kata-kata bika bijaak

Have you ever noticed...Anybody going slower than you is an idiot, and anyone going faster than you is a maniac?" - George Carlin

"You have to stay in shape. My grandmother, she started walking five miles a day when she was 60. She's 97 today and we don't know where the hell she is." - Ellen DeGeneris

"I think men who have a pierced ear are better prepared for marriage - They've experienced pain and bought jewelry." - Rita Rudner

"I'm not into working out. My philosophy: No pain, no pain." - Carol Leifer

"I have a great diet. You're allowed to eat anything you want, but you must eat it with naked fat people." - Ed Bluestone

"I'm desperately trying to figure out why kamikaze pilots wore helmets." - Dave Edison

"I'm not a vegetarian because I love animals; I am a vegetarian because I hate plants." - A. Whitney Brown

On a tombstone: - "I TOLD YOU I WAS SICK"

"I haven't committed a crime. What I did was fail to comply with the law." - David Dinkins, New York City Mayor

"Outside of the killings, Washington has one of the lowest crime rates in the country." - Mayor Marion Berry

"640K ought to be enough for anybody." - Bill Gates, 1981

"I think there is a world market for about 5 computers" - Thomas Watson, 1943 IBM Chairman

"Don't worry, It's not loaded" - Last words of Terry Kath, American rock musician, died in 1978 while playing Russian Roulette.

To Loud Librarians - A Prost. - On a Beer Bottle Cap

Standing out from the crowd is a good way to become both a success and a target. - Unknown

After Albert Einstein had been at Princeton for some months, it was discovered that a twelve-year-old girl happened to stop by the Einstein home almost every afternoon. When her mother asked what her daughter and Einstein had in common that they spent so much time together, Einstein replied "She brings me cookies and I do her arithmetic homework."

OOOPS!

Irreverant Quotes - OOOPS! - Obscure Facts
Bizarre Laws - Silly Stories - Computer Funnies


During the heat of the space race in the 1960's, the U.S. National Aeronautics and Space Administration decided it needed a ball point pen to write in the zero gravity confines of its space capsules. After considerable research and development, the Astronaut Pen was developed at a cost of about $241 million U.S. The pen worked and also enjoyed some modest success as a novelty item back here on Earth. The Soviet Union, faced with the same problem, used a pencil.

In Crown Point, Indiana, police have reopened the case of a man who died from 32 hammer blows to his head. The cause of death had been ruled a suicide, in spite of the County coroner's opinion that a man simply could not remain conscious long enough to hit himself in the head 32 times... 25, 26...wait, how many was that?

Gerard Ropuille of Clermont, France, blew up his house with his washing machine. Ropuille told police that he was trying to remove a grease stain from his shirt when he poured a cup of gasoline in the washer. When the machine changed cycles, a spark ignited the gasoline and blew out the first floor of his home, knocking him unconscious in the process. Said Ropuille, "I feel a bit stupid..."

Police in La Crosse, Wisconsin, arrested a suspect who accosted a woman near an automatic teller machine and menaced her with a knife. The man told police that he wasn't trying to rob her - he only wanted to sell her the knife...

When a British schoolboy was unable to remove a vase that was stuck on his head, he was rushed to the hospital on a city bus. According to reports, in an attempt to make the boy look more normal to the other passengers, his mother placed his school cap on top of the vase...

Francis Karned, a 39-year-old man in Sacramento, California was charged with reckless endangerment after he pulled a gun and shot his lawnmower when it wouldn't start ... and of course, you've heard about those awful chainsaw massacres in Texas...

Mike Stewart, 31, of Dallas was filming a public service movie in 1983 on "The Dangers of Low-Level Bridges" when the truck he was standing on passed under a low-level bridge - killing him.

George Schwartz, owner of a factory in Providence, RI narrowly escaped death when a 1983 blast flattened his factory except for one wall. After treatment for minor injuries, he returned to the scene to search for his files. The remaining wall then collapsed on him, killing him instantly.

Surprised while burgling a house in Antwerp, Belgium, a thief fled out the back door, clambered over a nine-foot wall, dropped down, and found himself in the city prison.

A burglar entered the home of Tom Schimmel in Tawas City, Michigan; collected valuables; fixed himself a bowl of cereal; laid down in Schimmel's bed and fell asleep. When Schimmel returned to his house and discovered the crime, he called police. Officers investigated, completed their reports, and departed. When Schimmel noticed the sleeping burglar several hours later, he summoned the police again. They awakened the man and identified him as the thief.

The eccentric and paranoid American recluse Langley Collier met his untimely end in 1947. While he was bringing food to his equally odd brother Homer, who lived as a total hermit, Langley tripped on a wire to one of his own booby traps and was crushed beneath a suitcase filled with metal, a sewing machine, three bread-boxes, and several bundles of newspapers. Homer starved to death, and their bodies were undiscovered for three weeks.

Ralph Graves entered a doughnut shop with a gun and demanded money from the cashier. A customer recognized him, however, when Graves lifted up a corner of his pillowcase mask to find his way out the door. Graves had forgotten to cut eye-holes.

The company providing the liability insurance for the Republican National Convention in San Diego is the same firm that insured the maiden voyage of the RMS Titanic.

The very first bomb dropped by the Allies on Berlin during World War II killed the only elephant in the Berlin Zoo.

The Lord's Prayer is 66 words, the Gettysburg Address is 286 words, there are 1,322 words in the Declaration of Independence, but government regulations on the sale of cabbage total 26,911 words.

Obscure Facts

Irreverant Quotes - OOOPS! - Obscure Facts
Bizarre Laws - Silly Stories - Computer Funnies


Despite the fact that no unknown dead existed in the Vietnam war, cemetery planners at Arlington county cemetery went ahead with a tomb to America's unknown dead worth $15,000, "just in case any turn up."

Cows burp a lot, but until recently no one paid much attention. Now researchers at the Texas Department of Highways in Fort Worth are sitting up and taking notice. Each year the cow population of the United States burps some fifty million tons of valuable hydrocarbons into the atmosphere. If they could only be captured and efficiently channeled, say the researchers, the accumulated burps of ten average cows could keep a small house adequately, if indirectly, heated and its stove operating for a year.

Most elephants weigh less than the tongue of the blue whale.

In the United States, a pound of potato chips cost two hundred times more than a pound of potatoes.

A giraffe can go without water longer than a camel can.

Blue whales weigh as much as 30 elephants and are as long as 3 greyhound buses.

Tibetans, Mongolians, and people in parts of western China put salt in the tea instead of sugar.

In 1976 a Los Angeles secretary named Jannene Swift officially married a 50-lb rock. The ceremony was witnessed by more than 20 people.

