STOP AND THINK - True happiness is ... to enjoy the present, without anxious dependence upon the future. (Seneca, 1st century B.C. Roman stoic philosopher) Some people seem to live in the past, always longing for “the good ole days.” Others are occupied with hopes for...
STOP AND THINK - Peace is the ability to wait patiently in spite of panic brought on by uncertainty. (Charles Swindoll, American pastor and author) We sometimes think of peace as perfect tranquility in an ideal setting: sunshine, blue skies, cool breezes by the sea,...
STOP AND THINK - The most likely man to go to hell is the man who has nothing to do on earth. Idle people tempt the devil to tempt them. (C. H. Spurgeon, 19th century British preacher) Pretty harsh words! Someone has said that what one does in this life is but...
STOP AND THINK - Be silent or let thy words be worth more than silence. (Pythagoras, 6th century B.C. Greek mathematician and philosopher) It’s hard to be quiet in today’s culture. When people get together, they can’t stand silence. Consider the constant “chatting” on...
STOP AND THINK - A dog is the only thing on earth that loves you more than he loves himself. (Josh Billings, the pen name of 19th-century American humorist Henry Wheeler Shaw) Perhaps Shaw’s observation is true. It does seem that pets—dogs in particular—often seem to...
STOP AND THINK - Only failure can be attained without effort. (Roadside sign) Very little of value comes without effort. Whether it’s physical, mental, or spiritual, accomplishment requires the expending of energy—sometimes it may be in all three spheres. If it...
STOP AND THINK - Humility is not thinking less of yourself, but thinking of yourself less. (Jim Brown, American pastor) In a society where “me first” seems to be the rule, humility is not highly regarded. People say that if you don’t stand up for yourself, who will?...
STOP AND THINK - There is only one way to happiness and that is to cease worrying about things which are beyond the power of our will. (Epictetus, 1st century Greek stoic philosopher) The philosopher’s counsel has at least one worthy lesson: worrying about the future...
STOP AND THINK - Most people say that it is the intellect which makes a great scientist. They are wrong: it is character. (Albert Einstein, preeminent German-born 20th century physicist) It’s popular to say that some very simple activity doesn’t “take a nuclear...
STOP AND THINK - The measure of a man’s character is what he would do if he knew he never would be found out. (Baron Thomas Babington Macauley, 19th century British historian) The Bible says that men love darkness rather than light because of their evil deeds (John...
STOP AND THINK - Character cannot be developed in ease and quiet. Only through experiences of trial and suffering can the soul be strengthened . . . (Helen Keller, 20th century American blind author and lecturer) Like trees that endure harsh winds or muscles that are...
STOP AND THINK - Reputation grows like a mushroom; Character grows like an oak. (William Hershey Davis, 20th century biblical scholar) It takes many years for an acorn to develop into a full-grown, strong oak. Many other trees grow quickly, but never become stable....