Definition of Success . . .

To laugh often and much; to win the respect of intelligent people and the affection of children; to earn the appreciation of honest critics and endure the betrayal of false friends; to appreciate beauty, to find the best in others; to leave the world a bit better whether by a healthy child, a garden patch or a redeemed social condition; to know even one life has breathed easier because you lived, is the definition of success.

---- According to Ralph Waldo Emerson

Animals the Great ...

I think I could turn and live with animals --- they are so placid and self-contained,
I stand and look at them long and long,
They do not sweat and whine about their condition,
They do not lie awake in the dark and weep for their sins.
They do not make me sick discussing their duty to God.
Not one is dissatisfied, not one is demented with the mania of owning things,
Not one kneels to another nor to his kind that lived thousands of years ago,
Not one is respectable or unhappy over the whole earth.

---- Walt Whitman
[Quoted by Bertrand Russell ]

Some Noble Souls --- Their selfless service to mankind is remarkable. Their writings in simle plain language are wonderfully enlightening. Their lives are inspiring. Unless you read their writings you will never know how much you have been missing.

1. M.K.Gandhi (1869-1948): The hero of the Independence Movement of India during 1915 - 1947; advocate of truth and non-violence. Can you get along in politics without ever lying? But Gandhi did. Einstein said of him, "Future generations may find it hard to believe that a man like Gandhi walked upon this earth in flesh and blood".

His autobiography, "My Experiments with Truth" is of absorbing interest and very enlightening. A perfect example of perfect human character. Don't trust me; find out for your self by reading his writings, especially his autobiography. His biography was also written by an American journalist Lous Fishcher. It makes a wonderful reading. Very few people know of him today and even fewer are in a position to understand his philosophy of non-violence. They might do well to read Aldous Huxley's "Ends and Means'.

"God is not a person... God is an eternal principle. That is why I say that Truth is God. ... Even atheists do not doubt the necessity of truth." ---M.K.Gandhi.



2. Swamy Vivekananda (1863-1902): The hero of the Parliament of Religions held in Chicago, America in 1893. He spoke about Hinduism and made the world know there is religion to recon with. Not only religion, his advice to youth on character and conduct is so inspiring and so earnest. Read his writings you will find them so inspiring.


3. Albert Schweitzer: Lived in early last century. A German and was a doctor by profession. In addition to medicine he had doctorate degrees in Philosophy, Theology, Music etc. Having read in some journal about the pitiable state of health of people in Africa he studied medicine at a late age just to serve the people of Africa. He then travelled to Africa, put up with the extremely hot climate and miserable living conditions lacking even in basic amenities and served the people just for the sake of serving with the help of aid from charitable institutions of the outside world. How considerate of him and what a service! I recommend you read a little book "My Youth and Childhood", written by him to get to know more about him and his philosophy. It is so enlightning.

(There are many more. They will be added here a few at a time.)

Quotable Quotes

1.The best principle of economy is not to think twice whether you can afford it but to think well whether you really need it.

2. Neither you nor the world knows what you can do until you have tried.

3. Talent is nurtured in solitude and character amid the tempests of the world.

4. Leadership is the capacity to translate vision into reality.

5. The consciousness of duty performed well gives us music at night.

6. Love and duty go hand in hand but love makes duty a joy.

7. To give love is true freedom; to demand love is pure slavery.

8. Begin with duties and rights will follow as spring follows winter.

9. He labours in vain who tries to please all.

10. All things are difficult before they become easy.

11. Anyone who conducts an arguement by appealling to authority is not using his intelligence; he is just using
his memory. --- Leonardo Da Vinci

12. Be reserved but not sour; grave but not formal; bold but not rash; humble but not servile; patient but not
insensilble; constant but not obstinate; cheerful, not light; rather sweet than familiar; familiar than intimate
and intimate with very few and upon very good grounds. Return the civilities thou receivest and be grateful
for the favours. --- William Penn.

13. The satisfaction of our senses is low, short and transient. But the mind gives a more raised and extended
pleasure and is capable of a happiness founded upon reason; not bounded and limited by circumstances
that bodies are confined to. ---- William Penn

14. Oh, how sordid man has grown ! Man the noblest creature in the world as a god on earth and the image
of Him that made it; thus to mistake earth for heaven and worship GOLD for GOD. ---William Penn

15. There is no future in any job; the future lies in the person who holds the job.