The olden days.

INTRO:

This post has been a long time coming. Britchy nominated me for “Ancient Philosophers’ Quotes” challenge back in June, but [insert a tons of excuses].

However, I took a glimpse at my “drafts”, and realized that section was too chaotic. New “posts” were created with some nominations, some ideas, some links, etc. It was not serving me in any way, so I decided to organize it. Cleaning one draft at a time.

Progress!

RULES:

•Choose the author or philosopher (it should be one from the Ancient Times). Don’t know anyone? Google it, It shouldn’t be so hard.

•Choose 3 quotes of this author/philosopher. The country of origin – doesn’t matter (Egypt, Greece…Italy). Add any info or explanation if you like.

•Share those quotes and nominate 3 to 6 people.

•The title for the post? Choose something cool.

QUOTES:

This challenge brought me back to my high-school/ university philosophy classes. I miss those days. Those ridiculous on the surface, but fascinating conversations with my colleagues and professors… Naturally, I could not just pick 1 philosopher. And 3 quotes were not enough, either.

Persuasion is achieved by the speaker’s personal character when the speech is spoken as to make us think him credible. We believe good men more fully and more readily than others. This is true generally whatever the question is, and absolutely true where exact certainty is impossible and opinions are divided. — Aristotle

That is just pure psychology. We just naturally trust people who are neatly dressed, are well spoken, and are of a certain status. Believing a ragged homeless person does not seem to come as easily. Just look at various experiments in which the same person begged for money pretending to be:
a) dirty and homeless.
b)in a suit.

Why is it that we do not treat people equally? That is how politicians get to be elected time and time again. They seem so polished that they just CANNOT be wrong, or lying. Right? Wrong!

It is a cognitive bias we cannot completely eradicate. However, once you become aware of that bias, you can make a conscious decision to be on an alert. To not believe everything a confident, well-dressed person says. And if you are someone that wants to convince others – dress neatly, brush your hair, and be confident.

Anybody can become angry – that is easy, but to be angry with the right person and to the right degree and at the right time and for the right purpose, and in the right way – that is not within everybody’s power and is not easy. — Aristotle

Is that not the truth? I think that is just so spot on. I deal with misdirected anger on a near-every-day basis. Instead of getting angry with such people, I calmly ask what I have done to cause their reactions. Sometimes that is sufficient for them to detach and treat me not as their enemy. People bring home problems to work. I can empathize, but do not take it out on me. There is not much more I want to say regarding this. I just think it is a brilliant quote. My favorite one of the bunch.

Most powerful is he who has himself in his own power. — Seneca

We often try to change others, without even glancing at ourselves. It is my believe that we need to keep working on ourselves. We cannot let emotions rule us. It is helpful to listen to them, but ultimately, we should be the ones making conscious (not impulsive) decisions. We all have faults, but we need to recognize them and make sure that they are not deterring us from being the best versions of ourselves. That is why I like introspection, and understanding why I do the things I do. One should understand themselves.

Good people do not need laws to tell them to act responsibly, while bad people will find a way around the laws. — Plato

I feel like that is spot on for the times we live in. We talk about how we need to ban guns and drugs. I do not oppose smart measures, but it seems that not everyone is aware of the fact that “bad people will find a way around the laws”. Mic drop.

No man ever steps in the same river twice, for it’s not the same river and he’s not the same man. — Heraclitus

I think many of us can be quick to judge others, but when it comes to ourselves, we give a pass. Naturally, we care about loved ones, but we have to let them make their own decision. We are not in their situation. We do not know all the factors they are aware of. Feel free to warn them, but do not overstep. Maybe they are not stupid for stepping back in. Maybe they are just more courageous than you.

MY NOMINATIONS:

Anyone who read this post and thinks they would enjoy sharing some ancient quotes.

Stay golden,

.

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