W. H. Auden on aligning what must be done and what we most want makes us geniuses
vutran | Aug. 24, 2020, 6:14 p.m.
"Geniuses are the luckiest of mortals because what they must do is the same as what they most want to do and, even if their genius is unrecognized in their lifetime, the essential earthly reward is always theirs, the certainty that their work is good and will stand the test of time. One suspects that the geniuses will be least in the Kingdom of Heaven—if, indeed, they ever make it; they have had their reward."
— W. H. Auden
Shaun Hick on the best listener
vutran | Aug. 20, 2020, 5:41 p.m.
“Nothing listens as well as a blank page.”
— Shaun Hick
Read More →Mark Twain the secret of getting ahead and getting started
vutran | Aug. 19, 2020, 5:59 p.m.
"The secret of getting ahead is getting started. The secret to getting started is breaking your complex overwhelming tasks into small manageable tasks and then starting on the first one."
— Mark Twain
Read More →A proverb on the importance of asking questions
vutran | Aug. 17, 2020, 5:05 p.m.
"The person who asks is a fool for five minutes, but the person who does not ask remains a fool forever."
— Proverb
Read More →Jean-Paul Sartre on limitations and freedom
vutran | Aug. 17, 2020, 5:02 p.m.
"We are all free, completely free. We can each do any damn thing we want. Which is more than most of us dare to imagine."
— Jean-Paul Sartre
Read More →Michael Chabon on entertainment
vutran | Aug. 17, 2020, 5 p.m.
"Most of what gets labeled 'entertainment' is really terrible. We get the entertainment we deserve. To me, being entertained is having your mind engaged with the work of art on multiple levels. So I think a lot of what gets passed off as entertainment really does not qualify for that definition. It’s merely diverting at most. To be entertained by something is in turn to entertain it, like you entertain ideas, a kind of mutuality there that I think is part of my definition of “entertainment,” that you’re giving back to the work at the same time the work is giving to you."
— Michael Chabon
Read More →James Clear on attitudes over solutions
vutran | Aug. 17, 2020, 4:58 p.m.
"We want solutions, but what we really need are attitudes.
You don't need abs, but rather an attitude of training. You don't need the answer, but rather an attitude of curiosity. You don't need an easier life, but rather an attitude of perseverance.
Attitude precedes outcome."
— James Clear
Read More →
