“Sometimes you have to talk with a two-year-old just to understand life again.” – Patricia Love
When Things Go Wrong
When things go wrong, as they sometimes will, When the road you’re trudging seems all uphill, When the funds are low and the debts are high, and you want to smile, but you have to sigh, When care is pressing you down a bit – Rest if you must, but don’t you quit. Life is queer with its twists and …
COMMENTARY 980.2: Family Values
Our values — the core beliefs that drive behavior — determine our character, our ethics and our potential. Thus, the most important thing we can do for our children is to stimulate them to develop positive values that will help them become wise, happy and good. This is no simple matter. The first step is to achieve greater clarity about …
“A Great Leader Is . . .
IDEALISTIC but not unrealistic, CONFIDENT but not arrogant, BOLD but not reckless, PERSUASIVE but not manipulative, PASSIONATE but not self-righteous, TENACIOUS but not obstinate.” – Michael Josephson
H-O-P-E
Hang On Pain Ends “Pain is unavoidable but it’s not permanent. The sun will come out tomorrow; It comes out every single day, even when we can’t see it. You have the strength you need to get through this. The light at the end of the tunnel is your life; it’s the tunnel that’s temporary.” – Michael Josephson
Real Generosity
“Real generosity is doing something for others, even when you’re certain you will get nothing back . . . not even a thank you.” – Michael Josephson
Is It Going To Be Easy?
Don’t ask if it is going to be easy, ask if it’s going to be worth it.
Admiration of the Kind
“When I was young I admired clever people. Now that I am old, I admire kind people.” – Abraham Joshua Hesche
Just say No
Remember, you don’t have to attend every argument you’re invited to.
Your Children Will Grow Up…
“Your children will become what you are, so be what you want them to be.” – David Bly
COMMENTARY 980.1: Who Am I to Judge? – The Ethics of Moral Judgments
Almost every week someone indignantly attacks my integrity because I offended them with a real or perceived opinion they didn’t like. The underlying assumption is that stating an opinion on any controversial matter violates the sacred duty of neutrality. First, I’m a teacher and a commentator, not a judge or journalist. Although I strive mightily to be objective, I don’t …
Happiness is Like A Butterfly…
“Happiness is like a butterfly: The more you chase it, the more it will elude you, but if you turn your attention to other things, it will come and sit softly on your shoulder.” – Henry David Thoreau
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
COMMENTARY: Appreciating Appreciation
There’s a song called “Thank God for Dirty Dishes” that makes the point that if you’re lucky to have enough food to make dirty dishes, you should be grateful.
Living A Life of Character
“Living a life of character is a form of immortality. The ripple impact of your integrity will influence generations to come as each person inspired to emulate your example passes on your lessons by their words and conduct.” I think one of the most important line in the poem “What Will Matter” is: “What will matter is how long …
Ask Yourself the Tough Questions
“You can BE what you want to be. GET what you want to have. GO where you want to go. If you DO what you need to do.” We use this as a motivational poster in our CHARACTER COUNTS! program to inspire young people to take their education seriously and to realize that their future will be created by their ambitions and their efforts. …
Who Are You?
“The most important reason to know who you are is that it’s the first step in becoming who you CAN be.” – Michael Josephson
What Lies Within You?
“What lies behind us and what lies before us are tiny matters compared to what lies within us.” – Ralph Waldo Emerson
COMMENTARY: Teaching Our Children to Be Better Than Us
Do parents have moral standing to impose standards on their children that they themselves did not follow when they were kids? Is it ever ethical for parents to lie
There is Always A Way Out..
“When a door closes, try to re-open it. If it does not yield, look for another door. If you can’t find one, look for a window. If there is no window, poke a hole in the wall and make one. There is always a way out. NOTHING THAT CONFINES YOU IS STRONGER THAN YOUR WILL TO BE FREE.” – Michael …
Life is too short to be little.
“Let others lead small lives, but not you. Let others argue over small things, but not you. Let others cry over small hurts, but not you. Let others leave their future in someone else’s hands, but not you.” – Jim Rohn. Don’t fritter away precious moments on petty things. Easier said than done. We live our lives daily, hour by …
How Many True Friends Do You Have?
“Good companions are people you spend time with when you want to have a good time; True friends are the ones you want to be with when you’ve had a bad time.” – Michael Josephson
COMMENTARY: What Do You Want to See More of and Less of?
COMMENTARY: What Do You Want to See More of and Less of? Inspirational author and speaker Stephen Covey once said, “Start with the end in mind.” So whenever a company wants to launch an ethics initiative, we at Josephson Institute use a simple exercise: “Look at your organization today – its managers, line employees, and customers – and list behaviors …
Refuse to be Afraid
“Perspective is an antidote to fear. Most things you fear will never happen, and even if they do, you can handle it.” – Michael Josephson
COMMENTARY: Learning and Believing
One of the marks of our species is our limitless capacity to learn. Sometimes we learn how to do something we’ve never done before. Sometimes we learn facts about the world, about other people, and about ourselves.
Be A Person of Character
BE HONEST even if it costs more than you want to pay. TREAT PEOPLE WITH RESPECT even if they don’t seem to deserve it.
Blessed are Those Who Can…
“Blessed are those who can give without remembering and take without forgetting.” – Elizabeth Bibesco (English writer (1897-1945)
Version 2.0 – The Best is Yet to Come
“Sometimes life doesn’t turn out the way you expected or hoped. That doesn’t mean you can’t be happy. If you don’t limit yourself to your first version of your life, there’s always a brighter future ahead. If you believe that the best is yet to come, you will be right.” – Michael Josephson
It is Never Too Late…
It is never too late to become a happier person. It is never too late to become a better person.
Confucius Quote
“It does not matter how slowly you go as long as you do not stop.” – Confucius