Everything that happens is as normal and expected as the spring rose or the summer fruit; this is true of sickness, death, slander, intrigue, and all the other things that delight or trouble foolish men.
Marcus Aurelius (AD 120 – 180), Meditations (4.44)
Particularly pertinent for our times.
In the life of man, his time is but a moment, his being an incessant flux, his senses a dim rushlight, his body a prey of worms, his soul an unquiet eddy, his fortune dark, and his fame doubtful. In short, all that is of the body is as coursing waters, all that is of the soul as dreams and vapours; life a warfare, a brief sojourning in an alien land; and after repute, oblivion.
Marcus Aurelius (AD 120 – 180), Meditations, Book 2, verse 17
“Life isn’t about finding yourself. Life is about creating yourself.”
George Bernard Shaw (1856 – 1950)
Image: BBC.co.uk
Execupundit Michael Wade reminds us of a quote from Sophocles:
Kindness begets kindness.
…which maybe sounds a little platitudinous, until you realise it is at the heart of Robert Cialdini’s first Principle of Influence: Reciprocity.
Too often, we think of reciprocity as something transactional but, in reality, it needs to be a longer term, less expectant behaviour. “Kindness” is not far off.
I was reminded of this listening to Jason Sibley (@JasonCreation) of The Creation Agency at Marketo’s Marketing Nation event, last week.
Here’s a useful reminder of all six principles from Cialdini’s site:
Photo by Jonas Vincent on Unsplash
“The first opinion that is formed of a ruler’s intelligence is based on the quality of the men he has around him. When they are competent and loyal he can always be considered wise, because he has been able to recognise their competence and to keep them loyal.”
Niccolo Machiavelli (1469 – 1527), The Prince
A great quote from John Schaar, courtesy of Mr Execupundit:
The future is not some place we are going to, but one we are creating. The paths are not to be found, but made, and the activity of making them changes both the maker and the destination.
Photo by Alex Knight on Unsplash
“Accustom yourself to give careful attention to what others are saying, and try your best to enter into the mind of the speaker.”
Marcus Aurelius (AD 120 – 180), Meditations
Image: Copyright : Vladimir Korostyshevskiy at 123rf.com
“Let us go forward as with other matters and other measures similar in aim and effect – let us go forward in malice to none and good will to all. Such plans offer far better prizes than taking away other people’s provinces or lands or grinding them down in exploitation. The empires of the future are the empires of the mind.”
Winston Churchill (1943), Speech on receiving an honorary degree from Harvard
What is the very best that can be said or done with the materials at your disposal? Be it what it may, you have the power to say it or do it; let there be no pretence that you are not a free agent.”
Marcus Aurelius (AD 120 – 180), Meditations
“Adversity attracts the man of character. He seeks out the bitter joy of responsibility.”
Charles de Gaulle (1890 – 1970)