Small faults let in greater.
This saying sounds suspiciously like the Great Granddaddy of the zero tolerance policy!
Breaking small rules is the slippery slope to a momentum that can send you hurtling to disaster. The child who discovers that they can get away with dropping litter, swearing at parents and bullying small kids will grow in confidence that they are smart and above the law.
The buzz from petty crimes will soon lessen and those desiring bigger kicks will seek to challenge authority more and more. They graduate through the ranks of crime and when it is too late the inevitable confrontation with the police happens and they get banged up. In prison they run the risk of being further brutalized and emerging as hardened criminals who can only think of bigger and better crimes as a way of getting on.
Regular, fair discipline is the only way to train the human mind to follow the rules and find a constructive path to success and happiness. As a sapling is inclined so will the tree grow.
Sunday, May 27, 2007
Sunday, May 20, 2007
Beauty without grace is a violet without scent.
Beauty without grace is a violet without scent.
Great beauty is a form of power. Many a powerful man has been reduced to a whimpering wreck by love of a fair maid. Literature and history abound with beautiful women who have used their influence over men to change the course of events. Names like Cleopatra, Madam Pompadour, Catherine the Great evoke images of female beauty interacting with the lives of famous and powerful men to affect the destiny of nations.
Perfection of form and face might suggest a noble soul but this does not always prove true. Handsome men are often depicted as overpowering and cruel leaving a string of sullied beauties in their turbulent wake but femme fatales can be just as deadly.
This proverb tells us that to have beauty that is only skin deep is not enough, it is necessary to have the wisdom and good sense to use its power with regard and respect for others. The eye is attracted to the violet by its color but the attention lingers due to the delightful scent. In days gone by people thought of the scent of a flower as being its essence in the way that the soul was the essence of the human form. Flower : scent. Body : soul.
Great beauty is a form of power. Many a powerful man has been reduced to a whimpering wreck by love of a fair maid. Literature and history abound with beautiful women who have used their influence over men to change the course of events. Names like Cleopatra, Madam Pompadour, Catherine the Great evoke images of female beauty interacting with the lives of famous and powerful men to affect the destiny of nations.
Perfection of form and face might suggest a noble soul but this does not always prove true. Handsome men are often depicted as overpowering and cruel leaving a string of sullied beauties in their turbulent wake but femme fatales can be just as deadly.
This proverb tells us that to have beauty that is only skin deep is not enough, it is necessary to have the wisdom and good sense to use its power with regard and respect for others. The eye is attracted to the violet by its color but the attention lingers due to the delightful scent. In days gone by people thought of the scent of a flower as being its essence in the way that the soul was the essence of the human form. Flower : scent. Body : soul.
Sunday, May 13, 2007
An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure.
An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure.
Looking at a disaster and wishing it hadn't happened is not very helpful. If you were the cause all the excuses in the world won't put it right. Crying over spilt milk doesn't put it back in the pail. The best you can do is learn from the experience and resolve never to let it happen again.
This leads you to the idea of prevention. That is to stop something from happening by anticipating the problem and taking steps to avoid it. Using foresight or looking ahead is a good habit to cultivate. Many mothers acquire this naturally and foresee the dangers likely to confront their children and plan ahead to protect them before disaster strikes. But it applies to all peoples of all ages - we should anticipate problems and dangers for ourselves and others. Our actions might lead to friends or strangers suffering loss or accidents and we have a moral duty to avoid this.
There are many associated sayings with this idea. Look before you leap. Forewarned is forearmed. Who hinders not a mischief is guilty of it. Remember: an accident foreseen is an accident you can avoid.
Looking at a disaster and wishing it hadn't happened is not very helpful. If you were the cause all the excuses in the world won't put it right. Crying over spilt milk doesn't put it back in the pail. The best you can do is learn from the experience and resolve never to let it happen again.
This leads you to the idea of prevention. That is to stop something from happening by anticipating the problem and taking steps to avoid it. Using foresight or looking ahead is a good habit to cultivate. Many mothers acquire this naturally and foresee the dangers likely to confront their children and plan ahead to protect them before disaster strikes. But it applies to all peoples of all ages - we should anticipate problems and dangers for ourselves and others. Our actions might lead to friends or strangers suffering loss or accidents and we have a moral duty to avoid this.
There are many associated sayings with this idea. Look before you leap. Forewarned is forearmed. Who hinders not a mischief is guilty of it. Remember: an accident foreseen is an accident you can avoid.
Sunday, May 06, 2007
The man who never made a mistake never made anything.
The man who never made a mistake never made anything.
This is great consolation as you look at the pipe you have just burst or the piece of wallpaper the lady in your life has noticed is upside down.
Mistakes do happen even to the most able of people. It might be your technique is lacking or your attention wandered or you have grown tired and need a break. Whatever, sooner or later something will go wrong. The important thing is how you react to this. Throw a tantrum? Kick the cat? Blame everyone in earshot? No, this might bring temporary relief but it solves nothing. All the sages will tell you to think positively: learn what you don't know, clear out distractions, have a rest. Tackle the issue, deal with it, move on.
Many people who dream of success never get down and dirty with it because of their fear of failure. Keep repeating this saying and resolve to tackle something new. And even if it is a total disaster you will have tried, and remember: third time lucky. If at first you don't succeed try, try, and try again.
As someone once said: The greatest mistake is fearing to make one.
This is great consolation as you look at the pipe you have just burst or the piece of wallpaper the lady in your life has noticed is upside down.
Mistakes do happen even to the most able of people. It might be your technique is lacking or your attention wandered or you have grown tired and need a break. Whatever, sooner or later something will go wrong. The important thing is how you react to this. Throw a tantrum? Kick the cat? Blame everyone in earshot? No, this might bring temporary relief but it solves nothing. All the sages will tell you to think positively: learn what you don't know, clear out distractions, have a rest. Tackle the issue, deal with it, move on.
Many people who dream of success never get down and dirty with it because of their fear of failure. Keep repeating this saying and resolve to tackle something new. And even if it is a total disaster you will have tried, and remember: third time lucky. If at first you don't succeed try, try, and try again.
As someone once said: The greatest mistake is fearing to make one.
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