1. An honest man will never expect you to take his word on anything.

 

2. Fame and fortune should be the result, not the goal.

 

3. No great civilization ever survived its own success.

 

4. A politician will tell you what you want to hear; a leader will tell you what you need to know.

 

5. Fear of death is not the same as love of life.

 

6. Show me a man who never makes a mistake, and I’ll show you a man who never does anything at all. (And, the bigger the goal, the bigger the mistakes made while reaching for it)

 

7. You can’t live life by living a lie. (If you’re not living truthfully, you’re avoiding your own life)

 

8. Is this patriotism or tribalism?

 

9. Every successful con man in the world is the nicest guy you ever met.

 

10. Those who are TRULY smart know they really aren’t.

 

11. The less a man knows, the easier it is for him to think he knows everything.

 

12. Leaders are at the head of the parade, showing us the way. Politicians are at the back of the parade, prodding us along with guns.

 

13. Rich people don’t need to borrow money to buy their big houses and fancy cars.

 

14. “The purpose of freedom is to create it for others.” – Bernard Malamud

 

15. There is nothing so absurd as a smug ignoramus.

 

16. “The trouble with the rat race is, even if you win, you’re still a rat.”- Lily Tomlin

 

17. "As democracy is perfected, the office of president represents, more and more closely, the inner soul of the people. On some great and glorious day the plain folks of the land will reach their heart's desire at last and the White House will be adorned by a downright moron." -- H. L. Mencken (1880-1956)

 

18. We hurt each other often enough accidentally. For this reason, even in response to such pain, we should never purposely hurt anyone.

 

19. The world is run by a bunch of self-important idiots.

 

20. Anything that involves people is going to be screwed up.

 

21. Once you truly know your self, you know every living thing in the entire world.

 

22. Refrain from forming an opinion until the whole story is known. And where the issue at hand is none of your business, refrain from having an opinion at all.

 

23. People live lives of “quiet desperation” because they live lives of perpetual compromise.

 

24. Your “natural reaction” is the one you indulge without thinking.

 

25. The first indication that something may not be as it seems is the fact that most people think that it is.

 

26. We depart from the divinity as soon as we start taking another’s word for how things work.

 

27. A life lived by someone else’s standards isn’t a life at all.

 

28. “I think everybody should get rich and famous and do everything they ever dreamed of so they can see that it’s not the answer.” Jim Carrey

 

29. Do not become attached to your possessions or your friends. Become attached with your life. That’s what the flowers do (and the pigs, too).

 

30. If you can’t observe humanity and laugh, you’re one of those being laughed at.

 

31. People who think they know something really annoy those of us who know we don’t. (And how do I know that we don’t know anything?)

 

32. Your obligation to serve is commensurate with the magnitude of your god-given gifts. (The first shall become last)

 

33. The divinity demands only that we speak the truth as we know it. It does not insist that we attempt to make anyone listen.

 

34. It’s better to “flame out” than to “chicken out.” - Lucy Lawless

 

35. “Life is too short to wake up with regrets. So love the people who treat you right. Forget about those who don't. Believe everything happens for a reason. If you get a chance, take it. If it changes your life, let it. Nobody said life would be easy, they just promised it would most likely be worth it." – I don’t know who wrote this.

 

36. We are never so strong as when we’re confessing our weaknesses.

 

37. Sometimes I wonder if “becoming mature” really means “no longer having the energy to be outraged.”

 

38. People do not change; they unmask themselves – “Eat, Pray, Love” by Elizabeth Gilbert (we think), contributed by Amy Harrington, Biloxi

 

39. If you were half as smart as you think you are, you’d know that you’re NOT half as smart as you think you are.

 

40. “An idea that is not dangerous is unworthy of being called an idea at all." – Oscar Wilde, contributed by Amy Harrington, Biloxi

 

41. “Get rich quick! Count your blessings!” – from “The Parts Place”, Wiggins, MS. – Daniel Ballman, owner

 

42. Life should NOT be a journey to the grave with the intention of arriving safely in an attractive and well preserved body. But rather to skid in sideways, Chardonnay in one hand, strawberries in the other, body thoroughly used up, totally worn out, and screaming " WOO HOO! What a Ride! " (Author unknown to me)

 

43. If you have mouse traps set about your house, be sure to at least remove the bait before going on a two-week vacation.

 

 

The following are some insights I’ve gained over the years (although I SERIOUSLY doubt any of them are unique to my experience) as well as insights shared by others that I thought might be relevant to the human journey.  Share some of your own!