Ninety percent of all species that have become extinct have been birds.

At any given time, there are 1,800 thunderstorms in progress over the earth's atmosphere.

In Calama, a town in the Atacama Desert of Chile, it has never rained.

In Gulliver's Travels, Jonathan swift described the two moons of mars, Phobos and Deimos, giving their exact size and speeds of rotation. He did this more than 100 years before either moon was discovered.

In eighteenth century English gambling dens, there was an employee whose only job was to swallow the dice if there was a police raid.

During Abraham Lincoln's campaign for the presidency, a dyed-in-the-wool Democrat named Valentine Tapley from Pike County Missouri, swore that he would never shave again if Abe were elected. Tapley kept his work and his chin whiskers went unshorn from November 1860 until he died in 1920, attaining a length of twelve feet six inches.

The glue on Israeli postage stamps is certified kosher.

In England, the Speaker of the House is not allowed to speak.

Bizarre Laws

Irreverant Quotes - OOOPS! - Obscure Facts
Bizarre Laws - Silly Stories - Computer Funnies


In the USA there is a law against sending buildings by mail. A man posted a 40,000 ton brick house across the state of Utah in 1916. Federal law also maintains that no living person can be portrayed on United States paper currency.

Alaska: It is illegal to look at a moose from the window of an aeroplane or other flying vehicle.

Arizona: It is illegal to hunt camels. It is also against the law to kick a mule.

Florida: It is illegal to doze off under a hair dryer.

Georgia: It is against the law to slap an old friend on the back. It is also illegal to tie a giraffe to a telephone pole in Atlanta.

Hawaii: It is illegal to insert a penny in your ear. (Talk about your easy to comply with laws!)

Idaho: It is illegal for a citizen to give another citizen a box of candy larger than 50lbs.

Indiana: It is illegal to carry fishing tackle into a cemetery. And if you're female there's a law stating your dresses may be no more than two inches above the ankle. Of course, a mustache is illegal on anyone who "habitually kisses human beings."

Kansas: The official wording is: "When trains meet at a crossing, both shall come to a full stop and neither shall proceed until the other has gone."

Kentucky: It is illegal to bathe less than once a year. (Oh GOOD!) There's also a law against sleeping in a restaurant.

Louisiana: It is unlawful to whistle on Sunday.

Massachusetts: It is illegal to bathe more than once a week. (Let's hear it for the criminals!)

Michigan: It is illegal to put a skunk in your boss' desk. It's also illegal to hitch your crocodile to a fire hydrant. (There must be some REALLY weird people in Michigan!)

Minnesota: You may not hang male and female underwear next to each other on a clothesline. Of course if you're male there's also a law ordering you to have a beard.

Missouri: It is illegal to play hopscotch on a Sunday.

Montana: It is unlawful to drive a truck or car with ice picks fitted to the wheels. (This is a good thing!)

New Jersey: It is illegal to walk barefoot on the boardwalk. (Careful! They've been known to enforce this one!)

North Carolina: It is against the law to sing out of tune.

Ohio: It is illegal to catch mice without a hunting license. It is also illegal to throw a reptile at someone.

Tennessee: It is illegal for a girl to phone a man for a date. It is also against the law to take a fish of another person's hook.

Vermont: It is illegal to whistle under water.

Virginia: The law requires all bathtubs to be kept out in the yards, not inside the houses.

Silly Stories

Irreverant Quotes - OOOPS! - Obscure Facts
Bizarre Laws - Silly Stories - Computer Funnies




This man goes skydiving for the first time. After listening to the instructor for what seems like days, he is ready to go.
Excited, he jumps out of the airplane. After a bit, he pulls the ripcord.
Nothing happens.
He tries again....still nothing.
He starts to panic, but remembers his back-up chute. He pulls that cord.
Nothing happens.
He frantically begins pulling both cords, but to no avail.
Suddenly, he looks down and he can't believe his eyes. Another man is in the air with him, but this guy is going UP!
Just as the other guy passes by, the skydiver - by this time scared out of his wits - yells,
"Hey! - Do you know anything about skydiving?"
The other guy yells back,
"NO! - Do you know anything about gas stoves?"


NOAH IN MODERN TIMES
And the Lord spoke to Noah & said: "In six months I'm going to make it rain until the whole earth is covered with water & all the evil people are destroyed. But I want to save a few good people, and two of every kind of living thing on the planet. I am ordering you to build Me an Ark."
And in a flash of lightning he delivered the specifications for the Ark.
"OK" said Noah, trembling in fear and fumbling with the blueprints.
"Six months and it starts to rain," thundered the Lord, "You'd better have My Ark completed, or learn how to swim for a very long time."
And six months passed. The skies began to cloud up and rain began to fall. The Lord saw that Noah was sitting in his front yard, weeping. And there was no Ark.
"Noah!," shouted the Lord, "where is My Ark?"
A lightning bolt crashed to the ground next to Noah.
"Lord, please forgive me!" begged Noah. "I did my best. But there were big problems."
"First I had to get a building permit for the Ark construction project, and Your plans didn't meet code. So I had to hire an engineer to redraw the plans. Then I got into a big fight over whether or not the Ark needed a fire sprinkler system."
"My neighbors objected, claiming I was violating zoning by building the Ark in my front yard, so I had to get a variance from the City Planning Commission."
"Then I had a big problem getting enough wood for the Ark, because there was a ban on cutting trees to save the Spotted Owl. I had to convince U.S.Fish and Wildlife that I needed wood to save the owls. But they wouldn't let me catch any owls. So no owls."
"The carpenters formed a union and went out on strike. I had to negotiate a settlement with the National Labor Relations Board before anyone would pick up a saw or hammer. Now we have 16 carpenters going on the boat and still no owls."
"Then I started gathering up the animals, and got sued by an animal rights group. They objected to me taking only two of each kind."
"Just when I got the suit dismissed, the EPA notified me that I couldn't complete the Ark without filing an environmental impact statement on your proposed flood. They didn't take kindly to the idea that they had no jurisdiction over the conduct of a Supreme Being."
"Then the Army Corps of Engineers wanted a map of the proposed new flood plain. I sent them a globe."
"Right now I'm still trying to resolve a complaint from the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission over how many Croatians I'm supposed to hire, the IRS has seized all my assets claiming I'm trying to avoid paying taxes by leaving the country, and I just got a notice from the state about owing some kind of use tax."
"I really don't think I can finish your Ark for at least another five years!"
The sky began to clear. The sun began to shine. A rainbow arched across the sky. Noah looked up and smiled. "You mean you're not going to destroy the earth?" Noah asked, hopefully.
"No," said the Lord sadly, "Government already has."

