Dressing Thought

Language is the dress of thought. - Samuel Johnson 


If he's right then some of the folks we see on TV have some god-awful thoughts!


(Other posts on Thinking) 

Perverted Government

Experience hath shewn, that even under the best forms of government those entrusted with power have, in time, and by slow operations, perverted it into tyranny. - Thomas Jefferson 


This is why the Constitution of the United States was written limiting the power of the government. By slow progression the undereducated people have given over power to Washington - my fear is that it will lead to greater and greater tyranny.


(Other posts on Government) 

Watch What You Say

I've had to abandon free market principles to save the free market. - President George W. Bush 


Be sure to never say anything this stupid.


(Other posts on Principles) 

Education Is Different Than Indoctrination

Education is the most powerful weapon which you can use to change the world. - Nelson Mandela 


There is a distinct difference between education and indoctrination. Thinking is involved in education.


(Other post on Education) 

Preserving Liberty

Liberty cannot be preserved without a general knowledge among the people. - John Adams 


Face it, general knowledge will not be provided by the public schools (that includes Universities). It is up to you to do the job. Do it gently though, you will bucking the trend.


(Other posts on Education) 

Coffee Machines - Guest Blog

Each morning I get up and put the coffee pot on. I then tell it to make coffee faster - it's important. Now I've had this particular coffee maker for over a year and it still takes the same amount of time to make coffee. Now matter whether I'm nice to it, swear at it, beg it.......it still makes coffee no faster. I bought it because it suited my needs (price, size, options, etc.). I failed to add in one requirement - that it make coffee real fast. I added that desire after it came into my home so I guess I can't expect it to change. It makes coffee at the speed it does and will continue to. I can't get mad at it because that is just the way it makes coffee - because I want coffee faster should not (and cannot) change the way it makes coffee.

 

Kind of like a spouse. - Lyle Wilson

Sometimes one dwells on the one thing that isn't right and forgets about all of those things that make something pretty close to perfect.

Education vs Intelligence - Guest Blog

You're not dumb, just under-educated - Lyle Wilson

When the old man tutors kids he always believes that the road to success can only be cleared by eliminating reasons (prejudice, intelligence) why you can't succeed. You or the people around you can always give you a perfect reason to fail.

The Nature of Coin

All the perplexities, confusion and distress in America arise, not from defects in their Constitution or Confederation, not from want of honor or virtue, so much as from the downright ignorance of the nature of coin, credit and circulation. - John Adams 


This seems to hold true even over 200 years later - fantastic insight!


(Other posts on Money) 

Middle Age

One of the many things nobody ever tells you about middle age is that it's such a nice change from being young. - William Feather 


You are not told about it because they hate to admit it.


(Other posts about Time) 

Lucky Work

I find that the harder I work, the more luck I seem to have. - Thomas Jefferson 


Imagine that!


(Other posts on Work) 

Right Luck

Most of us regard good luck as our right, and bad luck as a betrayal of that right. - William Feather 


Understand what a "right" is - then you will not be so easily fooled.


(Other posts on Rights) 

Discovering What Is Teachable

For me, the first challenge for computing science is to discover how to maintain order in a finite, but very large, discrete universe that is intricately intertwined. And a second, but not less important challenge is how to mould what you have achieved in solving the first problem, into a teachable discipline: it does not suffice to hone your own intellect (that will join you in your grave), you must teach others how to hone theirs. The more you concentrate on these two challenges, the clearer you will see that they are only two sides of the same coin: teaching yourself is discovering what is teachable. - Edsger W. Dijkstra 


You don't have to be involved in computer science to learn from what he says here.


(Other posts on Learning) 

Too Much Liberty

I would rather be exposed to the inconveniences attending too much liberty than to those attending too small a degree of it. - Thomas Jefferson 


Arguments supporting an incremental loss of Liberty are generally Machiavellian .


(Other posts on Liberty) 

Snarl for Peace

That they may have a little peace, even the best dogs are compelled to snarl occasionally. - William Feather 

If they don't they are just an underdog.


(Other posts on Respect) 

Finally Succeeding

I mean, if 10 years from now, when you are doing something quick and dirty, you suddenly visualize that I am looking over your shoulders and say to yourself "Dijkstra would not have liked this", well, that would be enough immortality for me. - Edsger W. Dijkstra 


Ditto.


(Other posts on Success) 

Computer Thought

The question of whether a computer can think is no more interesting than the question of whether a submarine can swim. - E. W. Dijkstra


An elegant example showing that words do mean something.


(Other posts on Words) 

Spending Wisdom

The petty economies of the rich are just as amazing as the silly extravagances of the poor. - William Feather 


 Having money or not does not make you wise.


(Other posts on Wisdom) 

Love and Friendship

The feeling of friendship is like that of being comfortably filled with roast beef; love, like being enlivened with champagne. - Samuel Johnson 


 What a wonderful toast over dinner with friends and loved ones!


(Other posts on pleasure)  

The Successful Boss

He isn't a real boss until he has trained subordinates to shoulder most of his responsibilities. - William Feather 


Bosses are not totally successful until they have nothing to do but put their feet up and think.


(Other post on Leadership) 

It Can't Be Done!

Back of ninety-nine out of one-hundred assertions that a thing cannot be done is nothing but the unwillingness to do it. - William Feather  


The secret to getting things changed is to get people to think it was their idea.


(Other posts on Change) 

Well Worded Problems

A major stimulant to creative thinking is focused questions. There is something about a well-worded question that often penetrates to the heart of the matter and triggers new ideas and insights. - Brian Tracy 


Replace the word "question" with the word "problem" above.


(Other posts on Problems) 

Problem Facts

If a problem has no solution, it may not be a problem, but a fact - not to be solved, but to be coped with over time. - Shimon Peres 


Situations may change facts into problems which are then solvable.


(Other posts on Problems)  

Poor People

You cannot spend money in luxury without doing good to the poor. Nay, you do more good to them by spending it in luxury, than by giving it; for by spending it in luxury, you make them exert industry, whereas by giving it, you keep them idle. - Samuel Johnson 


There will always be "poor" people - people who would rather be idle than industrious. Those which are industrious, though poor, deserve your respect and reward.


(Other posts on Money) 

Surrendering Dignity

One's dignity may be assaulted, vandalized and cruelly mocked, but cannot be taken away unless it is surrendered. - Michael J. Fox 


Never surrender your dignity.


(Other posts on Character) 

Achieving Excellence

If you want to achieve excellence, you can get there today. As of this second, quit doing less-than-excellent work. - Thomas J. Watson 


Everything you do is under your control.


(Other posts on Achievement) 

Optimism

Optimists and pessimists die the same way. They just live differently. I prefer to live as an optimist. - Shimon Peres 


Pessimists give up the battle before the war begins. I guess that makes them a loser.


(Other posts on Problems)