These are quotes which stood out to me, possibly for use in a sermon someday. Their presence here does not mean I agree with them, it merely shows that I might want to reference them later. The default view is five random selections. Use the tag list on the right to view all quotes relevant to that theme.
A real patriot is the fellow who gets a parking ticket and rejoices that the system works.
id: 470 | source: Anonymous | tags: Humor, Patriotism
You must never mistake a clear view for a short distance.
id: 787 | source: Paul Saffo (of the Insitute for the Future) | tags: Persistence, Perspective, Planning, Vision
“An ambassador to France, [Benjamin Franklin] was the most sought-after man in Paris. But was Franklin always this popular? Hardly. In his autobiography he describes himself as a blundering young man—uncouth and unattractive. In Philadelphia one day an old Quaker friend took young Franklin aside and lashed him with these words: “Ben, you are impossible. Your opinions have a slap in them for everyone who differs with you. Your friends find they enjoy themselves better when you are not around.” One of the finest things we know about Franklin is the way he accepted that smarting rebuke. He was wise enough to realize that he was headed for failure and social disaster, and by applying himself to the laws of friendship, he turned himself completely around.”
id: 1543 | source: Alan Loy McGinnis, The Friendship Factor p 16-17 | tags: Conflict, Friendship, Rebuke
Waste no more time talking about great souls and how they should be. Become one yourself!
id: 2051 | source: Marcus Aurelius | tags: Ambition, Spiritual Formation
I have been forced to make decisions, many of them of a critical character, for a good many years, and I know of only one way in which you can be sure you have done your best to make a wise decision. That is to get all of the [responsible policy makers] with their different viewpoints in front of you, and listen to them debate. I do not believe in bringing them in one at a time, and therefore being more impressed by the most recent one you hear than the earlier ones. You must get courageous men of strong views, and let them debate and argue with each other. You listen, and see if there's anything been brought up, any idea, that changes your own view, or enriches your view or adds to it. Then you start studying. Sometimes the case becomes so simple that you can make a decision right then. Or you might wait if time is not of the essence. But you make it. [I found this quote in a paper by Greenstein and Immerman. They note "Our citation comes from the original draft transcript of the oral history that is available at the Eisenhower Library. The transcript released to the public omits the passage that we quote." - the paper is at http://www.eisenhowerinstitute.org/programs/livinghistory/GreensteinArticle.pdf]