A man complained to his friends, "My elbow really hurts. I guess I should see a doctor."
His friend offered, "Don't do that!!, There's a computer at the drug store that can diagnose anything, quicker and cheaper than a doctor. Simply put in a sample of your urine and the computer will diagnose your problem and tell you what you can do about it. It only costs $10.00."
The man figured he had nothing to lose, so he filled a jar with a urine sample and went to the drug store. Finding the computer, he poured in the sample and deposited the $10.00. The computer started making some noises and the various lights started flashing. After a brief pause, out popped a small slip of paper on which was printed:
"You have tennis elbow, soak your arm in warm water." "Avoid heavy labor, it will be better in two weeks."
Late that evening while thinking how amazing this new technology was and how it would change medical science forever, he began to wonder if this machine could be fooled. He decided to give it a try.
He mixed together some tap water, a stool sample from his dog and urine samples from his wife and daughter. To top it off, he squeezed 7 lemons into the concoction. He went back to the drug store, located the machine, poured in the sample and deposited the $10.00.
The machine again made the usual noises and printed out the following analysis:
"Your tap water is too hard, get a water softener."
"Your dog has worms, give him vitamins."
"Your daughter's on drugs, put her in rehab."
"Your wife's pregnant, it's not yours, get a lawyer."
"And if you don't stop squeezing lemons, your tennis elbow will never get better!"


(This is from the Cameron Column Copyright Bruce Cameron 1997)

Frequently I am asked by my readers to explain the mysteries of child birth. Well, okay, that's actually completely untrue, but since we're on the subject I want to tell you about Lamaze class.
Lamaze is a breathing technique whereby women feel no pain while having an object the size of a small watermelon claw its way out of their bodies. Yes, this is utterly ridiculous, but Lamaze class has apparently become a prerequisite to giving birth: in fact, a woman in East Jordan, Michigan was recently discovered by authorities to have given birth to a baby without first attending Lamaze, and the courts actually made her put it back.
Although pregnancy has been around for at least 100 years, most men don't understand anything about it. It was news to me that pregnancy takes place in three trimesters (Trimester comes from the phrase, "Don't you even TRY, MISTER," uttered by women when men suggest that maybe they can't make it to Lamaze class one night.) The three trimesters are: Vomiting, Weight Gain, and Crying.
The men at Lamaze class are there mainly as punishment for having caused their mates to swell up to the size of Marlan Brando. I mean, realistically, how can we help someone else BREATHE? (More to the point, I can testify truthfully that a woman in labor who is urged to "breathe, honey, breathe" will respond in a tone for which "pleasant" is an antonym.)
The punishment begins with the first lesson, where everybody sits there and is supposed to be quiet while they watch a film of somebody else's baby being born. This is where you learn you shouldn't have eaten before Lamaze class, even if your wife simply HAD to have a Pizza Hut Supreme with Double Cheese or she would pass out from hunger. You give the other guys a "can you believe this?" look, doing your Lamaze breathing so you won't blow pizza. By the end of the movie they ought to usher in a urologist to perform vasectomies; they'd make a couple of grand right on the spot. The final frame depicts everyone standing around looking happy, except maybe the baby who frankly appears more than a little pissed off at how his morning's going.
The night I went, the movie was a horror double feature, with Night of the Living Cesarean Section immediately following Birth of the Pizza Baby. After the movie there is a short break so the men can get together and vow that the only way they're going to make it through this is if they're drunk. Then the group is reassembled to practice breathing, even though we've been breathing all our lives and probably don't need any more practice.
What did pregnant women do before this Lamaze guy came along, hold their breaths for nine months? And why do I have to practice? Heck, I'm so good at breathing I can even do it in my sleep! During all this panting and gasping, the men are told to squeeze their mates' thighs to "simulate labor." Squeeze her let to simulate labor! That's like simulating a concussion by getting a haircut. If you want to simulate labor, you should run her lips through a pencil sharpener. But you don't know this, so you dutifully squeeze while she dutifully breathes. Men who make not of the fact that pregnancy has caused the thighs they are squeezing to maybe require two hands instead of one will be violently torn into small pieces by a bunch of crazed Lamaze women, and no female jury in the world would find anything in this other than justice.
In Lamaze I learned there are several different stages of labor. In none of them do you want your wife to have access to sharp objects. By about the third stage you both know that this breathing thing is a bunch of baloney - labor, it seems, HURTS, and you can pant like a race horse after the Kentucky Derby, but it won't alter the sensation of having a whole human being clamber out of your stomach and into the world.
Often a man will run into a fellow Lamaze class husband at the hospital. It's a brief encounter, usually during a fast break to the men's room between contractions. The wild look they exchange says it all: this is nothing like what they expected.
And after that, nothing ever is.

KATA BIJAK -ENTREPERENEUR

1. Get in over your head. --Robert Donat, GPS Insight No. 281

2. Before you build the product, write the ad. --David Friend, Carbonite No. 9

3. Focus on simple things like profitability and execution. You don't need to come up with the next Facebook to create a successful business. --Jesse Lipson, ShareFile No. 104

4. Keep the main thing the main thing. --Brad Oberwager, Sundia No. 130

5. You will be remembered for how you deal with the ups and downs. --Andy Monin, Vendormate No. 25

6. Failing gracefully is much more important than succeeding. --A.J. Lawrence, The JAR Group No. 475

7. Surround yourself with great partners and share the rewards. --Curtis Hite, Improving Enterprises No. 210

8. Hire slow; fire fast. --Justin Talerico, ion interactive No. 202

9. It's a lot harder to repair a train while it is rolling down the tracks, so get everything set up before you build momentum. --Gabriel Krajicek, BancVue No. 117

10. Systems run the company; people run the systems. --Curt Richardson, OtterBox No. 395

11. It will take four times as much work as you expect but be 10 times more rewarding than you can imagine. --Eric Albee, Aromatic Fusion No. 205

12. There is always a solution. --Gregory Lilien, IguanaMed No. 264

13. You cannot do everything yourself. --Elia Wallen, Travelers Haven No. 90

14. Without knowing where you are at all times financially, you are destined to fail. --Dean Austin, Wyngate International No. 163

15. Never confuse a consultant with a partner. --Bing Howenstein, BackJoy Orthotics No. 51

16. At its founding, a business is victim to what you don't know; at adolescence, it's victim to what you think you know; and as it matures, it's victim to how willing you are to hand the reins to those more qualified. --Kevin Burke, Centuria No. 79

