On life being difficult. From the book “The Road Less Traveled”:
“Life is difficult. This is a great truth, one of the greatest truths. It is a great truth because once we truly see this truth, we transcend it. Once we truly know that life is difficult-once we truly understand and accept it-then life is no longer difficult. Because once it is accepted, the fact that life is difficult no longer matters.”
― M. Scott Peck
I constantly remind myself this.
The Universe is made of stories, not of atoms.
– Muriel Rukeyser
From The speed of darkness. NY: Random House, 1968.
Saw this on a chair:
“Our wretched species is so made that those who walk on the well-trodden path always throw stones at those who are showing a new road”
— Voltaire
Recount the times where you said someone’s idea was bad. Are those idea really bad or was it threatening your current way of doing things? Some ideas could lead to great outcomes if you hadn’t slam and discourage its owner.
Regarding the incident where Howard Shaw pleaded guilty to having paid sex with an underage girl, I like how the lawyer puts it:
His lawyer Mr Harpreet Singh argued that Shaw had made an “honest and reasonable mistake.” He said that there was “no pre-meditation nor intention” as the offence was committed “unwittingly”. Mr Singh called for a non-custodial sentence as Shaw’s case “falls at or very near, the lowest end of the culpability spectrum”.
The former Singapore Environment Council executive director was among 48 men who were earlier charged with paid sex with the 17-year-old.
What do you think of Voltaire’s quote?
“If you wish to converse with me, define your terms”
— Voltaire
My take is, yes, you should define the terms, it does help in the discussion. But it still doesn’t stop terms from being redefined in the middle of the discussion. Presumably, as discussion continues, in the long run, there should be sufficient consensus in the terms to both parties. However that is hardly in my case.
This serves as a good reminder:
Some people dream of great accomplishments, while others stay awake and do them.
Dreams are important but get started soon!
I saw this at SingTel Innov8 facility at Block 71 near my office at Fusionopolis. If anyone works around there, let’s have a conversation!