrendering the things of youth.
Nurture strength of spirit to shield you in sudden misfortune.
But do not distress yourself with dark imaginings.
Many fears are born of fatigue and loneliness.
Beyond a wholesome discipline,
be gentle with yourself.


You are a child of the universe,
no less than the trees and the stars;
you have a right to be here.
And whether or not it is clear to you,
no doubt the universe is unfolding as it should.


Therefore be at peace with God,
whatever you conceive Him to be,
and whatever your labors and aspirations,
in the noisy confusion of life keep peace with your soul.


With all its sham, drudgery, and broken dreams,
it is still a beautiful world.
Be cheerful.
Strive to be happy.


Max Ehrmann, Desiderata, Copyright 1952.

I like Hosakawa Tito's selection too. Good advice.

Also, please understand: I don't recommend anyone adopt the Desiderata principles early in life. The teens and 20's are apparently the designated time for self-identification and conflict involvement. Sometime in the 30's or later, after one knows who one is, having gone through those conflicts, is a good time to re-assess one's perspective, and seek real strength and truth.

Oh, and two other valuable ones: never pee uphill, or spit into the wind.

[Csargo]

Oh, and two other valuable ones: never pee uphill, or spit into the wind.

Never pee into the wind either.

[Yun Dog]

1. everybody wants something from you, the sooner you figure out what that is the better you are able to deal with them

2. there is no GOD

3. we are all the same


To quote someone who figured out the solution to all the worlds problems

Spoiler Alert, click show to read: 

Imagine there's no Heaven
It's easy if you try
No hell below us
Above us only sky
Imagine all the people
Living for today

Imagine there's no countries
It isn't hard to do
Nothing to kill or die for
And no religion too
Imagine all the people
Living life in peace

You may say that I'm a dreamer
But I'm not the only one
I hope someday you'll join us
And the world will be as one

Imagine no possessions
I wonder if you can
No need for greed or hunger
A brotherhood of man
Imagine all the people
Sharing all the world

You may say that I'm a dreamer
But I'm not the only one
I hope someday you'll join us
And the world will live as one
John Lennon

[Lemur]

My grandfather used to unload some beauties (I'll pick from the PG-rated ones):

• Do like I says, no like I do.
• You'd worry less what other people think of you if you knew how seldom they do.
• Front sight, boy, front sight.
• You won't have no worries if you cash big checks and write small checks.

He was a good man.

[Gawain of Orkeny]

You won't have no worries if you cash big checks and write small checks.

Buy low, sell high

[Lemur]

Buy low, sell high

A variation on that theme that I've learned on my own:

When everybody is running around, declaring that the end is nigh, and the market is in a state of collapse, and the talking heads on TV say things will never be good again ... buy.

When you read editorials about how market cycles are a thing of the past, an the boom will last forever, and all the fundamentals have changed, and everybody's gonna be rich ... sell.

[Papewaio]

Learn to distinguish between pleasure and happiness. A lot of the time it is possible to hold onto both, however if it comes down to a choice of which to pursue go for happiness even if the path is far more painful.

To respect the humanity in others is a good thing. To not acknowledge the humanity in others is an evil thing.

Laugh at yourself before you make fun of others.

Men use their personalities for contraception.

The world does not owe you anything. It is a gigantic toy store and it is up to you to assemble the pieces and play with your creations.

Try to understand the power of compounding interest. More importantly value yourself and learn time management. Money can always come back to you, the past is gone.

Most of the flaws we see in others is our perception.

Once we learn something it is very hard to unlearn it. So if you want to look happy, calm and professional as you do something... learn it in such a fashion.

Stress might be the little mind killer, but its a good buzz along with caffeine, sexual tension and deadlines. Stress will always crop up, learn to enjoy it and it becomes an acquired taste. Once stress stops clouding your judgment you will find that it is far easier to deal with the underlying problem.



Enjoy the journey.

[BigTex]

Never let a redneck near firework morters.

Everything in moderation, except women, ramen noodles and coffee.

Never trust a politician.

Change your oil, frequently.

Never let stress build up.

Have fun.

[doc_bean]

Things are only as important as you value them. Your life will not end if you don't get a degree, you don't need to be the best musician in the world, nor the greatest author or the fastest runner. Life is pointless, enjoy the ride.

Drugs make you dumb, MJ certainly in the short run, alcohol in the long run.

You CAN have enough money. You don't need every friggin' gadget out there.

The most valuable resource of all is time. Unfortuantely you can't store it.

[Fragony]

Water levels may vary dramatically, just because you could sail under a bridge yesterday doesn't mean that is true for the day after

Never urinate against electric wires.

Never wear white trousers when you have stomach problems.

Don't pick fights with skinheads.

If something is too good to be true try it anyway.

[Ja'chyra]

People are *********, don't worry about what they think of you
Family comes first
Don't worry about things you can't do anything about
Don't give advice, cos then it'll be your fault when it all goes wrong
Phone your mum regularly
Laugh
There's no such thing as equal rights
People don't mind being laughed at if you laugh at yourself too
You don't need 6 pairs of underwear for an overnight trip no matter how many times she tells you that you do.
Women are mental
Don't write lists
Don't be scared to change your mind
Admit it when you're wrong

[English assassin]

Many more people are stupid than are evil. Unfortunately the practical consequences of the two are often indistinguishable.

Always remember, you might be wrong.

But, having considered that you might be wrong, if you decide that you aren't, go for it, and "daisy" what anyone else says.

Never do anything that would embarrass you. If you are embarrassed: don't do it. If you are not embarrassed: get on with it.

Don't leave it too late to have kids. 30 is plenty.

Real men do NOT ask for directions.

Oh yeah, and Satan invented bacon, apparently. Not sure about that one.

[Banquo's Ghost]

Oh yeah, and Satan invented bacon, apparently. Not sure about that one.

Not possible.

If there is one true proof of the awesome existence of a magnanimous, loving God it is the bacon sarnie.

Even Professor Dawkins concedes that argument.

[macsen rufus]

Don't believe any of us.

The best things in life aren't things.

If you're not true to yourself, how can you be true to anyone else?

The only heaven or hell are those we make for ourselves on earth.

Youth is wasted on the young

Stay in credit; nothing destroys freedom like debt.

Smell the flowers, gaze at the stars, swim with dolphins, see the world (not from an armchair, either!)

Your real wealth is the people around you.

Two ways to be rich: make more or desire less. Who dies with the most toys, still dies.