17. You don't lose until you give up. --David Wachs, Cellit No. 262

Kata bi8jak -Alkitab

The Bible says in Proverbs 4:6-7, "Do not forsake wisdom, and she will protect you; love her, and she will watch over you. Wisdom is supreme; therefore get wisdom. Though it cost all you have, get understanding."
Job 12:12
Wisdom belongs to the aged, and understanding to the old. (NLT)

Job 28:28
Behold, the fear of the Lord, that is wisdom, and to depart from evil is understanding. (NKJV)

Psalm 37:30
The godly offer good counsel; they teach right from wrong. (NLT)

Psalm 107:43
Whoever is wise, let him heed these things and consider the great love of the LORD. (NIV)

Psalm 111:10
The fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom; all who follow his precepts have good understanding. To him belongs eternal praise. (NIV)

Proverbs 1:7
Fear of the Lord is the foundation of true knowledge, but fools despise wisdom and discipline. (NLT)

Proverbs 3:7
Do not be wise in your own eyes; fear the LORD and shun evil. (NIV)

Proverbs 4:6-7
Do not forsake wisdom, and she will protect you; love her, and she will watch over you. Wisdom is supreme; therefore get wisdom. Though it cost all you have, get understanding. (NIV)

Proverbs 10:13
Wisdom is found on the lips of him who has understanding, but a rod is for the back of him who is devoid of understanding. (NKJV)

Proverbs 10:19
When words are many, sin is not absent, but he who holds his tongue is wise. (NIV)

Proverbs 11:2
When pride comes, then comes disgrace, but with humility comes wisdom. (NIV)

Proverbs 11:30
The fruit of the righteous is a tree of life, and he who wins souls is wise. (NIV)

Proverbs 12:18
Reckless words pierce like a sword, but the tongue of the wise brings healing. (NIV)

Proverbs 13:1
A wise son heeds his father's instruction, but a mocker does not listen to rebuke. (NIV)

Proverbs 13:10
Pride only breeds quarrels, but wisdom is found in those who take advice. (NIV)

Proverbs 14:1
The wise woman builds her house, but with her own hands the foolish one tears hers down. (NIV)

Proverbs 14:6
The mocker seeks wisdom and finds none, but knowledge comes easily to the discerning. (NIV)

Proverbs 14:8
The wisdom of the prudent is to give thought to their ways, but the folly of fools is deception. (NIV)

Proverbs 14:33
Wisdom rests in the heart of him who has understanding, but what is in the heart of fools is made known. (NKJV)

Proverbs 15:24
The path of life leads upward for the wise to keep him from going down to the grave. (NIV)

Proverbs 15:31
He who listens to a life-giving rebuke will be at home among the wise. (NIV)

Proverbs 16:16
How much better to get wisdom than gold, to choose understanding rather than silver! (NIV)

Proverbs 17:24
A discerning man keeps wisdom in view, but a fool's eyes wander to the ends of the earth. (NIV)

Proverbs 18:4
The words of a man's mouth are deep waters, but the fountain of wisdom is a bubbling brook. (NIV)

Proverbs 19:11
Sensible people control their temper; they earn respect by overlooking wrongs. (NLT)

Proverbs 19:20
Listen to advice and accept instruction, and in the end you will be wise. (NIV)

Proverbs 20:1
Wine is a mocker and beer a brawler; whoever is led astray by them is not wise. (NIV)

Proverbs 24:14
Know also that wisdom is sweet to your soul; if you find it, there is a future hope for you, and your hope will not be cut off. (NIV)

Proverbs 29:11
A fool gives full vent to his anger, but a wise man keeps himself under control. (NIV)

Proverbs 29:15
To discipline a child produces wisdom, but a mother is disgraced by an undisciplined child. (NLT)

Ecclesiastes 2:13
I thought, “Wisdom is better than foolishness, just as light is better than darkness." (NLT)

Ecclesiastes 2:26
To the man who pleases him, God gives wisdom, knowledge and happiness, but to the sinner he gives the task of gathering and storing up wealth to hand it over to the one who pleases God. (NIV)

Ecclesiastes 7:12
For wisdom is a defense as money is a defense, But the excellence of knowledge is that wisdom gives life to those who have it. (NKJV)

Ecclesiastes 8:1
Wisdom brightens a man's face and changes its hard appearance. (NIV)

Ecclesiastes 10:2
The heart of the wise inclines to the right, but the heart of the fool to the left. (NIV)

1 Corinthians 1:18
For the message of the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God. (NIV)

1 Corinthians 1:19-21
For it is written, "I will destroy the wisdom of the wise, and the cleverness of the clever I will set aside." Where is the wise man? Where is the scribe? Where is the debater of this age? Has not God made foolish the wisdom of the world? For since in the wisdom of God the world through its wisdom did not come to know God, God was well-pleased through the foolishness of the message preached to save those who believe. (NASB)

1 Corinthians 1:25
For the foolishness of God is wiser than man's wisdom, and the weakness of God is stronger than man's strength. (NIV)

1 Corinthians 1:30
It is because of him that you are in Christ Jesus, who has become for us wisdom from God—that is, our righteousness, holiness and redemption. (NIV)

Colossians 2:2-3
My purpose is that they may be encouraged in heart and united in love, so that they may have the full riches of complete understanding, in order that they may know the mystery of God, namely, Christ, in whom are hidden all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge. (NIV)

James 1:5
If any of you lacks wisdom, he should ask God, who gives generously to all without finding fault, and it will be given to him. (NIV)

James 3:17
But the wisdom that comes from heaven is first of all pure; then peace-loving, considerate, submissive, full of mercy and good fruit, impartial and sincere. (NIV)

Words of Wisdom from Prophet Mohammad

Words of Wisdom from Prophet Mohammad
Fifty hadiths selected by Dr. Shahid Athar

1.. "Acquire knowledge, it enables its professor to distinguish right from wrong; it lights the way to heaven. It is our friend in the desert, our company in solitude and companion when friendless. It guides us to happiness, it sustains us in misery, it is an ornament amongst friends and an armour against enemies." (widely attributed to the Prophet Mohammed (pbuh))

2.. "A Muslim who plants a tree or sows a field, from which man, birds and animals can eat, is committing an act of charity." (Muslim)

3.. "There is a polish for everything that takes away rust; and the polish for the heart is the remembrance of Allah." (Bukhari)

4.. "What actions are most excellent? To gladden the heart of human beings, to feed the hungry, to help the afflicted, to lighten the sorrow of the sorrowful, and to remove the sufferings of the injured." (Bukhari)

5.. "The most excellent Jihad is that for the conquest of self." (Bukhari)

