Tag: motivation

Quote of the Day

Mostly what you lose with time, in memory, is the specificity of things, their exact sequence. It all runs together, becomes a watery soup. Portmanteau days, imploded years. Like a bad actor, memory always goes for effect, abjuring motivation, consistency, good sense.

“Mostly what you lose with time, in memory, is the specificity of things, their exact sequence. It all runs together, becomes a watery soup. Portmanteau days, imploded years. Like a bad actor, memory always goes for effect, abjuring motivation, consistency, good sense.” — James Sallis, Black Hornet

If Not Now, When?

If Not Now, WhenHillel’s “If Not Now, When?” is more universal than “Do It Now!” or “Just Do It!”

It helps you plan because not everything can be done now. The “when” makes you think about a time for getting it done. You have things you can do now and you plan for all the other things you need to do. You are not overwhelmed by a long list of things to just do now.

Its other strength is that it’s harder to ignore a question than a command. Humans feel compelled to answer a question.
It’s a complex question. It makes you think.
You need to know, “Can I do it now?”
You will need to justify, to yourself, a “no”, so,
you will have also asked yourself “Why not now?”
And every-time you think of “not now,” you remember you will need to decide “when.”
You may decide, it’s simpler to just do it now.

Related:
From My Notebook – Page 6
Should’ve Been Working
Control What You Can, Which Is A Lot

It’s Not What He Says, It’s Who He Is

I have not seen or heard any of the Charlie Sheen interviews. I have only read about them and I have seen a lot of quotes.

I was struck by the thought that for a lot of the quotes, it was the person saying them that made them sound crazy. If a popular and charismatic person had said these things, they would be considered motivational or inspirational:

“That’s how I roll. And if it’s too gnarly for people, then buh-bye.”

“I have one speed, I have one gear: Go.”

“It’s perfect. It’s awesome. Every day is just filled with just wins. All we do is put wins in the record books. We win so radically in our underwear before our first cup of coffee, it’s scary. People say it’s lonely at the top, but I sure like the view.”

“I think the honesty not only shines through in my work, but also my personal life. And I get in trouble for being honest. I’m extremely old-fashioned. I’m a nobleman. I’m chivalrous.”

“I’m tired of pretending I’m not a total bitchin’ rock star from Mars, and people can’t figure me out; they can’t process me. I don’t expect them to.”

“They could have fleeced the sheep a thousand times, but they chose to skin it once.”

“I don’t live in the middle anymore. That’s where you get embarrassed in front of the prom queen.”

“I’m not taking it. I had to pay for it.”

“I am grandiose. Because I live a grandiose life.”

“Shut up. Stop. Move forward.”

Even the tiger’s blood analogy would be taken differently if it had been said by someone influenced by eastern philosophies.

Related Articles