Whenever a timely milestone, such as this new calendar quarter and the second half of the year, is reached I do my best to resist the tiresome looking-back-and-looking-forward ritual. To remove myself from the timely chatter, I indulge in the timeless words of philosophers from another age.
Who better to provide the greatest unbiased perspective on today's world than those who are not living in it? Who would you prefer -- today's politicians, technicrats and mainstream media?
As we move into the third quarter, consider this guidance from dead philosophers:
...those who wish to know in what direction they are going would do well to give their attention not to the politicians but to the philosophers, for what they propound today will be the faith of tomorrow. ~ I.M. Bochenski (1902-1995)
Even if someone knew the entire physical history of the world, and every mental event were identical with a physical, it would not follow that he could predict or explain a single mental event (so described, of course). ~ Donald Davidson (1917-2003)
We do not, in fact step out of the movement of things, ask 'What am I to do' and, having obtained an answer, step in again. All our actions, all our questionings and answerings, are part of the movement of things, and if we can work on things, things can work on us... ~ John Anderson (1893-1962)
All human situations have their inconveniences. We feel those of the present but neither see nor feel those of the future; and hence we make troublesome changes without amendment, and frequently for the worse. ~ Benjamin Franklin (1706-1790)
A crust eaten in peace is better than a banquet partaken in anxiety. ~ Aesop (620-560 BC)
And as imagination bodies forth the forms of things unknown, the poet's pen turns them to shapes, and gives to airy nothing a local habitation and a name. ~ Shakespeare (1564-1616)
A hidden connection is stronger than an obvious one. ~ Heraclitus (c.536-470 BC)
It is the mark of an educated mind to rest satisfied with the degree of precision which the nature of the subject admits and not to seek exactness where only an approximation is possible. ~ Aristotle (384-322 BC)
When the mind is in a state of uncertainty the smallest impulse directs it to either side. ~ Terence (195/185 - 159 BC)
Reasoning draws a conclusion and makes us grant the conclusion, but does not make the conclusion certain, nor does it remove doubt. ~ Roger Bacon (c.1214-1292)
It's quite true what philosophy says, that life must be understood backwards. But one then forgets the other principle, that it must be lived forwards. A principle which, the more one thinks it through, precisely leads to the conclusion that life in time can never be properly understood, just because no moment can acquire the complete stillness needed to orient oneself backward.~ Soren Kierkegaard (1813-1855)
The crowd is untruth. ~ Soren Kierkegaard (1813-1855)
Stubborn and ardent clinging to one's opinion is the best proof of stupidity. ~ Michel de Montaigne (1533-1592)
If you do not change direction, you may end up where you are heading. ~ Lau Tzu (fl. circa 600BC)
Do any of these thoughts align with your philosophies? If so, which one(s)? If not, how would you describe your overall philosophy of money and investing? Also, who do you listen to/watch/read to get the information that forms your philosophies and, hence, your actions?
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Some of the quotes from Aristotle, Roger Bacon, and Kierkegaard remind me of one of my favourite quotes
“Freedom from the desire for an answer is essential to the understanding of a problem.” Krishnamirti
It sounds paradoxical or counter intuitive but sometimes we are too eager for answers to our questions and solutions to our problems, so eager that we settle for ones that are second-hand and second-rate. We get caught up in thoughts, opinions, beliefs and ideas when all we need is awareness and be able to be totally immersed in what is happening.
This can also apply to investing we create stories and predictions which way the markets are heading or we want someone else to have some magical answer about how to invest our money.
Having young children the quote. A crust eaten in peace is better than a banquet partaken in anxiety. ~ Aesop (620-560 BC) also appealed to me literally and on many levels.
But also applies to the first point we can get caught up in stories, opinions and beliefs about meal times handed down to us, sit down, eat all your dinner etc. My point is children seem to eat with more awareness than adults they eat until they are full then stop then off they go. Whereas adults have been told to finish there meal continue to eat past being full. Children who eat naturally aren’t overweight and are full of energy. I have gone off on a bit of a tangent but I think that quote applies to many aspects of our life. How much money do we need, are we happy with a small amount (crust), or continually wanting (anxiety) more than we need (banquet). I didn’t intend to write so much on the one quote but it seems to have opened a can of worms (thoughts) as all good philosophy quotes seem to.
Posted by: Andrew | July 05, 2011 at 08:20 PM
Yogi Berra is my philosopher of choice. The Zen master of the hilarious koan. I mean, just check out these gems and think about how they all could be applied to investing/finance/life...
"If you don't know where you are going, you will wind up somewhere else."
"If you can't imitate him, don't copy him."
"Baseball is 90% mental -- the other half is physical."
"It was impossible to get a conversation going; everybody was talking too much."
"Slump? I ain't in no slump. I just ain't hitting."
"A nickel isn't worth a dime today."
"Nobody goes there anymore; it's too crowded."
Posted by: billy-bob | July 06, 2011 at 01:53 AM
Set your life more simple take the loans and all you want.
Posted by: CLAUDETTEHull | July 20, 2011 at 04:25 PM