Here are the full explanations for all of the best philosophy quotes I have found. They have impacted me immensely and I live by almost all of them. The others are a work in progress. Nevertheless, I believe that they are the mindset philosophies, character traits and beliefs I want to develop and have as I grow. Enjoy.
1.“It is impossible to begin to learn that which you think you already know.”
I need this to be a constant reminder in my life. Most things that seem to make people better are the types of things that never have “arrivals”. Exercise, philosophy, mastery of any skill… they are all a constant and consistent practice that can’t stop. The moment somebody stops trying to learn from others (no matter the person’s status) is the moment they lose what I believe is a fundamental truth. Every single person can teach you something. This also seems obvious when you think about the Dunning Kruger effect. Don’t let your ego get in the way. You don’t know as much as you think you do. I’m talking to you, Nick.
2. “Neither empire or philosophy takes away natural feeling.”
When Marcus Aurelius’ favorite tutor died, Marcus wept and sobbed for days. He was a child, but he was already well versed in philosophy at the time. His adoptive father Musonius Rufus said this quote and it serves as a reminder that no matter how much self work you may do for yourself, you are still a human. Additionally, you will act as a human will in hard times and in good times. No matter what you have or who you are, it is okay to cry and it is okay to be a human.
3. “If it is humanly possible, Know that you can do it too. Good and Bad. It can happen to you”
You might sense a theme from this time in my life. A lot of my favorite quotes come from stoic philosophers. I think a lot of their tenants really distill how I want to act in my life. This one comes from Marcus Aurelius and it is slightly adapted to fit how I want it. The original quote has more to do with reaching. your potential and how if anybody can do something/if it is humanly possible, then you can do it too. I like to invert it to have the negatives as well because it is just as likely that bad fortune can strike upon you. It shouldn’t come as a surprise if it can happen to anybody. mitigate downside, but take risks. This thought makes it easier to try things without expectations of success or failure because people have done it. If people have done it and I do the work to get the skills that a task requires, there is no reason I shouldn’t be able to do it.
4. “Don’t make your happiness so cheap.”
I forget where this one came from, but it is a mix of buddhist and stoic philosophy in my opinion. If your happiness is taken away by a small inconvenience, that is really no way to live. Cultivating a large price to buy your happiness is a practice I believe is important and finding strategies to make your happiness expensive for others to get will do you well in the long run.
5. “Give yourself a gift, the present moment.”
It’s an unbelievably tricky thing…staying in the moment. being present. I think we all know it is the right thing to do. But we don’t always take time to actually practice staying in the moment. connecting to our breath and checking in with our own bodies. We have things to do and people to meet and places to see. It’s just not the life I want to live. Daily practice compounds in ways you cannot imagine. This is because humans have a hard time imagining compounding interest. Our brains are better at thinking linearly. But according to Buffet its the 8th wonder of the world… and it doesn’t have to only apply to money.
6. “The most powerful person can learn from anybody. What to be and what not are of equal importance.”
This goes along with one of the quotes above. Learning from anybody means listening in my opinion. Truly listening. Not forming our next thought while they speak. This is difficult. I work on this a lot, but if we learn from everybody and discern what we believe is right and wrong there is a good chance we will jump ahead in life.
7. “You can hold your breath until you’re blue in the face and they’ll just go on doing it.”
Nobody gets mad at the rock for not moving. It is in its nature. I like using this as a reminder when people do the same “wrong” thing to me. It is in their nature to do what they have done. If I were in their shoes, I would do the same thing because it would be in my nature. Yes, they can probably change. If you have already brought it up to them, and they have not changed, then you should change your expectations and not get surprised when it happens again and again and again.
8. “You’ve been dying this whole time. What makes you think get serious now?”
This goes well with the saying, “You have two lives. one when you’re born and the other when you realize you only live once.” A common buddhist meditation tactic is to feel alive with every in-breath and to realize impermanence with every out-breath. We are always dying, we are always getting older. Coming to grips with that and accepting that will make life better (imo).
9. “You are 1 single decision removed from changing your life forever.”
This quote comes from Alex Hormozi and goes well with the 3rd quote on this page. 1 decision can ruin a reputation, marriage, or life. But it can also create amazing returns, set up a career path, save face, maintain integrity and much more. The highest form of leverage somebody has is their decision making. Better decision making processes create better outcomes and will make life better.
10. “When I am 85, I will give anything to be where I am right now.”
I love this framework. This is also an Alex Hormozi”ism”. It’s a good way to keep yourself in the moment and reduce anger or frustration when you feel it coming on. Most things in life are not as bad as they seem. When I realize I am rushing to get somewhere in the future, I remind myself that when I am 85 (assuming I get there), I will do anything to be 23 again. I would probably trade all my money, assets and resources to just have the time I have ahead of myself right now. So I try to use that time the way 85 year old Nick would want me to.
11. “It’s probably Just ego or insecurity.”
If I get upset or reactive, I remind myself that it is my ego or insecurity. If somebody insults me or is defensive in my presence, I remind myself that it is probably just their ego or insecurity. It is my natural response to defend when insulted. it is probably your natural instinct too. Empathy is hardest in those moments that test us. That is where the true challenge lies.
12. “Most things In life mean nothing.”
People don’t really care about you. They are busy worrying about themselves. That bad thing that somebody said will not matter in a year, that injury will subside with time. Expand your time horizon of expectations and smile more.
13. “It is all wonderful…If you so choose!”
If you’ve never heard the Jocko Willink “good” talk… you should listen to it. I’ve always disliked when i’ve been upset and somebody says,” you choose to be unhappy, I didn’t make you upset.” It is probably true, but it is a very poor way to get somebody more cheerful. We can choose how we look at everything good and bad.
14. “The master dances with the plateau”
Ah yes, the plateau has arrived. I’ve been expecting you. You see this a lot with weight loss. You’re losing weight like crazy and all of a sudden, it gets harder. You feel that resistance kicking in. Oh you have a new project that you’re killing it right out the gate with. That’s great, then you lose momentum. The resistance kicks in. That is the plateau. A master expects the plateau and keeps going because the work needs doing.
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