Sunday 25 June 2023

Yogi Berra

 

“Always go to other people's funerals, otherwise they won't come to yours.”


“If you don't know where you are going, you'll end up someplace else.”


“You can observe a lot just by watching.”


“The future ain't what it used to be.”


“When you come to a fork in the road take it”


“Nobody comes here anymore, its too crowded”


“Cut my pie into four pieces, I don’t think I could eat eight.”


“Half the lies they tell about me aren't true.”


“I wish I had an answer to that because I'm tired of answering that question.”


“I never said most of the things I said.”


“Deja Vu All Over Again”


“It's tough to make predictions, especially about the future.”


“We made too many wrong mistakes.”


“I'd give my right arm to be ambidextrous.”


“You wouldn't have won if we'd beaten you.”


“A nickel ain't worth a dime anymore.”


“Its getting late early”


“No matter where you go, there you are,”


“You have to give 100 percent in the first half of the game. If that isn't enough, in the second half, you have to give what's left.”


“If you ask me anything I don't know, I'm not going to answer.”


“Even Napoleon had his Watergate.”


“He must have made that before he died.”


“If you can't imitate him, don't copy him.”


“You've got to be very careful if you don't know where you're going, because you might not get there.”


“It's not too far; it just seems like it is.”


“Pitching always beats batting — and vice-versa.”


“Ninety percent of all mental errors are in your head.”


“75% of baseball is mental the other half is phisical”


If I didn't wake up, I'd still be sleeping.”


“Ninety percent of this game is half mental.”


“Losing is a learning experience. It teaches you humility. It teaches you to work harder. It’s also a powerful motivator.”


“Boy, Whitey, I hope I never see my name up there.

To Whitey Ford during scoreboard tribute on opening day to recently deceased Yankees.”


“Never make predictions, especially about the future.”




 


“There are no gods, 

no nations, 

no money 

and no human rights, 

except in our collective imagination.”



Isaac Newton

 

“This most beautiful system of the sun, planets and comets, could only proceed from the counsel and dominion of an intelligent and powerful Being...

This Being governs all things, not as the soul of the world, but as Lord over all; and on account of his dominion he is wont, to be called Lord God παντοκρατωρ or Universal Ruler.”


― Isaac Newton,

 The Principia : Mathematical Principles of Natural Philosophy



 

Never apologize for burning too brightly or collapsing into yourself every night. 

That is how galaxies are made



 

If this book has a lesson, it is that we are awfully lucky to be here

-and by 'we' I mean every living thing. 

To attain any kind of life in this universe of ours appears to be quite an achievement. 

humans are doubly lucky, of course: 

We enjoy not only the privilege of existence but also the singular ability to appreciate it and even, in a multitude of ways, to make it better. 

It is a talent we have only barely begun to grasp.


 

“I penetrated the outer cell membrane with a nanosyringe."

"You poked it with a stick?"

"No!" 

"Well. Yes. But it was a scientific poke with a very scientific stick.”



Things fall apart.

 

Everything that comes together falls apart. 

Everything. The chair I’m sitting on. 

It was built, and so it will fall apart.

And you’re gonna fall apart. 

The cells and organs and systems that make you you

—they came together, grew together, and so must fall apart. 


The Buddha knew one thing science didn’t prove for millennia after his death:

Entropy increases. 

Things fall apart.



Friday 23 June 2023

 

Unfortunately, religion often works to shrink and tame the very wild and mysterious forces that first drew our wonder.

 In the process of making the inexplicable safe for the masses, the possibilities for real illusion-piercing insight becomes reduced. 

One might say that they are only available to those who dare to ride the breaking crest of direct life-altering experience



Tuesday 20 June 2023

 

It is not God that is worshipped but the authority that claims to speak in His name. 

Sin becomes disobedience to authority not violation of integrity



 

The smell of the sweat is not sweet, 

but the fruit of the sweat is very sweet.




 

Study yourself. 

Become your own mentor and best friend. 

When you are suffering stay at the bottom until you find out who you are. 

Let the storms come and pass. 

How you walk through the fire says a lot about you. 

Nobody likes a victimhood mentality 

and what happened to you is not important

. It is about how you use your chaos that matters. 


The dawn will come



Freedom

 


Freedom is being yourself without permission 





 

Life is a useless passion,

 an exciting journey of a mammal in survival mode.


