"Beauty is truth, truth beauty," -- that is all Ye know on earth, and all ye need to know." ~ Aristotle David Brooks does it again with his thought-provoking summary of edge.org's "The Edge Question 2011." The event organizers asked participants: "What scientific concept would improve everybody's cognitive toolkit?"and what came back was fascinating. According …
Tag: virtue
Polished to Perfection
"A gem cannot be polished without friction, nor a man perfected without trials." - Seneca While I am not so sure that our trials in life are deliberately imposed upon us as a test of our character or will intentionally by another being or entity, I have witnessed time and time again that the mechanism …
A Cure for Superficiality
“Democracy needs to be reborn in each generation and education is its midwife.” ~ John Dewey, Twentieth Century Education Theorist A friend of mine recommended New York Times columnist David Brooks' recent TED presentation to me yesterday (David Brooks: The Social Animal) and after having listened to it I am pleased to pass it along …
A Fundamental Shift in Values
Speaking of the need of a fundamental shift in values, I read an interesting article in the NY Times yesterday afternoon entitled: “The Modesty Manifesto.” The author, David Brooks, observed that we are an overconfident species, especially the part of humanity now living in the United States. Brooks (somewhat tongue in cheek I expect) noted …
The Civility Deficit
"There can be no high civility without a deep morality." ~ Ralph Waldo Emerson Civility is a virtue that marks the Golden Mean between barbarousness and glibness or superficial politeness. In early use, the term denoted the state of being a citizen and hence good citizenship. It later (apparently in the mid-16th century) took on …
Virtue
Benjamin Franklin lived an uncommon life. One of the Founding Fathers of the United States and a noted polymath, Franklin's inquisitiveness and inventiveness influenced American life and thought profoundly. Everywhere you turn you see evidence of Franklin's legacy: bifocals, the public library system, police departments, volunteer fire departments, the lightning rod, an incredible literary treasure …
Quiet Courage
"Courage is the most important of all the virtues, because without courage you can't practice any other virtue consistently. You can practice any virtue erratically, but nothing consistently without courage." ~ Maya Angelou My father is a man of quiet courage. I've always admired his graciousness and desire to help others, his love of family …
The Natural Aristocracy
Friends of mine were discussing politics and leadership the day before yesterday and one raised the question: "I wonder why the most successful people, financially speaking, like Bill Gates or Warren Buffett shouldn't be running the country?" The question carried a bit more weight in my mind given Donald Trump's recent indication that he would …
The Greatest Virtue
Of all the virtues, righteousness is the greatest. No amount of patience, generosity, earnestness, friendliness, diligence, kindness or humility will provide the counterweight necessary to overcome the gravitational pull of vice. Of all the virtues, righteousness is greatest. Righteousness is the quality that inspires to greatness, when nothing less will do. Righteousness is the quality …
Kenny Chesney and Dave Matthews: “I’m Alive”
If you haven't developed the habit of thankfulness, you're missing something fundamental, for thankfulness is the greatest of all virtues. What virtues do you hold dearest? Have you thought about it? Make a list. It will tell you a lot about yourself.
Gregory Hake 