The fullness of life not only consists in being able to accept, with grace and dignity, the very best life has to offer, but also to be able to accept, with equal grace and dignity, the very worst life has to offer. Success is a state of mind that becomes a state of being through self-discipline, courage and persistence.
If 'solipsism' is the claim that only I exist, then I hereby create 'pluripsism' which is the claim that everyone else exists except me. Being a 'null set' has many distinct advantages.
'How' is a function of 'when'
'When' is a function of 'where'
'Where' is a function of 'why'
'Why' is a function of 'who'
'Who' is a function of 'what'
And 'what' is a function of 'how'. Therefore, 'how' is a function of 'how'
Never choose 'either/or' when you can choose 'both/and', for we live in a vast and indifferent universe that is both beyond our understanding and beyond our control.
Never try to 'reason' with 'unreasonable' people, just render them irrelevant.
Always hold your 'definitions' lightly within the grasp of your 'evidence'.
Never 'assume' what you cannot 'prove', and only 'presume' what you are ready to die for.
Never 'believe' when you can 'know,' and never 'know' when you can 'doubt'. That way, you'll have less explaining to do.
Always argue with 'ideas' and never with the people who propose them.
Never try to 'discipline' others, for 'self-discipline' is the sole dominion of your control.
Have no 'regrets,' for they are the interest paid on a debt that you never owed in the first place.
Seek only 'truth' and 'beauty' for their own sake, and in so doing the wonders of the world are already yours.
Live every day as if it were your last, for one day you are sure to be factually correct.
When you vanquish an 'enemy' be quick to make a 'friend,' and when you have solved a vexing problem be ready to think of a greater one.
If you find it impossible to stand for something in your life, then you'll probably fall for anything.
The things we say 'No' to in life are far more important than the things we say 'Yes' to.
Beauty is not only the mind's investment in hope, but also its' only revenge on reality.
Philosophy professors know just enough to keep their students confused for the rest of their lives.
Thieves are always convinced they are being robbed.
We live in a vastly indifferent universe that is both beyond our understanding and beyond our control.
It's morally wrong to expect more from people than what they are capable of.
If you're curious about what's wrong with the world, then look in the bathroom mirror.
The surest proof for the existence of a cruel yet humorous God is the capacity of humans to make plans.
It's impossible to lie to someone else without first lying to yourself.
Knowing what you believe is not the same thing as believing what you know.
Children are the failed attempts at immortality.
Just as 'humanity' is the crucible of 'consciousness' in the local universe, war is the crucible of humanity in the cosmos.
Diplomats and lawyers are people who get paid to explain other peoples' lies.
Love happens when you try to give something you don't have to someone who doesn't want it.
American Liberals are people who enjoy putting other peoples' money where their mouth is.
American Conservatives are people who never use their own money when someone else's will do just as nicely.
Often, wisdom entails what you don't say and how you don't say it just as much as what you don't do and how you don't do it.
If virtual reality is 'simulated environment', then....
Religion is the virtual reality of the 'soul'.
Philosophy is the virtual reality of the 'mind'.
Art is the virtual reality of the 'perception.'
Science is the virtual reality of the 'senses'.
Guest Axioms from clever friends:
From Julius Syvanen "Never argue with an idiot. They will only drag you to their level and beat you with experience."
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> "History will be kind to me, for I intend to write it" - Winston Churchill
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> "Noble life demands a noble architecture for noble uses of noble men. Lack of culture means what it has always meant: ignoble civilization and therefore imminent downfall." > - Frank Lloyd Wright
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> "When the eagles are silent, the parrots begin to jabber" - Winston Churchill
From former student, Matthew Bixbey, class of 2006
"Of the things we hold most dear, we are the most obtuse."
From former student, Mychilo Cline, class of 2000:
"Heaven is the state of being where self-discipline is unnecessary."
"Postmodernism is the religion of spoiled children."
From Phil McGrath:
"It's probably all about the Hokey-Pokey anyway."
"Accept that some days you're the pigeon, and some days you're the statue."
"Always read stuff that will make you look good, just in case you die in the middle of it."
"If you can't be kind, at least have the decency to be vague."
"If you lend someone twenty dollars, and never see them again, it was probably worth it."
"It may be that your sole purpose in life is to be a warning to others."
"When everything's going your way, then you're in the wrong lane."
"Some mistakes are too much fun to make only once."
"A truly happy person is one who can enjoy the scenery on a detour."
"Happiness comes though doors you didn't even know you left open."
"Life involves a succession of priorities. Excuses are merely how you rank them."
From J.R.R. Tolkien through the courtesy of Professor Nancy Cline:
"And just as speech is invention about objects and ideas, so myth is invention about truth."
From Paul M. Churchland:
"One's stumpted imagination is a poor predictor of future scientific discoveries."