We celebrate this year’s Fourth of July holiday at a time when millions of people in Libya, Tunisia, Egypt, Syria, Bahrain, and Yemen are at various stages of their own struggle to replace dictators with some form of democracy. It’s a good reminder that the fight for liberty has always required courage. In our own case, 56 men we now …
Greatest Quotes on Patriotism
He loves his country best who strives to make it best. – Robert G. Ingersoll This nation will remain the land of the free only so long as it is the home of the brave. ~Elmer Davis I like to see a man proud of the place in which he lives. I …
WHAT DOES THE FLAG MEAN TO YOU?
See my previous comment on Flag Day https://whatwillmatter.com/2013/06/what-does-the-flag-mean-to-you-are-highest-noble-democratic-ideals-and-aspirations-embodied-in-our-founding-documents-infused-into-the-dna-of-the-american-flag/
Amazing Vintage Patriotic Photos & Postcards
Take a close look at these amazing photos of patriotic images consisting of nine to thirty thousands of soldiers taken in 1917 during WWI by Arthur Mole. Setting the photos up, dressing the men in the right colors and organizing them to stay put was incredible. But how did he get high enough to take the picture? There’s no Photoshop …
The Essence of America
“What is the essence of America? Finding and maintaining that perfect, delicate balance between freedom ‘to’ and freedom ‘from.’” – Marilyn von Savant
COMMENTARY: Respectful Discourse – The Essence of Democracy
On this 4th of July, I hope you will take time to experience pride in and appreciation for the great qualities of our country. One quality of our democracy is that every citizen is a public official. Thus, the passionate advocacy of political convictions is not only a right, it’s a patriotic obligation. What worries me, however, is the tendency of …
Happy 4th of July!!!!
“Love your country. Your country is the land where your parents sleep, where is spoken that language in which the chosen of your heart, blushing, whispered the first word of love; It is the home that God has given you that by striving to perfect yourselves therein you may prepare to ascend to him.” – Giuseppe Mazzini
Lincoln on Patriotism
I like to see a man proud of the place in which he lives.
America is a Song
“America is a song that sounds the best when we all sing together.”
COMMENTARY: Four Exceptional Insights I Wish I Understood Long Ago
1) The art of acceptance is the art of making someone who has just done you a small favor wish that he might have done you a greater one. Russell Lynes. 2) People won’t remember everything you say or do but they always remember how you made them feel.- Maya Angelou 3) Feeling grateful and not expressing it is like …
COMMENTARY: The Greyhound Principle
Racing dogs are trained to chase a mechanical rabbit that always goes a little faster than the fleetest dog. This causes them to run faster than they otherwise would. Companies that annually set overly ambitious performance objectives for their employees employ this greyhound principle. To a point, it works. Most people achieve more when expectations are set high. The strategy …
Insignificant Success
“It is better to be unsuccessful pursuing a significant goal than being successful attaining an insignificant one.” – Michael Josephson
When One Door Closes…
“New beginnings are often disguised as painful endings.” – Lao Tzu
Advice for Time
Invest time; don’t spend it. Save time; don’t waste it. Enjoy the time you have; don’t regret the time that’s gone.
Good Intentions Fall Short
“Good intentions are simply not enough. Our character is defined and our lives are determined not by what we want, say, or think, but by what we do.” – Michael Josephson
Living At Its Best and Its Worst
“Life is never so bad at its worst that it is impossible to live; it is never so good at its best that it is easy to live.” – Gabriel Heatter
The Best Is Yet To Come
“Sometimes life doesn’t turn out how you expected or hoped. That doesn’t mean you can’t or won’t be happy. If you don’t
Insanity
“Insanity is doing the same things over and over and expecting a different result.” – Albert Einstein
A True Friend
“A true friend wants the best for you, brings the best out of you, and expects the best from you.” – Michael Josephson
Ethics are about the Ought
Ethics are about the ought, not the is. Ethics are not about the way things are, but about the way they should be.
Change It Up!
When is the last time you did something for the first time? Isn’t it about time?
Little Things Are Big Things
Enjoy and be grateful for the little things in life, for one day you will look back and realize they were the big things.
Stay the Course
“It does not matter how slowly you go, as long as you do not stop.” – Confucius
Good Ideas Without Action
“Good ideas without action are like beautifully gift wrapped boxes with nothing inside.” – Michael Josephson
COMMENTARY: Enough Is Enough
What does it take to make you happy? How much do you have to have to be grateful? To the barefoot man, happiness is a pair of old shoes.
COMMENTARY: Happiness and Purpose
As you celebrate the Fourth of July, please take time to discuss with your family the historical and spiritual significance of the Declaration of Independence and the 56 men who risked their lives issuing one of the great documents in human history. At the core of the Declaration is the profound assertion that each of us has an unalienable right …
COMMENTARY: Learning From Pigeons
During an experiment, pigeons were put in cages with one green and one red button. In one cage, if the birds pecked the green button they would get food every time. In the other, the green button yielded food erratically and the pigeons had to persist to get enough food. In both cases, pecking the red button did nothing. Both …
COMMENTARY: Being Decisive
Frank is a new supervisor who wants to do well. Maria consistently comes in late. When he confronts her, she makes a joke out of it. Hoping to win friendship and loyalty, Frank is painfully patient with her, but Pat, a conscientious employee, urges him to do more. Soon others begin to come in late, and Pat quits. Frank feels …
COMMENTARY: The Road to Significance & Success
The most traditional way to measure the quality of one’s life is to evaluate success by listing accolades, achievements, and acquisitions. After all, in its simplest terms, success is getting what we want and most people want wealth and status.
Love – Compassion – Respect
Let us hear and heed the better angels of our nature, the angels that call us to think and act beyond ourselves; to respect and care about the well-being of others in our human family; and to accept our moral duty to improve ourselves and the world.” – Michael Josephson