 Each day is a miracle, 

a blessing unexplored 

and the more you immerse yourself in light,

 the less you will feel the darkness. 


There is more to life than nothingness. 

And cynicism. 

And nihilism. 

And selfishness. 

And glorious isolation. 


Be selfish with yourself,

 but live your life through your immortal acts,

 acts that engrain your legacy onto humanity. 


Transcend your fears 

and follow yourself into the void

 instead of letting yourself get eaten up

 by entropy and decay.


 Freedom is being yourself without permission. 

Be soft and leave a lasting impression on everybody you meet





 

Live your life without regret 

don't be someone that they forget 



 

You can believe in whatsoever you like,

 but the truth remains the truth,

 no matter how sweet the lie may taste.



 

Like all of us 

in this imperfect world 

you have a heavy heart

and a mind troubled 

by grief 

by loss 

by longing 



 


Be cheerful.


 Strive to be happy.


 

With all its sham, drudgery and broken dreams,

 it is still a beautiful world. 



 


be at peace with God, 

whatever you conceive Him to be.



 


whether or not it is clear to you, 

no doubt the universe is unfolding as it should. 



 

You are a child of the universe 

no less than the trees and the stars; 

you have a right to be here.



 


 Many fears are born of fatigue and loneliness.


 


 do not distress yourself with dark imaginings.



 

Nurture strength of spirit to shield you in sudden misfortune.


 

If you compare yourself with others, 

you may become vain or bitter,

 for always there will be greater and lesser persons than yourself.


 

As far as possible, without surrender, 

be on good terms with all persons.


Desiderata

 

Go placidly amid the noise and the 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 to the dull and the ignorant;

 they too have their story.


Avoid loud and aggressive persons; 

they are vexatious to the spirit.


 If you compare yourself with others, 

you may become vain or 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 in your soul. 


With all its sham, drudgery and broken dreams,

 it is still a beautiful world. 


Be cheerful.


 Strive to be happy.




 

Whatever you do,

 don't congratulate yourself too much, 

or berate yourself either. 


Your choices are half chance. 

So are everybody else's.



 

Sometimes you're ahead, 

sometimes you're behind. 


The race is long 

and, in the end, 

it's only with yourself.



 

The real troubles in your life are apt to be things that never crossed your worried mind


 

in 20 years, you'll look back at photos of yourself 

and recall in a way you can't grasp now 

how much possibility lay before you 

and how fabulous you really looked. 


Sunday 18 June 2023

Sunscreen

 

Wear sunscreen.

If I could offer you only one tip for the future, sunscreen would be it. 

The long-term benefits of sunscreen have been proved by scientists,

 whereas the rest of my advice has no basis more reliable than my own meandering experience. 

I will dispense this advice now.



Enjoy the power and beauty of your youth. 

Oh, never mind. 

You will not understand the power and beauty of your youth until they've faded. 


But trust me, 

in 20 years, you'll look back at photos of yourself 

and recall in a way you can't grasp now 

how much possibility lay before you 

and how fabulous you really looked. 


You are not as fat as you imagine.



Don't worry about the future. 

Or worry, 

but know that worrying is as effective as trying to solve an algebra equation by chewing bubble gum. 

The real troubles in your life are apt to be things that never crossed your worried mind, 

the kind that blindside you at 4 p.m. on some idle Tuesday.



Do one thing every day that scares you.


Sing.



Don't be reckless with other people's hearts. 

Don't put up with people who are reckless with yours.



Floss.



Don't waste your time on jealousy. 

Sometimes you're ahead, sometimes you're behind. 

The race is long and, in the end, it's only with yourself.



Remember compliments you receive. 

Forget the insults. 

If you succeed in doing this, tell me how.




Keep your old love letters.

 Throw away your old bank statements.



Stretch.



Don't feel guilty if you don't know what you want to do with your life.

 The most interesting people I know didn't know at 22 what they wanted to do with their lives. 

Some of the most interesting 40-year-olds I know still don't.



Get plenty of calcium. 


Be kind to your knees. 

You'll miss them when they're gone.




Maybe you'll marry, maybe you won't. 

Maybe you'll have children, maybe you won't. 

Maybe you'll divorce at 40, 

maybe you'll dance the funky chicken on your 75th wedding anniversary.

