Wow!!! Every line in this piece is worth thinking a lot about. "Many never lose their senses, having none to lose." LOL!!!

what a brilliant idea to think about things together with our children. this is a very good book serving the purpose of planting seeds of contemplation in everyone's mind -- chidlren and adults. thank you for this blog. it really is very interesting.

Brilliant, brilliant, brilliant... This is my favorite aphorism yet. thanks you for your elaborations Pendar, too. Really very thoughtful and useful. I love it!!!

this really is great advice. I wish someone had put it so clearly to me a long time ago!

Wow this is great --- so true -- why didn't I think of that before???!!!

This is the idea behind the 'niche' mentality: from minute specializations to niche marketing. think about it.

I like the idea of 'neutralizing' the grenades that could be thrown at you. That takes a lot of confidence and emotional strength. Not easy!

But I don't get it... how can you NOT have a blemish when even the author acknoweldges that only ver few are without them? And not all blemishes are rectifiable. How do the rest of us flawed people live?!!

I think when you accept your *blemishes* and *flaws" they somehow lose their grip on you and others. I don't know how it works but it works!!!!

LOL!! I love your comments Pendar and I totally agree.

Sigh... the forgotten art of conversation!

How sad that something as having a conversation has become a matter of 'manners and morals'... It should just be a natural thing without a second thought, no?

Forget about any interesting conversation, people hardly talk face to face (f2f -- see what I mean?!!) any more. Kids are texting other kids when they're together. Instead of talking to the kid they're with, they're texting someone else. I wonder though
if this is like playing with a new toy and they will get tired of it when it's been around long enough?

I just discovered this blog. I love it!!!!

very nice. very very nice. both the aphorism and the commentary

the *art* of being lucky?! luck is just chance --- sure, you can blow your best chances or you can make something great out of it --- that's the art.

Definitely there is an art to being lucky which is to first of all recognize it --- and then do good things to it. I think that is what the writer means.

What an interesting thought about being born at the right time. And your'e right Pendar about what a better century is. It really makes you think.

I really like this series. Very interesting book and I love the comments!!

I really like these aphorisms too. who would have thunk? so many years ago!!

Yeah, if someone is happy so what if it's in mundane pursuit.

Are you talking about the 99%???!!! They're the ones who must "apply themselves" -- i.e. WORK. And right now they can't even find "mundane" work!!

ah, the 99%...

don't be so cynical guys!!! don't you all want your children to grow up to be exceptional? You gotta work to become exceptional.

very interesting comments Pendar!! you reallky hit the nail over the head. sad but true what you say...

I totally agree it's tricky stuff the idea of knoweldge and evil intent together. The evil genius idea! But truth is that most evil action is also very stupid action. I'm one of those who think that real intelligence and goodness go together. I know I'm
probably *idealistic* --- but whyy shouldnt we all be??!!

excellent points indeed

I love this!!! Thank you for introducing Gracian to me -- or me to Gracian, rather!

Very interesting to connect reality and manner. Manners do play an important part in shaping our reality, don't they? It's certainly food for thought.

This is so touching and true. thank you Pendar for introducing this book. I am going to order it.

I suppose this is part of the reason behind having schools... sigh!!!

this blog sounds old fashioned but it definitely is not. thank you Pendar for reminding us that a lot of our problems, and their solutions, are not new at all.

There is nothing new under the sun. Many of the most serious questions that people have asked remain the same throughout time. I suppose the whole idea behind the need to educate children is to have them learn from those have something good to teach. I
agree with Clara that schools were supposed to provide this opportunity but in reality they have actually taken kids from other people in the community who have great things to teach while the schools and the teachers do a lousy job of teaching anything.