6.. "If you put your whole trust in Allah, as you ought, He most certainly will satisfy your needs, as He satisfies those of the birds. They come out hungry in the morning, but return full to their nests." (Tirmidhi)

7.. "When Allah created his creatures He wrote above His throne: 'Verily, my Compassion overcomes my wrath." (Bukhari & Muslim)

8.. "Allah will not give mercy to anyone, except those who give mercy to other creatures." (Abdullah b. Amr: Abu Daud & Tirmidhi)

9.. " 'Son, if you are able, keep your heart from morning till night and from night till morning free from malice towards anyone.' Then the Prophet said: 'O my son! This is one of my laws, and he, who loves my laws verily loves me.' " (Bukhari)

10.. "Say what is true, although it may be bitter and displeasing to people." (Baihaqi)

11.. "Kindness is a mark of faith, and whoever is not kind has no faith." (Muslim)

12.. "When you see a person who has been given more than you in money and beauty, look to those, who have been given less." (Muslim)

13.. "If you do not feel ashamed of anything, then you can do whatever you like." (Abu-Masud: Bukhari)

14.. "O Lord, grant me your love, grant me that I love those who love you; grant me, that I might do the deeds that win your love. Make your love dearer to me than the love of myself, my family and wealth." (Tirmidhi)

15.. "It is better to sit alone than in company with the bad; and it is better still to sit with the good than alone. It is better to speak to a seeker of knowledge than to remain silent; but silence is better than idle words." (Bukhari)

16.. "Verily, a man teaching his child manners is better than giving one bushel of grain in alms." (Muslim)

17.. "Whoever is kind, Allah will be kind to him; therefore be kind to man on the earth. He Who is in heaven will show mercy on you."(Abu Daud: Tirmidhi)

18.. "It is difficult for a man laden with riches to climb the steep path, that leads to bliss." (Muslim)

19.. "Once a man, who was passing through a road, found a branch of a tree with torns obstructing it. The man removed the thorns from the way. Allah thanked him and forgave his sins." (Bukhari)

20.. "Who are the learned? Those who practice what they know." (Bukhari)

21.. "Allah has revealed to me, that you must be humble. No one should boast over one another, and no one should oppress another." (Iyad b. Hinar al-Mujashi: Muslim)

22.. "Who is the most favoured of Allah? He, from whom the greatest good comes to His creatures." (Bukhari)

23.. "A true Muslim is thankful to Allah in prosperity, and resigned to His will in adversity." (Muslim)

24.. "A Muslim who meets with others and shares their burdens is better than one who lives a life of seclusion and contemplation." (Muslim)

25.. "Serve Allah, as you would if you could see Him; although you cannot see Him, He can see you. (Umar: Muslim)

26.. "Allah does not look at your appearance or your possessions; but He looks at your heart and your deeds." (Abu Huraira: Muslim)

27.. "The best richness is the richness of the soul." (at the field ofTabuk, Syria, Rajab 9 A.H.: Bukhari)

28.. "Keep yourselves far from envy; because it eats up and takes away good actions, like a fire eats up and burns wood." (Abu Daud)

29.. "Much silence and a good disposition, there are no two things better than these." (Bukhari)

30.. "Verily, Allah is mild and is fond of mildness, and He gives to the mild what He does not give to the harsh." (Muslim)

31.. "Whoever loves to meet Allah, Allah loves to meet him." (Bukhari)

32.. "Once the Prophet was asked:'Tell us, which action is dearest to Allah?' He answered:'To say your prayer at its proper time.' Again he was asked: 'What comes next?' Mohammed said: 'To show kindness to parents.' 'Then what?' he was asked, 'To strive for the cause of Allah!' " (Ibn Masad: Bukhari)

33.. "When two persons are together, two of them must no whisper to each other, without letting the third hear; because it would hurt him." (Bukhari & Muslim)

34.. "Verily, it is one of the respects to Allah to honor an old man." (Bukhari)

35.. "All Muslims are like a foundation, each strengthening the other; in such a way they do support each other." (Abu Musa: Bukhari & Muslim)

36.. "Strive always to excel in virtue and truth." (Bukhari)

37.. "You will not enter paradise until you have faith; and you will not complete your faith till you love one another." (Muslim)

38.. "He, who wishes to enter paradise at the best gate, must please his father and mother." (Bukhari & Muslim)

39.. "I am leaving two things among you, and if you cling to them firmly you will never go astray; one is the Book of Allah and the other is my way of life." (Farewell Pilgrimage: Muatta)

40.. "Allah is One and likes Unity." (Muslim)

41.. "The best of alms is that, which the right hand gives and the left hand knows not of." (Bukhari)

42.. "The perfect Muslim is not a perfect Muslim, who eats till he is full and leaves his neighbors hungry." (Ibn Abbas: Baihaqi)

43.. "He is not of us who is not affectionate to the little ones, and does not respect the old; and he is not of us, who does not order which is lawful, and prohibits that which is unlawful." (Ibn Abbas: Tirmidhi)

44.. "No man is a true believer unless he desires for his brother that, what he desires for himself." (Abu Hamza Anas: Bukhari & Muslim)

45.. "To strive for the cause of Allah from daybreak to noon and sunset is better than the goods and enjoyment of the whole worldly life." (Bukhari)

46.. "Be not like the hypocrite who, when he talks, tells lies; when he gives a promise, he breaks it; and when he is trusted, he proves dishonest." (Bukhari & Muslim)

47.. "The proof of a Muslim's sincerity is, that he pays no heed to that, which is not his business." (Abu Hureira: Tirmidhi)

48.. "Do you know what is better than charity and fasting and prayer? It is keeping peace and good relations between people, as quarrels and bad feelings destroy mankind." (Muslims & Bukhari)

49.. "Conduct yourself in this world, as if you are here to stay forever; prepare for eternity as if you have to die tomorrow." (Bukhari)

50.. "The worldly comforts are not for me. I am like a traveller, who takes a rest under a tree in the shade and then goes on his way." (Tirmidhi)

KATA BIJA- BENYAMIN FRANKLIN

"A great meditation tool, calming and soothing. I use it as often as I can."

Stephan Bruce, Owner Serendipity, New York

"The customized essential oil sprays by Melissa Halsey have been an invaluable gift over the past few months. I have used them liberally in my daily life and whenever I have needed a boost during the day (or night). It is comforting to know that the oils have been channeled specifically to work together to support my physical, emotional and mental well-being.

There is a vibratory aspect to these sprays that manifests in the feeling of a blessing whenever I use them. Even the physical ritual of using the spray is a conscious act that keeps me reminded during the day of the presence of spirit and blessings in my life.

