“Mankind, when left to themselves, are unfit for their own government.”
Archives For Daily Success Secrets
Know the difference of evasion. It is the prudent person’s way of keeping out of trouble. With the gallantry of a witty remark one is able to extricate oneself from the most intricate of labyrinths, to emerge gracefully from the bitterest encounter and with a smile. It was to this that the greatest of the great captains ascribed his power. A courteous way of saying no is to change the conversation, nor is there greater politeness than that of not being able to understand.
~ Baltasar Gracian, The Art of Worldly Wisdom (1647)
The Value of Adopting a Chief Aim.
This lesson on Accurate Thought not only describes the real purpose of a definite chief aim, but it explains in simple terms the principles through which such an aim or purpose may be realized. We first create the objective toward which we are striving, through the imaginative faculty of the mind, then transfer an outline of this objective to paper by writing out a definite statement of it in the nature of a definite chief aim. By daily reference to this written statement the idea or thing aimed for is taken up by the conscious mind and handed over to the sub-conscious mind, which, in turn, directs the energies of the body to transform the desire into material form.
~ Napoleon Hill, The Law of Success (1928)
Many estates are spent in the getting,
Since women for tea forsook spinning and knitting.
He that lieth down with dogs, shall ride up with fleas.
Tongue double, brings trouble.
~ Benjamin Franklin, Poor Richards Almanac, July 1733
Who is wiser for the wisdom of the hour?
The good old paths are good enough for me.
The fathers walked to heaven in them, and we
By following meekly where they trod, may reach
The home they found. There will be mysteries,
Let those who like bother their head with them.
~ William Curtis Stiles, Excuse Me (1898)
“Where is the promise? It is within you and within your capacity to deliver. Peter Drucker, author and management consultant, said, ‘Regarding the future, there are no certainties, only expectations.’ No one can guarantee you a future, only an opportunity for you to develop your own future.”
~ Mortimer R. Feinberg, Ph.D., Effective Psychology For Mangers, (1965)
In the Art of War, first comes scoping, then measurement, then calculation, then balancing and finally victory. The Earth is the basis for scoping, scoping the basis for measurement, measurement the basis for calculation, calculation the basis for balancing, and balancing the basis for victory. A victorious army is just as an yi is to a shu. And a defeated army is as a shu to an yi. A victorious army carries all the weight of flood water plunging into a thousand-foot gorge.
~ Sun Tzu, The Art of War
…don’t argue with your customer or your spouse or your adversary. Don’t tell them they are wrong, don’t get them stirred up. Use a little diplomacy.
Principle 2: Show respect for the person’s opinions. Never say, “You’re wrong.”
~ Dale Carnegie, How to Win Friends and Influence People, (1936)
“Study a great man,” said Louis Pasteur.
Great men who have done things, who are still doing things, can become our inspiring lifetime friends through their biographies and autobiographies. Get a hero—and get better acquainted with him by reading about him.
Some rich man who wanted to make the world hum could put more books about people who have done things within reach of minds of the generation which is yet to do things.
Everyone can find new friends who count by reading books about people who count. Try reading a biography a month for several months.
~ Dr. Donald & Eleanor Laird, The Technique of Getting Things Done. (1947)
Three Taboos for Leaders.
Nervous mannerisms are twitchings, muscular spasms, scratching, swaying—and the like—that can’t be traced to physical disease. You see them in men and women who aren’t composed. More or less oblivious to their nervous mannerisms, they make you, as their observer, uncomfortable. Many, children especially, find nervous mannerisms contagious.
~ James F. Bender, The Technique of Executive Leadership (1950)
