Something To Think About Archive

Historian Frederick Jackson Turner’s thoughts on American pioneer spirit still apply today. He wrote: “America’s contribution to the history of the human spirit has been due to this nation’s peculiar experience in extending its type of frontier into new regions.”

Fred Schwed is the author of the book “Where are the customers yachts?” a critique of Wall Street brokers. He says that “History does in a vague way repeat itself, but it does it slowly and ponderously, and with an infinite number of surprising variations.”

In a speech in Austin, Texas, Justice Clarence Thomas referred to Progressivism, the platform of Socialist Democrats, by saying that it “… seeks to replace the basic premises of the Declaration of Independence;” with its belief that “…our rights and our dignities come not from God, but from government. It requires of the people a subservience and weakness incompatible with a Constitution;” notes Justice Thomas.

It’s been said that “The wolf always shows up at the door unannounced.”

Cuban-born CEO of Coca-Cola Robert Goizueta believed that “The moment avoiding failure becomes your motivator, you’re down the path of inactivity. You stumble only if you’re moving.”

Coach Paul “Bear” Bryant once noted that “If anything goes bad, I did it. If anything goes semi-good, then We did it. If anything goes real good, then You did it. That’s all it takes to get people to win football games for you.”

According to humorist Sam Levenson: “You don’t have to be in “Who’s Who” to know what’s what.”

Oilman T. Boone Pickens advised us to not fall victim to what he called the “ready-aim-aim-aim syndrome.” “You must be willing to fire;” said Pickens.

In a collection of essays from former presidents and first ladies, members of cabinets, journalists and military leaders four lessons of leadership stood out: The importance of character, the importance of “soft power” through influence, the ability to compromise with principles intact, and the ability to learn from failure.

It’s been said that “All decision-makers are not successful. But all successful people are decision-makers.

Former Yahoo CEO Carol Bartz says that “You have to have passion, and that passion has to come through. I’ll take a smart person with passion over someone with years of experience any day.”

According to Colombian writer and journalist Gabriel García Márquez: “It is not true that people stop pursuing dreams because they grow old, they grow old because they stop pursuing dreams.”

After a failed railroad deal, Cornelius Vanderbilt declared that “I don’t fear my enemies, …but you must look out when you get among your friends.”

Author Victor Hugo believed that “There is nothing like a dream to create the future.”

It’s been said that “No bird soars in a calm.”