In past centuries, everything was done by hand, so in order to get anything done, people needed to work. The Industrial Revolution meant that the labour of people wasn’t required to the same degree. The more sophisticated machinery and industries became, the more ‘free time’ people had. And that is what ‘leisure time’ meant in […]
Spanish novelist Miguel de Cervantes (1547-1616) is credited with saying that ‘a proverb is a short sentence based on long experience’. Proverbs are often centuries old, providing us with global wisdom’s that have remained relevant throughout time. This proverb dates back as far as 1640, as seen in E. Roger’s ‘Letter in Winthrop’- “A good […]
Classical Civilisation and traditional Christian Theology, recognised four cardinal virtues- prudence, justice, fortitude, and temperance. The word ‘cardinal’ derives from the Latin word ‘cardo’, meaning hinge. The four cardinal virtues are called so because they are seen as necessary to the existence of all other virtues, for example- we cannot be loyal without fortitude; we […]
“Do not judge, or you too will be judged. For in the same way you judge others, you will be judged, and with the measure you use, it will be measured to you. Why do you look at the speck of sawdust in your brother’s eye and pay no attention to the plank in your […]
“Be not forgetful of prayer. Every time you pray, if your prayer is sincere, there will be new feeling and new meaning in it, which will give you fresh courage, and you will understand that prayer is an education. Fyodor Dostoevsky, 1879, The Brothers Karamazov If prayer is a conversation between a believer and their […]
Versions of this proverb appear as far back as the 15th century. In 1449, John Lydgate wrote “He… holdeth with hounde and hare” in his collection ‘Minor Poems’. In 1546, John Heywood wrote “There is no mo [more] suche tytifils [scoundrels] in Englands grounde, To holde with the hare, and run with the hounde.” This […]
“Creativity is not simply a property of exceptional people but an exceptional property of all people.” Ron Carter, 2015, Language and Creativity: The Art of Common Talk The term ‘creative’ often seems like it is reserved for the ‘other’. Most people can’t invent a new form of technology, or build a wondrous story from the […]
“A great man is always willing to be little.” Ralph Waldo Emerson, 1841, Essays, Compensation We choose one and we place it on top, whether it be compassion, honesty, loyalty etc. In this period there is very little room for nuance. We feel like we’ve found the answer and believe it to be explicitly true, […]
When overcome by a sense of urgency, we tend to bulldoze forward blindly. The mistakes we make in impatience are often grave. With quotes from Paulo Coelho, Saint Luke & Ovid. Fear offers us a very plain choice; be courageous or be a coward. A hero or a reprobate. With quotes from Michel de Montaigne, […]
Spanish novelist Miguel de Cervantes (1547-1616) is credited with saying that ‘a proverb is a short sentence based on long experience’. Proverbs are often centuries old, providing us with global wisdom’s that have remained relevant throughout time. The origins of this proverb dates back to 1450 according to ‘Proverbs of Good Counsel in Book of […]
“We all are men, in our own natures frail, and capable of our flesh; few are angels.” William Shakespeare, 1613, Henry VIII Even more uncomfortable when you have behaved badly, or when you realize you’re in the wrong. It’s uncomfortable because it opens this whole can of worms. You have to first confront your own […]
When we hear ‘enthusiasm’, we immediately think of someone who is energetic, outgoing and overtly positive. In terms of personality traits, it is associated with extroversion. This enthusiastic trait helps extroverts to make friends more easily, socialise and have high levels of energy towards tasks. It’s true that it can be this loud, impassioned quality […]
I am, like many people in the world I think, feeling significantly displaced. Hustle culture is a lie. It will ensure that you miss the most magical moments in life while pursuing the most menial. Although a characteristic often associated with the downtrodden, humility is in fact a gift granted to those willing to keep […]
Proverbs: Pearls Before Swine…
This proverb is an adaptation of a line from the Gospel of Matthew in the New Testament of the Bible. That text reads “Give not that which is holy unto dogs, neither cast ye your pearls before swine…” (Matthew 7:6, KJV). In its original context, most people believe that it means that the gospel, the […]