I believe there is a wonderful transformative blessing in these sprays and that everyone would benefit from the use of this vibrational tool that is so loving and thoughtfully made."

Charlene, Hudson, NY

"WOW! This spray is amazing! I was given and started working with it immediately. I was amazed how center I felt each time I used it. At work... in crowds...in stores... when ever I started to feel the pull of others, I would spray and come right back to me centered , bright and alert.

This product is a true aid for anyone trying to stabilize in our ever changing world. Thank You."

Jim Wach, Hudson, NY

Channelings

"Thank you for the full moon channeling. Very, very, healing. Please send cd."

C R, Woodstock, NY

"The full moon call was amazing last night."

K G Rye, NY

"Melissa , the full moon call was wonderful. Ron and I are still a glow.

Thank you for bringing us all together last night. It was very transformative for me and brought back many cherished memories of our fire walk."

Carol, Philadelphia, PA

"Hi Melissa, I just wanted to thank you so much for devoting so much of your time and effort and caring and compassion to the spiritual work that you do.

I can't tell you how much it has helped me to see my life in a different and
often lighter and more loving way. So, many blessings and much love to you on this December night."

KATA BIJAK YANG BUKAN L:ATAH BIJAK

Become like the sun. If you do so, all darkness will be dispelled. No matter what happens, live confidently with the conviction that you, yourself are the "sun." Of course, in life there are sunny days and cloudy days. But even on cloudy days, the sun is still the sun. Even when you are suffering, it is vital that you strive to keep the sun shining brightly in your heart.


Resolving to take action is proof that you are progressing. Even if you have the tendency to make a determination but only stick to it for two or three days, just keep renewing that determination. Then you will become the kind of person who can persevere and reach their goals.


Do not be daunted by obstacles. Endure pressures while they last, keeping your mind alert and composed, and you will neither regress nor be defeated.


Only by overcoming life's problems and obstacles can we become truly strong. If everything always goes smoothly, we will grow complacent and be unable to build a solid foundation for our lives. Only by experiencing suffering ourselves can we understand the suffering of others and deepen our compassion.


Even if things don't unfold the way you expected, don't be disheartened or give up. One who continues to advance will win in the end.


Just being good-natured is not enough. If you are good-natured but fail to stand up to injustice, you cannot protect anyone. Instead, you will tend to be taken lightly, enabling those who perpetrate injustice to only grow stronger.


The deeper the dark, the closer the dawn. However profound the suffering that envelops you, never forget the inner spark of hope and courage. Never lose the capacity to wait with patient enduring.


Strength of will is forged by squarely facing the tasks that need to be completed now.


Every hardship is an opportunity to strengthen ourselves, to temper our life and make it shine with greater luster.


One cannot become a starring player in life if one is easily swayed by one's emotions over every little thing. Strength of character lies in performing the drama of life with courage and confidence, practicing self-reflection and self-control under any circumstances.


In life when we feel we have reached a limit, that is when the true battle begins. Just when you despair and think it is impossible to go any further, will you become apathetic, or will you say it's not over and stand up with an unyielding spirit? The battle is decided by this single determination.


The human spirit is the strongest force there is. As long as our spirit remains unbroken, there is no defeat. In life, spiritual defeat always precedes actual defeat. Guard against laziness, cowardice, carelessness, impatience, resignation and despair which corrode the human spirit and sow the seeds of defeat.


Gold is gold, no matter how muddied it becomes. The truth always wins out in the end.



Whether we regard difficulties in life as misfortunes or whether we view them as good fortune depends entirely on how much we have forged our inner determination. It all depends on our attitude or inner state of life. With a dauntless spirit, we can lead a cheerful and thoroughly enjoyable life. We can develop a "self" of such fortitude that we are able to look forward to life's trials and tribulations with a sense of joy.


The fortitude to fight on through to the very end-this strength is not only the basis of happiness, it is also the force by which social wrongs can be righted.



No one, not even those with seemingly limitless amounts of wealth and power, can avoid death. It is only when we become clearly conscious of our finitude--the limited amount of time any of us possesses--that we can earnestly consider the question of how best to live, how to make something truly valuable of our lives.


It is natural for people to want to be needed, to want to have their importance to others tangibly confirmed. Our challenge is to build a society in which people feel truly valued and fulfilled throughout the course of their lives. Recognizing and treasuring the contributions of older people is essential to the long-term flourishing of any society.


Sincere efforts to brighten our surroundings and the lives of others return to illuminate our own final years with dignity. A genuinely happy person is one who has made others happy.


Do not despair or grow impatient over transient phenomena. Life is long. Even if you have problems, even if you have done things you regret or have made mistakes, your whole future still lies ahead of you.


Challenge yourself in something, it doesn't matter what. Then as you make consistent effort, the direction you should take will quite naturally open up before you.


To lose heart just because of one or two failures is shortsighted indeed. Life is a long journey. Youth should go forward with courage, realizing that the more often you fail, the firmer the foundation you are building for your future life and happiness.


The final years of life are decisive. Unsurpassed happiness belongs to those who have overcome every difficulty, who can savor a genuine sense of fulfillment, and say, "Yes, I lived a good life."


Youthfulness is not determined by age. It is determined by one's life force. One who possesses hope is forever young. One who continually advances is forever beautiful.


Youthfulness originates from life-force. There are young people who look surprisingly old, and there are elderly people who, no matter how the years pass, always sparkle with the glow of youth, an inner vitality.


Our bodies may grow stiffer with the passing of time, but we should not let the same happen to our minds. The older we are, the more willing we should be to listen to others, especially young people.


The struggle against aging is a struggle against cowardice, the propensity to shun new challenges. It is a struggle against our complacent belief that we have done enough, an egocentric unwillingness to help younger people develop, and an attachment to our past glory. Aging sneaks in through such chinks of our soul. The life of one who continues to challenge to the end remains youthful, ageless, and victorious.



Life loses its dynamism from the moment we lose the passion with which to live it. No matter what our age, we cannot afford to let the flame within our heart grow dim. We do not become unhappy because we grow old. We become unhappy only when we grow ever more unwilling to change as we age.

