“Before we set our hearts too much on anything, let us examine how happy are those who already possess it.” – Francois, duc de La Rochefoucauld, moralist (15 Sep 1613-1680)
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Thought For the Day: Before We Set Our Hearts Too Much On Anything, Let Us Examine How Happy Are Those Who Already Possess It
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Tagged Anything, Before, Examine, Fancois duc de La Rochefoucauld, Happy, Hearts, Possess, Set, Thought For the Day
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First Principles: For My Part, Whatever Anguish of Spirit It Might Cost, I Am Willing To Know the Whole Truth; To Know the Worst, and To Provide For It
“It is natural to man to indulge in the illusions of hope. We are apt to shut our eyes against a painful truth — and listen to the song of that syren, till she transforms us into beasts. Is this the part of wise men, engaged in a great and arduous struggle for liberty? Are we disposed to be of the number of those, who having eyes, see not, and having ears, hear not, the things which so nearly concern their temporal salvation? For my part, whatever anguish of spirit it might cost, I am willing to know the whole truth; to know the worst, and to provide for it.” – Patrick Henry (1775)
Posted in First Principles
Tagged Anguish, Cost, First Principles, Know, My Part, Patrick Henry, Provide, Spirit, Whole Truth, Willing, Worst
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Thought For the Day: Most People Are Mirrors, Reflecting Moods and Emotions of the Times; Few Are Windows Bringing Light to Bear On the Dark Corners
“Most people are mirrors, reflecting the moods and emotions of the times; few are windows, bringing light to bear on the dark corners where troubles fester. The whole purpose of education is to turn mirrors into windows.” -Sydney J. Harris, journalist and author (14 Sep 1917-1986)
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Tagged Dark Corners, Education, Emotions, Few, Mirrors, Mirrors Into Windows, Moods, Most People, Sydney J. Harris, Thought For the Day, Times, Troubles, Turn, Whole Purpose, Windows
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Thought For the Day: We Are So Vain That We Even Care For the Opinion of Those We Don’t Care For
“We are so vain that we even care for the opinion of those we don’t care for.” – Marie von Ebner-Eschenbach, writer (13 Sep 1830-1916)
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Tagged Care, Don't Care For, Marie von Ebner-Eschenbach, Opinion, Thought For the Day, Vain, We
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First Principles: A Rigid Economy of the Public Contributions and Absolute Interdiction of All Useless Expenses Will Go Far Towards Keeping the Government Honest and Unoppressive
“[A] rigid economy of the public contributions and absolute interdiction of all useless expenses will go far towards keeping the government honest and unoppressive.” – Thomas Jefferson (1823)
The Gospel of A Hard Life
The Gospel of A Hard Life
by Michael Doyle
With a pinch and a twist
The Devil takes my wrist
Leading me into temptation
And away from contemplation
At the podium, the preacher talks
About the holiness in which he walks
Defining words by their situation
Somehow arriving at right destination
Calling on things from the past
Letting go of those that don't last
Life takes us by the hand
To teach us what we need to understand
There are nuggets to receive
If we open our eyes to believe
If only we might conceive
The Devil won't deceive
Answer the altar call in prayer
Peeling back each layer
Looking for catches that are not there
We live better walking in love, not in fear
Sensitive to the guidance shown
In all the ways we have grown
We find the laughter, we've forgotten
Living lighter without our sins
Learning to read the room
Walking out past the gloom
We've learned to live our best
In doing this, we learn to pass the test
(c) September 12, 2022 Michael Doyle
All Rights Reserved
Posted in Poetry and Poems
Tagged Contemplation, Define, Destination, Gospel, Hard Life, Holiness, Pinch, Podium, Poetry and Poems, Preacher, Situation, Temptation, The Devil, Twist, Wrist
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Thought For the Day: To Educate A Man In Mind and Not In Morals Is To Educate A Menace To Society
“To educate a man in mind and not in morals is to educate a menace to society.” –Theodore Roosevelt (1858-1919)
Posted in Thought For the Day
Tagged Educate, Mankiind, Menace, Mind, Not Morals, Society, Theodore Roosevelt, Thought For the Day
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First Principles: Judges…Should Not Be Dependent Upon Any Man, Or Body of Men
“Judges, therefore, should be always men of learning and experience in the laws, of exemplary morals, great patience, calmness, coolness, and attention. Their minds should not be distracted with jarring interests; they should not be dependent upon any man, or body of men.” – John Adams (1776)
Posted in First Principles
Tagged Attention, Body of Men, Calm, Dependent, Distracted, Experience, First Principles, Interests, John Adams, Judges, Law, Man, Moral, Patience
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Thought For the Day: Never Forget 9/11
Time may pass. Wrong decisions since have been made. E.g., that deplorably ill-thought out capitulation and disastrous retreat out of Afghanistan. Still, we must Never Forget 9/11! We must never allow this to happen to innocent civilians again.
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Tagged 9/11, Innocent Civilians, Never Forget, Thought For the Day, Time, Wrong Decisions
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I Walk In Praise
I Walk In Praise
by Michael Doyle
Raised hands toward heaven
I walk in my praise
Take a taste of bread unleavened
In communion with His grace
I hold onto His story
Praising His name in all glory
My heart filled with His trace
As holiness shines from His face
I roll into life ready
To do battle if I have to
Holding my aim ever steady
Doing what I must do
By the blood we drink
We are holy fortified
By the noble thoughts we think
We find life lived more satisfied
God loves each of us
In all that is done
No reason why; just because
We know through promises of His Son
(c) September 11, 2022 Michael Doyle
All Rights Reserved
