Neurotic or Psychotic?

Doubt is to certainty as neurosis is to psychosis. The neurotic is in doubt and has fears about persons and things; the psychotic has convictions and makes claims about them. In short, the neurotic has problems, the psychotic has solutions. - Thomas Szasz


I think I would rather be psychotic.


(Other posts on Thinking)

Absurd Atrocities

Those who can make you believe absurdities can make you commit atrocities. - Voltaire


And don't believe they wouldn't! History is full of examples.


(Other posts on History)

The Right Size of Hammer

The best way to find the right tool for the job is to learn to be good at switching hammers. - Seth Godin


My dad used to say if a hammer didn't fix it then get a bigger hammer. I don't believe he was being literal.


(Other posts on Problems)

Offensive Duty

A sense of duty is useful in work, but offensive in personal relations. People wish to be liked, not be endured with patient resignation. - Bertrand Russell


In fact it tends to really piss people off!


(Other posts on People)

Troubled Mind

A mind troubled by doubt cannot focus on the course to victory. - Arthur Golden


Don't trouble your mind with doubt.


(Other posts on Success)

Make Room for Creative Thoughts

The problem is never how to get new, innovative thoughts into your mind, but how to get old ones out. Every mind is a building filled with archaic furniture. Clean out a corner of your mind and creativity will instantly fill it. - Dee Hock


A well functioning mind abhors a vacuum.


(Other posts on Ideas)

Exchanging Gifts

What a pity human beings can't exchange problems. Everyone knows exactly how to solve the other fellow's. – Olin Miller 


An interesting concept but would it be in the true sense of Christmas giving?


(Other posts on Christmas)

True Gift Giving

True giving is when you find an individual or a family that is not able to give back to you. - Rev. Runney Patterson Sr.


This is what we have grown up with. This is the altruistic ideal stated succinctly. To give a gift to ones equal, and they to you, is only a trade - not true giving. Lord knows trade is sinful because it presupposes profit which is downright evil because it assumes selfishness. In order to practice true giving this season you need to find an individual or family which has nothing to give back to you. That leaves out your family or spouse - one would assume even though they may lack financial means they probably have other values to give in return. Your co-workers could probably benefit you in some way so scratch them off of your list. Business associates (customers, suppliers, etc.) are likewise eliminated. Your friends are off the list because since they are friends they may very well help you out if you needed them. The same could probably be said of your neighbors even if you don't know them - they are potential friends at a minimum. Your minister should be eliminated because he is indeed the one who freely gives you the moral imperative you are acting on. That brings into question the church - but we probably shouldn't go there; besides they are just the conduit to the really deserving, not the end itself (right?). Charities fall in the same category. Your dog and cat!.....no, they return love and obedience.


This is getting tough.....Let's see if we can define who would be a worthy recipient of our largess:
This individual must have nothing of value which they might relinquish in return for your gift.
This individual must have no ability to work since they might just mow your lawn as an act of appreciation for your gift.
This individual must have no sense of humor or story telling ability which might enhance your life.
This individual must have no exceptional knowledge which might be of value to you.


So far all I have been able to come up with is a low level government worker.....but I'll keep looking and let you know.


(Since you are probably of value I didn't get you a gift - trying to stay with the true sense of the season, you know.)

Know When to Hold 'em and When to Fold 'em

You must stick to your conviction, but be ready to abandon your assumptions. - Denis Waitley


Always check your premises.


(Other posts on Truth)

Moral Distinctions

Punishment is now unfashionable... because it creates moral distinctions among men, which, to the democratic mind, are odious. We prefer a meaningless collective guilt to a meaningful individual responsibility. - Thomas Szasz


A society without moral distinctions is amoral at best; immoral at worst.


(Other posts on Morals)

Fool-ish

Any fool can criticize, condemn, and complain - and most fools do. - Dale Carnegie


And most that criticize, condemn and complain are fools.