LATA BIJAK dan bukan LATAH BIJAK Lho

Life
The worst mistake you can make is to give up on yourself and stop challenging yourself for fear of failure. Keep moving forward with a firm eye on the future, telling yourself, "I'll start from today!" "I'll start afresh from now, from this very moment!"
If we suppose this lifetime to be the be-all and end-all of existence, we cannot lead a truly profound life. Belief in something eternal brings out our full humanity.
Because people remain ignorant of the fact that their life is infinitely precious and at one with the eternal universe, they live indifferent to the dignity of other people's lives.
The voice is a mirror of our being, of our state of life. Our voice forthrightly reveals our true character, our cultivation as a human being. Our voices are ourselves.
The voice is the vibration of the whole living entity. A person's being and character are revealed by their voice. The voice is our second face; we may conceal our true appearance but we cannot hide our voice.
Life is a struggle, and ultimate victory is only decided in its final chapter. That is why it's important not to grow conceited in victory or become disheartened in defeat. Those who keep pressing onward toward a goal with tireless patience and persistence win in the end.
In life, we should not be totally absorbed with only immediate realities. We must have ideals and strive to achieve them, transcending present realities. On the other hand we should not allow ourselves to become alienated from reality. We can change nothing unless our feet are planted firmly on the ground.
Life is an ongoing succession of births and deaths. From this perspective, we must seek our goal and mission in something that transcends birth and death, something that we can give our whole life to. Only then can we tap the inexhaustible potential of life. In other words, we must advance beyond the mere struggle to stay alive and be prepared to ask ourselves for what purpose we live our lives.
While it is important to win, it's even more important to remain undefeated no matter what happens.
If you hope for a peaceful death as the final summation of your life, live each and every day with vitality, never failing to take everything that happens as an opportunity to open and expand your inner life, exerting yourself to the fullest in the place you find yourself now.
If you lose today, win tomorrow. In this never-ending spirit of challenge is found the heart of a victor.

Being halfhearted is such a waste. If we go around as if we're half-asleep all the time, we can't hope to savor a life that is free of regret. Enthusiasm and vigor are vital ingredients for a fulfilling life.
Whether it be individuals, organizations, nations, civilizations, all forms of life in nature--for all entities in this universe, life is an ongoing challenge. In this struggle we find the essence and unchanging truth of life. When one stops challenging, decline begins.
Hardships make us strong. Problems give birth to wisdom. Sorrows cultivate compassion. Those who have suffered the most will become the happiest.
The struggle between happiness and unhappiness is the story of human existence. The struggle between peace and war is the history of the human race. The power that leads us to eternal victory amid these struggles is the power of good within us.
Life is the blossoming of flowers in the spring, the ripening of fruit in the fall, the rhythm of the earth and of nature. Life is the cry of cicadas signaling the end of summer, migratory birds winging south in a transparent autumn sky, fish frolicking in a stream. Life is the joy beautiful music instills in us, the thrilling sight of a mountain peak reddened by the rising sun, the myriad combinations and permutations of visible and invisible phenomena. Life is all things.
Of course, people want to live long. But in the end, what matters more is what we have been able to leave behind -- the value we have created in our lives, the number of people we have made happy and how much we have been able to grow and expand as a person.
Buddhism teaches that a single day of life is worth more than all the treasures of the universe.
Everyone born in this world has a unique role that only he or she can fulfill. Were this not the case, we would not be here. The universe never acts without cause; everything invariably has a reason for being. Even the weeds people love to loathe serve a purpose. I might add that every cherry blossom has its own personality, a purpose and meaning in life that is unique to it-as do the plum, peach and damson.
The course of our lives is determined by how we react--what we decide and what we do--at the darkest of times. The nature of that response determines a person's true worth and greatness.
When we are aware that each moment of each day, each gesture and step we take, is truly mystical and full of wonder, we will live our lives with greater thought and care. We will also have greater respect and appreciation for the lives of others.
Live in a way that is full of life... for yourself, for your loved ones, for your friends. People who do so will find the courage to transform sufferings into hopes. Not only that, but they will be able to light the lamp of hope in the hearts of many others, as well.
It would be pointless for a plum blossom to try to remake itself as a cherry blossom, no matter how deeply the plum yearns to do so. The plum is happiest when it blooms as itself in full glory. How much of the color and wonder of life would be lost if it weren't for our differences.
Whether in life or in a specific undertaking, there will undoubtedly be times when you achieve genuine progress, only to come up against a wall or feel yourself regressing. There will be times when you just need to stop and rest. Such are the vicissitudes inherent to any struggle. When you challenge to achieve something, be ready to face the unexpected.
Life may be more akin to a series of meets than a single marathon. You can lose a race here or there, as long as you win in one contest, in one area. All the struggles you endured will become a prized investment in your own person.
Human society can be full of contradictions. It can be unfair; unforgiving, too. Yet we cannot afford to dismiss it and turn our backs to the world. A person who does loses, and no excuse can gloss that over. Given a choice whether to sink or swim, we must swim to the very end, no matter how the seas around us may rage
Aperson fully awakened to the jewel-like dignity of their own life is capable of truly respecting that same treasure in others.
Buddhism teaches that nothing happens by chance. Everything has meaning. Please be convinced that your inner life is already endowed with everything you need. No matter how difficult your situation may be, you are alive now, and there is no treasure more precious than life itself.
Life, in all its forms, possesses a fundamental desire to create value. Value is a relative notion, and in this world that is a tapestry of relationships, life is always seeking to create ever better relationships, that is, ever greater value. Life tries to weave a more beautiful tapestry (the value of beauty), a more useful tapestry (the value of benefit), a better tapestry (the value of good). All life, whatever its present form, is seeking to transcend its present state in pursuit of perfection.
Life's natural tendency is toward the flowering of potential, toward limitless advance. And faith is the key that enables us to open up the full realm of possibilities within our lives.
Human life possesses a potential deeper than the great wide ocean and vaster than the sky. We may tend to give up and resign ourselves to present circumstances, thinking "There is no way." But by breaking down these barriers in our minds, we can enjoy vibrant lives, filled with powerful life force like the sun.
Life is filled with potential that is truly unfathomable. At last we are coming to see the enormous power it possesses. That is why we must never write anyone off. In particular, we mustn't put boundaries on our own potential. In most cases, our so-called limitations are nothing more than our own decision to limit ourselves.
Each of us must seek to discover the particular theme or motif that will characterize our life. An attitude of intense, undaunted seriousness toward each fleeting moment can open up a whole new life for us.
The full realization of one's inner potential can be achieved only through interaction with the world of everyday reality.
"What kind of future do I envision for myself? What kind of self am I trying to develop? What do I want to accomplish in my life?" The thing is to paint this vision of your life in your heart as specifically as possible. That "painting" itself becomes the design of your future. The power of the heart enables us to actually create with our lives a wonderful masterpiece in accordance with that design.
One thing is certain: That is that the power of belief, the power of thought, will move reality in the direction of what we believe and conceive of it. If you really believe you can do something, you can. That is a fact.
When you clearly envision the outcome of victory, engrave it upon your heart, and are firmly convinced that you will attain it, your brain makes every effort to realize the mental image you have created. And then, through your unceasing efforts, that victory is finally made a reality.
Everything depends on what is in our hearts. If we decide to ourselves that something is impossible, then, consistent with our minds in thinking so, even something that is possible for us will become impossible. On the other hand, if we have the confidence that we can definitely do something, then we are already one step closer to achieving it in reality.
One of the fascinating things about human beings is this: Believe for long enough that you are not as smart as others and this will actually lead to intellectual ineptitude. But, confronted with the same doubts, if you choose to believe that your mind is merely dormant for now, lacking in exercise, once you begin to train it, there are no bounds to what you can achieve.




