Adages for Living

What I believe is less important than how I behave.

What I am is less important than who I am.

What I say is far less important than what I do.

What I say is less important than how I say it.

The highest form of friendship is compassionate reflection to a friend in error.

Do I want to be remembered as a great [fill in the blank: lawyer, doctor, etc….] or as a great human being?

Too much money is a burden on the soul.

Economic and political power should only be vested in emotionally mature people.

Teaching religion and moral dogma is not the same as mentoring the development of character.

When practicing “love thy neighbor” I don’t get to choose which ones.

If eyes are windows to the soul, empathy is the key that unlocks the door.

Not being free of vices, I try to practice them in moderation.

We are gatekeepers to the future. We must try not to pass along the errors and traumas of our ancestors.

The products of the genius minds in science and technology are invariably turned into weapons of destruction by immature men.

The clinging to a false sense of identity is at the core of most of humanity’s problems.

Being “successful” is not the same as being mature.

Immature and mean-spirited people should not be blamed for how life has shaped them, but neither should they be allowed to obtain power and position in society.

One must pass a test to drive a car, but any ignorant fool can cast a vote simply by reaching the age of 18 or 21.

The civic right of voting must be preceded by the civic responsibility of being informed.

It is a great irony that the average immigrant who becomes a US citizen knows more about our Democratic system of government than the average native born American.