Maga - our families pet name for my mom - has had an inestimable formative influence on me. Not unexpected as someone's mom to be sure, but deserving of recognition and that is the reason for this post. While I've thought about starting this many times over the last few years, it's time. So here goes.
In some ways short, charged phrases tell the tale. So here are a few.
- "In this world you can do anything you want...as long as you're willing to suffer the consequences"
- "Your rights extend to the tip of someone else's nose"
- "Whomever finds the mess, cleans the mess"
I plan on updating this as inspiration strikes! Please add your comments below. Longer stories welcome!
---- update ----
I wanted to add that a couple of these tho'ts are 'family' ideas. I associate them w/ Maga but as she implied, they could have come from dad. I guess that's good (Maga I'm speaking to you!) that they're just generally ideas that came from our childhood. It's good that Maga and dad kinda blended together. I think that's right, as it should be.
To call out the 'Anonymous' comments below a bit more (thanks Maga!)
• buy low--sell high
• illegitimus non carborundum--[don't let the bastards wear you down…]
• you can have everything you want if you will just help enough other people get what they want
• do as much good as you can in all the ways you can at all the times you can as often as ever you can
Gandhi's seven deadly sins
• wealth without work
• pleasure without conscience
• knowledge without character
• commerce without morality
• science without humanity
• worship without sacrifice
• politics without principle
Postitive? Will she be reading this?!!! I FREAK OUT when someone says I am like her... Sure I like to shock people and make them laugh, even at my expense. I too would fight to the death to help the underdog.
ReplyDeletelast night as i was dropping off to sleep, i thought i might add to your list and would start with some of your dad's:
ReplyDeletebuy low--sell high
illegitimus non carborundum--[don't let the bastards wear you down...]
you can have everything you want if you will just help enough other people get what they want--
do as much good as you can in all the ways you can at all the times you can as often as ever you can...
he liked the Desiderata. carried a copy in his wallet always...
liked Gandhi's seven deadly sins [i have his copy in my desk drawer] wealth without work, pleasure without conscience, knowledge without character, commerce without morality, science without humanity, worship without sacrifice and politics without principle...
'nuff for now---