Six Word Memoirs on Life Stories

Wench says,

You catch more flies with honey than with vinegar. - Traditional old adage
"Don't sweat the small stuff. And it's all small stuff." (an age-old phrase, but I believe this version belongs to Dr. Richard Carlson)
"Life is like a box of chocolates. You never know what you're going to get." - Forrest Gump
"It is more blessed to give than to receive." - Acts 20:35
"All that is gold does not glitter." - J.R.R. Tolkien
"No matter how tired you are, you can always take one more step." - my dad

ShellDeFelice says,

All good W, especially love your Dad's.

wendel says,

"Never miss a chance to shut up."-Cowboy proverb

illuminatrix says,

These are all amazingly thought-provoking. I'm gonna marinade on this, I'll get back with some. Still soaking up these ones.

illuminatrix says,

These are just a few quotes from just two of my favorite thinkers. They have a strong bearing on what I'm about, but damn, it's hard to boil it down to just a handful of pocket philosophies, isn't it? Whew!

"You are precisely as big as what you love and precisely as small as what you allow to annoy you. "
– Robert Anton Wilson (This one is my perpetual self-challenge, because I'm too easily annoyed, and I use this to kick myself in the ass.)

"Ego is a social fiction for which one person at a time gets all the blame."
– Robert Anton Wilson

"Of course I'm crazy, but that doesn't mean I'm wrong."
– Robert Anton Wilson

“You simply have to turn your back on a culture that has gone sterile and dead and get with the program of a living world and the imagination.”
– Terence McKenna

“The artist’s task is to save the soul of mankind; and anything less is a dithering while Rome burns. If artists cannot find the way, then the way cannot be found.”
– Terence McKenna

“Animals are something invented by plants to move seeds around.”
– Terence McKenna

“The syntactical nature of reality, the real secret of magic, is that the world is made of words. And if you know the words that the world is made of, you can make of it whatever you wish.”
– Terence McKenna

A few of my own:

Go where fascination leads you. You will always find, do, or see something important. You might, indeed, find who you are.

There are at least as many realities as there are self-aware, perceiving entities, and then probably many more.

It is possible to be a cynical optimist, for cynicism is more like wizened realism than any shade of pessimism.

Shell, what an awesome inquiry. Thanks for that. I'll check again later for others' input.

ShellDeFelice says,

Illuminatrix, these are amazing! I needed to hear your first quote today in a big way, thank you!!!!

illuminatrix says,

You know, that Mr. Rogers one is absolute dynamite. It's like a truth that came up behind me and slapped me somewhat gently, but very surprisingly on the cheek. I'm gonna remember that.

Here's another one that is very important for me:
“To see a World in a Grain of Sand
And a Heaven in a Wild Flower,
Hold Infinity in the palm of your hand
And Eternity in an hour.”
― William Blake, Auguries of Innocence

illuminatrix says,

This Blake one is particularly poignant, too.

“The man who never alters his opinion is like standing water, and breeds reptiles of the mind.”
― William Blake

illuminatrix says,

I found the one that was nagging me from the back of my memory. Unbelievable. A friend introduced me to this one, so it bears particular importance for me.

He who binds to himself a joy
Does the wingèd life destroy;
But he who kisses the joy as it flies
Lives in eternity's sunrise.
-William Blake

ShellDeFelice says,

I love these William Blake quotes more than I can express. They are going to need to simmer a bit :0)

illuminatrix says,

Understood. The first and the last of these Blake quotes are each sufficient to start a whole new religion. Powerful words and concepts couched in staggering beauty and perfectly balanced imagery. Every single time I read them, I'm blown away. Glad you liked them.

oopsalittle says,

The secret of strength lies in the quiet mind - White Eagle

ba_miracle says,

Be the change you wish to see in the world –(attributed to) Gandhi
“When you know better you do better” – Maya Angelou
“Be who you are and say what you feel because those who mind don't matter and those who matter don't mind.” – Dr. Seuss

If we find we cannot help others, the least we can do is to desist from harming them. (14th) Dali Lama… and many other things he says.

Empowered people empower others ( I don’t know who said it).

The starfish story.

ShellDeFelice says,

I love reading what everyone writes on this site. This page is turning into a treasure trove for me...it is so cool to see what inspires you.

illuminatrix says,

A communal treasure trove. Much appreciation for crafting the box, opening it, and encouraging people to store their 'booty'.

lillybrook says,

"If we could change ourselves, the tendencies in the world would also change. As a man changes his own nature, so does the attitude of the world change towards him. … We need not wait to see what others do.” -- Ghandi (ba_miracle, I've read that this is the original "Be the change" quote)

"Do one thing every day that scares you." -- Eleanor Roosevelt

Both popular and cliche, but I love them.

TawnyPort says,

Resist giving advice; wise people don't need it, and fools won't heed it.

The role of a parent is to gradually work themselves out of a job.--Mom

TawnyPort says,

Resist giving advice; wise people don't need it, and fools won't heed it.

The role of a parent is to gradually work themselves out of a job.--Mom

TawnyPort says,

Resist giving advice; wise people don't need it, and fools won't heed it.

The role of a parent is to gradually work themselves out of a job.--Mom