(Other posts on Criticism)

Hurling Insults

A gentleman of Miss Manners's acquaintance was once subjected to a barrage of unwarranted insults. Outraged on his behalf, she asked why he did not trouble to defend himself. His reply (and please forgive the inelegance for the sake of vividness) was: "If someone is throwing up on you, you get out of the way. You do not stay around to examine what is coming up." There is nothing you can say to people who, whatever they may think, see fit to hurl crude insults at you. - Miss Manners

One can fight fire with fire and risk getting burned or you can deprive the fire of air.

(Other posts on Manners)

Learn Like a Kid

Every act of conscious learning requires the willingness to suffer an injury to one's self-esteem. That is why young children, before they are aware of their own self-importance, learn so easily. - Thomas Szasz 


There is a place for masochism after all!


(Other posts on Learning)

Reflections

Remember that children, marriages, and flower gardens reflect the kind of care they get. - H. Jackson Brown, Jr.


And it is easy to tell which ones get the best care.


(Other posts on Marriage)

Augmented Post

There are many reasons to dance, but only one purpose. - Lyle


First some clarifications: I am referring to ballroom style of dancing where this is a man and a woman moving together in a coordinated manner. Also this statement is directed primarily to the gentleman.


People fail to differentiate between the reasons for attempting an endeavor and the purpose of the endeavor. They may very well be very different things and perhaps it is best if they are very different. Too often the reasons are all which exist and the purpose goes undefined. This may very well doom the project from the very start. In the dance example "reasons to dance" might include; you enjoy dancing; you want to meet a lady; you may want to get to know a lady better. On the other hand the "purpose" of the dance is to make the lady look good. To fail to define this purpose dooms the dance. The gentleman may show off, but few if any are impressed - especially the lady of the dance. On the other hand if the purpose is fulfilled the dance will be viewed by all to be a great success. 


Before undertaking a project take a look at the reasons for attempting it but don't fail to define a purpose; then set out to fulfill that purpose.

Mind Your Own Improvement

Let the refining and improving of your own life keep you so busy that you have little time to criticize others. - H. Jackson Brown, Jr.


And remember: Criticizing others in no way improves your status.


(Other posts on Criticism)

Serenity

Boredom is the feeling that everything is a waste of time; serenity, that nothing is. - Thomas Szasz


Where does enthusiasm fall in all this?


(Other posts on Pleasure)

Think On This

There are many reasons to dance, but only one purpose. -Lyle

Getting Better

First you have to fail, then you can improve. - Seth Godin


You can't get better at something you have never done.


(Other posts on Progress)

Biting the Hand That Feeds You

The proverb warns that 'You should not bite the hand that feeds you.' But maybe you should, if it prevents you from feeding yourself.- Thomas Szasz


Who's hand might that be?


(Other posts on Liberty)

Rockin' The Boat

Men are afraid to rock the boat in which they hope to drift safely through life's currents, when, actually, the boat is stuck on a sandbar. They would be better off to rock the boat and try to shake it loose. - Thomas Szasz


If you are drifting you are not navigating.


(Other posts on Progress)

Never Become Obsolete

During my eighty-seven years I have witnessed a whole succession of technological revolutions. But none of them has done away with the need for character in the individual or the ability to think. - Bernard Baruch


And as long as the individual has these they will never be without a job.


(Other posts on Work)

You Can't Buy Success

Anyone who wants to sell you overnight success or wealth is not interested in your success; they are interested in your money. - Bo Bennett


Buyer beware.


(Other posts on Success)

Escaping a Disagreeable Situation

To predict the behavior of ordinary people in advance, you only have to assume that they will always try to escape a disagreeable situation with the smallest possible expenditure of intelligence. - Friedrich Nietzsche


This explains why people refuse to use the "Help" button.


(Other posts on Problems)

Management of Great Qualities

It is not enough to have great qualities; We should also have the management of them. - Francois de La Rochefoucauld 


Perhaps there should be a special university for celebrity stars and sports figures.......


(Other posts on Education)

Learn From Experience

Human beings, who are almost unique in having the ability to learn from the experience of others, are also remarkable for their apparent disinclination to do so. - Douglas Adams


Example: History, if taught at all, is not taught well.


(Other posts on History)

Two Educations

There are two educations. One should teach us how to make a living and the other how to live. - John Adams


Teachers are good for the former but parents are required for the latter.


(Other posts on Education)