Saturday, June 26, 2010

Debt is the worst poverty

If you are poor you are poor and you have to cut your coat according to your cloth, how ever poor that cloth might be. If you are in debt you have entered negative territory and someone else owns your coat. Any effort you put in to struggle free is absorbed by your debts. You cannot save a little to see you through. You cannot invest a little surplus to improve your lot.

Avoiding unnecessary debt is one of the first things a wise person should learn. The trouble is that governments have created a system of money based on paper that can be manipulated. It is possible for people to run up debt and then have it considerably reduced by inflation.

The common sense saver who prudently avoided borrowing feels cheated, as their savings lose value. In this unnatural situation the wise loose out to the witless. Is it a form of cheating or redistribution of wealth? How many times can you con people into working hard and saving if their spendthrift neighbor is the one who ends up with a big grin?

Sunday, June 20, 2010

Second thoughts are best

We all tend to react to a difficult situation with emotion. Because of this our first response can be inappropriate. The expression " to sleep on it" tells us of the importance of taking time to consider our reaction.

Taking time to reply gives us the opportunity to reflect and use our powers of reasoning to decide the best ways to deal with the problem. Writing an E mail and firing it off in haste can get you into trouble.

The old saying " count to 10" makes a lot of sense. Without emotions we would not be human but discipline is necessary. So remember: first love and second thoughts are best.

Sunday, June 13, 2010

To promise and gives nothing is comfort for a fool

The first thought that comes to mind when reading that is: politician. People in government usually know that by the time they leave office the promises they made will not have come to pass. But it will be someone else's problem.

Beware the Greeks bearing gifts is a very old saying that seems to apply to those whose business is government. The gifts handed out by politicians have been paid for by the people who get them. In return for this generous kindness they give themselves a pay rise.

To vote for a politician because of his promises is not a good idea. You have to judge their character from their track record. Perhaps those people who judge a politician by his suit are just as wise those who study their every word.

Sunday, June 06, 2010

May you're shadow never grow less.


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Don't let your written English let you down.


The length of your shadow depends on your height. The shorter you are the shorter your shadow. This is of course referring to the height of your reputation.

Our standing in the eyes of others depends on how they assess us. This metaphor is a simple way of praising someone but at the same time warning of the dangers of diminishing themselves by the wrong actions.

People are often encouraged to walk tall in the metaphorical sense and this leads to the idea of a long shadow.