Fruit of Genius

Men give me credit for some genius. All the genius I have lies in this; when I have a subject in hand, I study it profoundly. Day and night it is before me. My mind becomes pervaded with it. Then the effort that I have made is what people are pleased to call the fruit of genius. It is the fruit of labor and thought. - Alexander Hamilton 


Some might accuse him of just being humble; I would say he is just being honest.


(Other posts on Achievement) 

Hostile to Liberty

In every country and every age, the priest had been hostile to Liberty. - Thomas Jefferson 


Think about it.


(Other posts on Liberty) 

Augmented Post

Sometimes I have more to say. From a previous post:

Find out just what any people will quietly submit to and you have the exact measure of the injustice and wrong which will be imposed on them. - Frederick Douglass 


It's called Sanction of the Victim.




Though Mr. Douglas is talking about governmental injustice the same applies at a more person-to-person level. People can also victimize you and you can give them that opportunity - in which case you, the victim, have given your sanction. There is a fine line here. If you think you have been victimized you need to follow these guidelines:


- Determine if you really are a victim. Considering yourself victimized is an easy way out. It places the blame on someone else - you don't have to be self-critical and so you personal integrity can be preserved (in your own mind anyway). It's is not fair, just, or moral to not shoulder some or all of the blame if you are the one who is indeed at fault. Life doesn't always go smoothly and many times you will find it is your own lack of education; your lack of skepticism; your mis-founded faith; your error in not checking your premises, that lead you to becoming a "victim."


- Could the person have avoided the "victimization"? If the boss didn't pay you because the business was closed due to bad weather then he did not victimize you - he had no control over the weather. If your agreement was to be paid for hours worked then he's off the hook. If you agreed to a monthly salary then he's on the hook (he took on the risk of bad weather).


- Did you "ask" for the victimization? There is a difference between being mugged on main street of the the small sleepy town and being mugged in what you know as the bad part of town with $100.00 bills hanging out of your pockets and gold chains proudly displayed. In either case the mugger should not have done the mugging but there is a significant difference in whether you are indeed a victim. You may have not given your sanction but you sure did act stupid and should shoulder some significant part of the blame.


- Were you lured into setting yourself up to becoming a victim? Did you build on the 100 year flood plain assuming that since you were not going to live another 100 years that you needn't worry, when in actuality it was only an estimate that it would not flood more than once every 100 years (which year nobody was able to predict)? Your fault for not being more skeptical. There is that probability that it would flood two years in a row.


- Did you have unfounded faith? Did the Mutual fund advisor recommend the fund based on past performance? You didn't read the fine print (the "past performance does not guarantee future performance" clause)? If your faith was unfounded then you caused the problem - take your lumps and learn from you short-comings. 


I'm tired of hearing the sweet young thing complaining about being raped when she walked down the alley with only her pubic hair holding up her pants. I'm equally tired of hearing the person who bought a house which flooded because the dike failed in a 50 foot storm surge nobody would have predicted.


Which leads me to my point: There is a difference between Freedom and Liberty, even though the words seem to be used interchangeably these days. One can limit ones own freedom. You are free to do stupid things but the prudent person limits their own freedom. I am "free" to flirt with every lady I meet though I limit that freedom willingly for the benefit of my marriage. My Liberty may only be limited by governmental bodies. I cannot limit my own liberty (nor would I want to). Often I see people endorsing limits on their Liberty thinking that it is the same as limiting their freedom. Not the same.


"Sanction of the Victim" as referred to by Mr. Douglas applies to Liberty, not Freedom.

Quiet Submission

Find out just what any people will quietly submit to and you have the exact measure of the injustice and wrong which will be imposed on them. - Frederick Douglass  


It's called Sanction of the Victim.


(Other posts on Freedom) 

New or Old Problem?

The release of atomic energy has not created a new problem. It has merely made more urgent the necessity of solving an existing one.  - Albert Einstein 

There may be a crucial difference between solving a new problem and an old problem.

(Other posts on Problems) 

Rejected Gifts

If someone offers you a gift, and you decline to accept it, the other person still owns that gift. The same is true of insults and verbal attacks. - Steve Pavlina 


It takes two to Tango.


(Other posts on Ridicule) 

Design for Performance

Many things difficult to design prove easy to performance. - Samuel Johnson 


Thats the way things should be designed.

(Other posts on Problems) 

Leadership, Day to Day

Nothing so conclusively proves a man's ability to lead others as what he does from day to day to lead himself. - Thomas J. Watson 


Use this to find new leaders in your crew.


(Other posts on Leadership) 

Bold Bosses

He that undervalues himself will undervalue others, and he that undervalues others will oppress them. - Samuel Johnson 


If you want a good job look for a boss who is bold, self-confident and decisive.


(Other posts on Work) 

Augmented Post

Sometimes I have more to say. From a previous post:

Silent gratitude isn't very much use to anyone. - Gertrude Stein

Thank you for reading this blog.

Sometimes one way of showing gratitude is by having good manners. Lack of good manners is a sure-fire way of appearing that you do not appreciate another's generosity. One wouldn't think that in this day and age manners would need to be taught, but experience tells me otherwise. Here are a few thoughts on going to someone else's house:

- Arrive at a decent hour. If someone is providing a place for you to stay then don't arrive in the middle of the night - there are motels for that. If the proprietor of a motel wants to get a good nights sleep there is always the "No Vacancy" sign to turn on. Your hosts don't have that luxury.

- Remember that it is the whole family that is opening their home to you as a guest. That includes spouses, kids and pets. Treat them all with respect. When you leave, thank all of them for their generosity.

- Be interested in your hosts. Find out what their interests are - it will come in handy in expressing your gratitude. A token gift reflecting their interest is far more meaningful than a mere verbal thank you or something you like.

- Talk about things which interest your hosts - they may not care about what interests you. Include the whole family.

- Do your part. Remember someone's house is not a restaurant, motel, spa or vacation destination. Help with the cooking; do the dishes; clean up the mess; most of all, clean up your own mess (better than you would at home). To leave your hosts with extra chores will surely make them remember your stay - but it may not be a good memory. 

- When in Rome.......... Find out what your hosts preferences are and abide by them - not the way you usually do things.

- Reciprocate the generosity shown you. Make the effort to figure out what you can do whether it is buying dinner out, providing that something extra special for the house or meal, offering to take your car - something.

If your stay was a pleasure for your hosts you probably will be invited back! If they were generous enough to open their house to you then be generous enough to open your house - it was no easier for them than it is for you.