 Whatever you do,

 don't congratulate yourself too much, 

or berate yourself either. 

Your choices are half chance. 

So are everybody else's.




Enjoy your body. 

Use it every way you can. 

Don't be afraid of it or of what other people think of it.

 It's the greatest instrument you'll ever own.



Dance, 

even if you have nowhere to do it but your living room.



Read the directions, even if you don't follow them.


Do not read beauty magazines. They will only make you feel ugly.




Get to know your parents. 

You never know when they'll be gone for good. 

Be nice to your siblings. 

They're your best link to your past 

and the people most likely to stick with you in the future.




Understand that friends come and go,

but with a precious few you should hold on. 

Work hard to bridge the gaps in geography and lifestyle, 

because the older you get,

 the more you need the people who knew you when you were young.



Live in New York City once, 

but leave before it makes you hard. 

Live in Northern California once,

 but leave before it makes you soft. 


Travel.




Accept certain inalienable truths: 

Prices will rise. 

Politicians will philander.

 You, too, will get old. 

And when you do, 

you'll fantasize that when you were young, 

prices were reasonable, 

politicians were noble 

and children respected their elders.



Respect your elders.



Don't expect anyone else to support you. 

Maybe you have a trust fund. 

Maybe you'll have a wealthy spouse. 

But you never know when either one might run out.



Don't mess too much with your hair 

or by the time you're 40 it will look 85.



Be careful whose advice you buy,

 but be patient with those who supply it. 

Advice is a form of nostalgia. 

Dispensing it is a way of fishing the past from the disposal, 

wiping it off,

 painting over the ugly parts

 and recycling it for more than it's worth.




But trust me on the sunscreen.






 


The intellectual attainments of a man who thinks for himself resemble a fine painting, 

where the light and shade are correct, 

the tone sustained, 

the colour perfectly harmonised; 

it is true to life. 


On the other hand,

 the intellectual attainments of the mere man of learning are like a large palette,

 full of all sorts of colours, 

which at most are systematically arranged

, but devoid of harmony, connection and meaning




Sun Tzu

 















Temet Nosce

 























 

 The key to finding a purpose and fulfillment in life begins with knowing and understanding yourself.


Temet Nosce

 


Know Thyself



 

Knowledge can be acquired by a suitable and complete study, no matter what the starting point is.

 Only one must know how to 'learn.' 

What is nearest to us is man;

 and you are the nearest of all men to yourself

Begin with the study of yourself; 

remember the saying

 'Know thyself.



 

One word can change your life forever.

I love you
I hate you

Think about it


 

Atheism is a way of humility.

 It's to think oneself to be an animal, as we are actually 

and to allow oneself to become human.



Friday 16 June 2023

 

 Be confused. 

Confusion is where inspiration comes from



 

It's natural to think that living things must be the handiwork of a designer. 

But it was also natural to think that the sun went around the earth.

 Overcoming naive impressions to figure out how things really work is one of humanity's highest callings.


 

And when you look at the sky you know you are looking at stars which are hundreds and thousands of light-years away from you. 

And some of the stars don’t even exist anymore because their light has taken so long to get to us that they are already dead, or they have exploded and collapsed into red dwarfs. 



Thursday 15 June 2023

 

When my information changes, I alter my conclusions. 

What do you do,


Ecology

 

One of the penalties of an ecological education is that one lives alone in a world of wounds. 

Much of the damage inflicted on land is quite invisible to laymen. 

An ecologist must either harden his shell and make believe that the consequences of science are none of his business, 

or he must be the doctor who sees the marks of death in a community that believes itself well and does not want to be told otherwise.



 

Gravity explains the motions of the planets, 

but it cannot explain who sets the planets in motion


 

There is a fundamental difference between religion, which is based on authority, 

and science, which is based on observation and reason. 


Science will win because it works.



 

Every instinct that is found in any man is in all men. 

The strength of the emotion may not be so overpowering,

 the barriers against possession not so insurmountable,

 the urge to accomplish the desire less keen. 


With some, inhibitions and urges may be neutralized by other tendencies.

 But with every being the primal emotions are there.

 All men have an emotion to kill; 

when they strongly dislike some one they involuntarily wish he was dead. 


never killed any one, 

 read some obituary notices with great satisfaction