Series: Deep Thoughts

There is no greater illusion than fear, no greater wrong than preparing to defend yourself, no greater misfortune than having an enemy.

“Peace is more than the absence of war, it is the presence of justice.”

I’m not sure if you have noticed, but in the upper corner of the sidebar there is a random saying

We started our series on Smart Thoughts with Mark Twain, so it shouldn’t surprise you that I love many of his writings, and have lots of his sayings on this site. On of my favorite writings by Twain is his “The War Prayer.” It’s a short essay, and if you have never read it, you should.

Today’s Smart Thought is by an anonymous author. It speaks of the power of ideas. The ability of an idea to change the world is well known. Most recently, think of the internet. It was designed for the government to be able to communicate in the event of nuclear war, but it has managed to change society and business forever.

You cannot do wrong without suffering wrong.
-Ralph Waldo Emerson

Choose the way of life. Choose the way of love. Choose the way of caring…Choose the way of goodness. It’s up to you. It’s your choice. –Leo Buscaglia

Sugarman is basically saying that honesty is the best policy. He’s stating his belief that if you are truthful in your dealings with others, you will improve your chances of success.

George Bernard Shaw was a freethinker, defender of women’s rights, and advocate of equality of income. In 1925 he was awarded the Nobel Prize for Literature. He most certainly knew his share of failures, but continued on to become one of the leading literary figures of his time.

Burroughs is trying to remind us that its easy to look far away and imagine great deeds we could accomplish, but the important thing is to be in the here and now, and make something of the current situation.

The golden opportunity you are seeking is in yourself. It is not in your environment; it is not in luck