Mine for some reason is "By relieving the brain of all unecessary work, a good notation sets it free to concentrate on more advanced problems, and in effect increases the mental power of the race"
-- "Remember death." A traditional Roman saying, whispered in the ear of victorious generals when celebrating their victories to remind them not to let their heads get too big, nor to waste time in vain indulgence, but to direct their efforts toward ends that are worthwhile. It also appears in Plato's Phaedo, and in countless classical and medieval texts.
I found something on hn a few days back and i am trying to carry it around and make it a part of me.
"""For someone who hated routines and felt trapped. The simple advice that schedules are my friend and I should schedule my day in a way that would make me happy when I go to bed. Been doing this for 2 months now. Never been more productive or happier. """
https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=17159515
The thought that the schedule should be one you are happy about is very powerful. I am trying to incorporate that into my daily routine.
Hey there that was a comment that I made. I am glad that it helped you.
I learnt it from Jordan B. Peterson. I highly recommend his book "12 rules for life" which has improved the overall quality of my life by a substantial magnitude in the last two months. This book led me to read some of the writings of Carl Jung and Marie-Louise von Franz which were further eye openers.
A warning though that he has a polarising effect on people. They either hate him or worship him. I would suggest reading the book with a beginners mind and applying in your life what seems apt to you :)
Recently, I got a different take on this from a book called ‘Mad Genius’. The author says in today’s fast moving world if you keep doing what you have been doing, you will perish very quickly. Like Nokia.
"The Matrix is a system, Neo. That system is our enemy. But when you’re inside, you look around, what do you see? Businessmen, teachers, lawyers, carpenters. The very minds of the people we are trying to save. But until we do, these people are still a part of that system and that makes them our enemy. You have to understand, most of these people are not ready to be unplugged. And many of them are so inert, so hopelessly dependent on the system, that they will fight to protect it."
To remind myself that I won't grow mentally, financially, or physically if I don't put in the time, effort, or work. Any potential gains require some kind of investment/sacrifice on your part. Also reminds me not to complain if I didn't put in adequate effort. :)
“When I was ten, I read fairy tales in secret and would have been ashamed if I had been found doing so. Now that I am fifty, I read them openly. When I became a man I put away childish things, including the fear of childishness and the desire to be very grown up.”
Thank you! I read further on that Fake Buddha quotes site (motto: "I Can't Believe It's Not Buddha!"), and learnt a lot from the comments and discussions, e.g. on this page[0] - like that some Buddha quotes I've 'known' for decades are just very bad mistranslations. Very grateful.
Sorry, I have an annoying habit of chasing up fake-looking quotes. That one sounds like a 20th C American, and....indeed seems to be - apparently it's from a Jack Kornfield book, he was paraphrasing Don Juan in the Castaneda books, themselves fakes. Interesting discussion here:[0]
Here's (I believe) an actual Buddha quote on the topic, which I've always liked/thought scary:
This existence of ours is as transient as autumn clouds. To watch the birth and death of beings is like looking at the movements of a dance. A lifetime is like a flash of lightning in the sky, rushing by, like a torrent down a steep mountain.
-- "Remember death." A traditional Roman saying, whispered in the ear of victorious generals when celebrating their victories to remind them not to let their heads get too big, nor to waste time in vain indulgence, but to direct their efforts toward ends that are worthwhile. It also appears in Plato's Phaedo, and in countless classical and medieval texts.
I think of it every day.