"The heart is what is important." There is nothing more vulnerable, nothing more corruptible than the human mind; nor is there anything as powerful, steadfast and ennobling.
If you are going to fall in love, try to make your relationship one that generates great spiritual creativity, one that is mutually enriching.
Even married people were once strangers. Therefore, without patience and the effort to understand one another, things are likely not to go well. We need patience in order to become happy.


There are many who dream about experiencing happiness without the patience. But that is a dream. And a dream is just that--a dream, a fairy tale. It is to wish for a childish, easy life. This illusion breaks up many marriages. The pursuit of such happiness can only make one miserable.


It is important to make the effort to calmly construct something together. From there, real love develops. Real marriage is when you have been married for twenty-five years and feel an even deeper love than you did when you first met. Love deepens. Love that does not is merely on the level of simple likes and dislikes.
True love should be transformative, a process that amplifies our capacity to cherish not just one person but all people. It can make us stronger, lift us higher and deepen us as individuals. Only to the extent that one polishes oneself now can one hope to develop wonderful bonds of the heart in the future.
Ideal love is fostered only between two sincere, mature and independent people. It is the inner struggle to polish these attributes that is the key. ... Real love is not two people clinging to each other; it can only be fostered between two strong people secure in their individuality.
The important thing is to overcome the sorrow that accompanies any type of separation, such as death or divorce. The vital thing is to continue advancing. Do not look back. Just forge on. There are many reasons why people bid farewell to one another. People have their own thoughts and situations. The deep scars within your heart may not heal quickly. Yet brace yourself so you can look forward. You should strive to move on, cutting through the clouds in your heart. As long as you advance, new hope will be born. The sun will rise. Only when you continue to advance can you encounter an even better, more wonderful you.
Wcan lose ourselves in romantic attachment, but the truth is, the euphoria is unlikely to last for long. Indeed, the likelihood of undergoing suffering and sadness only grows over time. As long as we remain unable to redress our own weaknesses, we will be miserable no matter where or to whom we may take flight. We can never become truly happy unless we ourselves undergo a personal transformation.
Daily life can seem all too drab and unexciting. Living itself can sometimes seem a strain, and few of us realistically expect what joy we feel to last forever. But when we fall in love, life seems filled with drama and excitement. We feel like the leading character in a novel. But, if you get lost in love just because you are bored, and consequently veer from the path you should be following, then love is nothing more than escapism. What you are doing is retreating into a dream world, believing that what is only an illusion is actually real.
If you are neglecting things you should be doing, forgetting your purpose in life because of the relationship you're in, then you're on the wrong path. A healthy relationship is one in which two people encourage each other to reach their respective goals while sharing each other's hopes and dreams. A relationship should be a source of inspiration, invigoration and hope.
It is not how you compare to others that is important, but rather how you compare to who you were yesterday. If you've advanced even one step, then you've achieved something great.

Aperson of integrity seeks self-mastery; a person obsessed with power seeks to control others. A person of integrity takes action, works hard and struggles to overcome his or her inner weakness; a person driven by lust for power forces others to work for his own selfish purpose, never reflecting upon himself.
People who can admire true greatness are happy people. Such admiration also serves to elevate one's own existence. By opening wide the doors of our hearts we can broaden our own horizons and strengthen our belief in life. A breakdown in this capacity to praise and respect others can lead to inflexibility and self-righteousness.

Only when we learn to channel the energy we direct toward winning over others into winning over ourselves can we begin to develop our humanity.
The question of how to live one's life and find one's true life purpose can only be solved by making consistent effort to help others win over the miseries that afflict them. This is the way of the bodhisattva--to exert oneself for the sake of others while striving for one's own self-realization.




If you become passive, you will find yourself restricted, regardless of how free the environment is in which you live. Conversely, if you maintain a positive, proactive attitude, you will find yourself free, no matter how restricted your environment. True freedom is the caliber or spiritual capacity that enables one to cope with any circumstance.
It's not about others; it's about you winning, and winning over yourself. By doing so, you will provide inspiration and encouragement to all around you.
It is a human tendency to blame others before reflecting on oneself. But if you do, you will never find the real cause of the problem, and there will be no real improvement.
Human integrity is determined by the heart, not by cleverness.
There may be times when others seem enviable. But others are others and you are you. Rather than comparing your joys and sorrows to those of others, you should aim to surpass your limits in the situation you are in right now. Those who can do this are the true victors in life.
Anyone who has ever made a resolution discovers that the strength of that determination fades in time. The moment you feel that is when you should make a fresh determination. Tell yourselves, "OK! I will start again from now!" If you fall down seven times, get up the eighth. Don't give up when you feel discouraged-just pick yourselves up and renew your determination each time.
Just as a diamond can only be polished by another diamond, it is only through genuine, all-out engagement with others that people can polish their character, and help each other to reach greater heights.
People shouldn't hesitate to exert their all, in a way true to themselves. How can you possibly ever know how far or fast you can go if you've never run all-out? To give up even before you've tried is actually arrogance-an affront to the wondrous power of life within you and disrespectful to yourself.
The word "character" originated from the Greek words meaning "sculpture" and "impression." Character, then, could be thought of that which is shaped or etched. It may be true from a medical perspective that our psychological and physiological traits are generally predetermined genetically. Knowing this, however, adds little to our lives. All that matters is how we can better ourselves here and now.

One who has mastered himself is truly free. Freedom lies in the heart of the sage, servitude in the heart of the fool.
So many mistakes are made as the result of that tendency of people to ignore, overlook or disregard those facts that they find inconvenient or unpalatable.
An envious person does not look at those more capable than him and aspire to better himself; he plots to drag them down to his own level. Jealousy is simply an unwitting admittance of one's own flaws and failings.
On the flip side of arrogance lies cowardice-a lack of courage to face the truth. Likewise, discrimination and envy are also two sides of the same coin.
All great literature, ancient and modern, is a bridge connecting one human being to another, one spirit to another. The quality of our life is determined by how many of those bridges we can cross.