Email me: lylewisdom@gmail.com

Friday, February 29, 2008

Simplicity Through Language

The simplicities of natural laws arise through the complexities of the language we use for their expression. - Eugene Wigner

That is why the language of an idea needs to come prior to the explanation.

Thursday, February 28, 2008

Being Macho

Macho does not prove mucho. - Zsa Zsa Gabor

In other words "Don't call him a cowboy until you have seen him ride."

Wednesday, February 27, 2008

The Country's Flight

Assuming either the Left Wing or the Right Wing gained control of the country, it would probably fly around in circles. - Pat Paulsen

If the Moderates gained control the country wouldn't be able to get off the ground.

Tuesday, February 26, 2008

Good Experiences

Experience is not what happens to you; it is what you do with what happens to you. - Aldous Huxley

If you want good experiences then react well.

Monday, February 25, 2008

Hypothesis Neutrality

It is absolutely essential that one should be neutral and not fall in love with the hypothesis. - David Douglass

There is a BIG difference between a hypothesis and a proof. Think UFO's.

Sunday, February 24, 2008

Who Has a Soul?

It is only to the individual that a soul is given. - Albert Einstein

The collective doesn't; minorities don't; the majority doesn't, only the individual has Rights. Remember that.

Saturday, February 23, 2008

Underlying Order

There is no logical way to the discovery of these elemental laws. There is only the way of intuition, which is helped by a feeling for the order lying behind the appearance. - Albert Einstein

I agree, but I would go further. When examining processes (natural or human made) seek the order lying behind the appearance.

Friday, February 22, 2008

Help The Blind To See

With most people disbelief in a thing is founded on a blind belief in some other thing. - Georg C. Lichtenberg

So, in order to change someone's blind belief to your idea you must first give them sight.

Thursday, February 21, 2008

Weather Is Like Advice

The trouble with weather forecasting is that it's right too often for us to ignore it and wrong too often for us to rely on it. - Patrick Young

Kind of like advice!

Wednesday, February 20, 2008

Produce Before Consuming

Wealth represents goods that have been produced but not yet consumed. - Ayn Rand

If you consume before producing you are a borrower or a thief. Either way you are not wealthy.

Tuesday, February 19, 2008

Selective Agreement

The fellow that agrees with everything you say is either a fool or he is getting ready to skin you. - Kin Hubbard

The only exception are those you are mentoring. If they are smart they might question but never argue.

Monday, February 18, 2008

Grammer Training

If you feel basic grammar is a remedial chore best suited for kids, you are right. So are multiplication charts, table manners, and toilet training. - Pat Walsh



If you are going to write then write well.

Sunday, February 17, 2008

The Long Thread

Nature uses only the longest threads to weave her patterns, so each small piece of her fabric reveals the organization of the entire tapestry. - Richard P. Feynman



Let us all try to imitate nature in our lives. Character should be a consistent thread.

Saturday, February 16, 2008

Saying Something Special

If the little bit you have is nothing special in itself, at least find a way of saying it that is a little bit special. - Georg C. Lichtenberg



The Gettysburg Address by Lincoln comes to mind.

Friday, February 15, 2008

Murder is Not Painless

Being murdered is not painless, so why all the hand-wringing about trying to make the execution of murderers painless? - Thomas Sowell



Do you think when the Bible says an eye for an eye they were thinking about one with a stick and the other with anesthetic?

Thursday, February 14, 2008

Why the World is Dangerous

The world is a dangerous place, not because of those who do evil, but because of those who look on and do nothing. - Albert Einstein



Or worse yet; those that make excuses for the evildoers or refuse to define the difference between good and evil.

Wednesday, February 13, 2008

Compromise Between Food and Poison?

In any compromise between food and poison, it is only death that can win. In any compromise between good and evil, it is only evil that can profit. - Ayn Rand

In matters of morals, half-steps are not an option; compromise is surrender; conciliation is defeat.

Tuesday, February 12, 2008

Half Step to Socialism

If people should ever start to do only what is necessary millions would die of hunger. - Georg C. Lichtenberg

Communism tried it and millions died. If we take only a half-step in that direction then perhaps only a half-million will die.

Monday, February 11, 2008

The Tooth Fairy Approach

You may scoff at the Tooth Fairy if you like. But the Tooth Fairy's approach has gotten more politicians elected than any economist's analysis. - Thomas Sowell

Or by principled policy, probity or any other admirable quality.

Sunday, February 10, 2008

Unanswered Questions

A fundamental part of my soul is to doubt and to ask. I can live with doubt and uncertainty and not knowing. It is much more interesting to live not knowing than to have answers which might be wrong. - Richard P. Feynman

Just because you have a question does not mean you HAVE to have an answer.

Saturday, February 9, 2008

UFO Sightings

From my knowledge of the world I think it is much more likely the reports of flying saucers are the result of the known irrational characteristics of terrestial intelligence rather than the unknown rational efforts of extra-terrestial intelligence. - Richard P. Feynman

For the irrational it is easy to make assumptions about the unknown. The rational will try to make the unknown knowable.

Friday, February 8, 2008

Those With The Most Toys May Be a Loser

What you get by achieving your goals is not as important as what you become by achieving your goals. - Zig Ziglar



They say that those with the most toys wins. A perfect example of why to ignore what they say.

Thursday, February 7, 2008

Secret Imperfections

If A is a success in life, then A equals x plus y plus z. Work is x; y is play; and z is keeping your mouth shut. - Albert Einstein



My Grandfather (my father's father) was, amongst other things, an accomplished carpenter. He said the sign of a good carpenter was one who could keep his mouth shut.

Wednesday, February 6, 2008

Ignoring is Not Ignorance

If thou are a master, be sometimes blind; if a servant, sometimes deaf. - Thomas Fuller

A sprinkling of tolerance, though sometimes hard to find, may be what is required to balance the recipe.

Tuesday, February 5, 2008

Where Facts Are Few

Where facts are few, experts are many. - Donald R. Gannon

Where facts are few the expert is more of a gossiper but when facts are many - and most are ignored - the expert becomes a huckster.

Monday, February 4, 2008

Self-Righteous Wind

Vegetarianism is harmles enough, although it is apt to fill a man with wind and self-righteousness. - Dr. Robert Hutchinson

The same could be said of any zealot but the wind may blow in a different direction.

Sunday, February 3, 2008

Inflammatory Words

Although words exist for the most part for the transmission of ideas, there are some which produce such vilent disturbance in our feelings that the role they play in the transmission of ideas is lost in the background. - Albert Einstein

To convince, speak passionately but watch that your words do not inflame.

Saturday, February 2, 2008

Skinning Sheep

Kings ought to shear, not skin their sheep. - Robert Herrick

A skinned sheep will give no more wool.

Friday, February 1, 2008

Tearing Through Life

Living is like tearing through a museum. Not until later do you really start absorbing what you saw, thinking about it, looking it up in a book, and remembering - because you can't take it in all at once. - Audrey Hepburn

This is why it is so important to write - it jogs the memory latter on.