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America's Presidential First Lady
Nancy Reagan feminantly stated,

A woman is like a tea bag,
you can not tell how strong she is
until you put her in hot water.

Agreeably, the same can be said for men.

The legendary showman and creator of the 'Greatest Show on Earth,' PT Barnum started his 'circus' career in 1834 just after an attempt in newspaper publishing. His circus was eventually sold to Ringling Brothers in 1907 for a price of US$400,000.

If I shoot at the sun I may hit a star.

Let us all aim high.

Writer of science fiction and short stories, William Rotsler gives us these words,

You won't find a solution by saying there is no problem.

So let us be mindful of problems and find solutions.

Once known as The Lady Diana Spencer with paternal honor of Earl, Diana Frances became Princess with wedlock to Prince Charles in 1981 - becoming Princess Diana of Wales. She soon became one of the world's most influential women in history.

Only do what your heart tells you.

May we strive to act with such compassion and love as she did.

American folk and blues singer, guitarist and song writer, Dave Van Ronk said,

Honesty is the cruelest game of all, because not only can you hurt someone - and hurt them to the bone - you can feel self-righteous about it at the same time.

I agree with the man.

French pilot and author Antoine de Saint-Exupery remarks on love,

Life has taught us that love does not consist in gazing at each other, but in looking outward together in the same direction.

Antoine must not have found the right lady.

Do not hide from the truth, because the truth, once known, will set you free!

As i wait in the airport with a 5-hour delay, i am reminded of these words from Scottish Historian and notable essayist of the Victorian era Thomas Carlyle,

Endurance is patience concentrated.

American writer, editor and publisher Elbert Hubbard said,

He who does not understand your silence will probably not understand your words.

Silence is a wonderful form of communication rarely used.

British Conservative and once Aithest turned Anglican, the Right Honourable Enoch Powell said these words,

For a politician to complain about the press is like a ship's captain complaining about the sea.

It is amazing how politician's learn to ride the wave. Surf's up!

Former New York Governor Mario Cuomo said,

I talk and talk and talk, and I haven't taught people in fifty years what my father taught me by example in one week.

We learn by example.

The United Kingdom's only jewish Prime Minister, Benjamin Disreali is credited with starting the Conservative Party and was most known in his day for wearing fancy clothes.

I feel a very unusual sensation - if it's not indigestion, I think it must be gratitude.

There's no sensation quite like that of gratitude.

A native of Johannesburg, South Africa, Basil Rathbone is most worldly known for his role as Sherlock Holmes, although he was commonly also casted as the sauve villian for such movies as The Adventures of Robin Hood, A Tale of Two Cities and David Copperfield in the 1930's. It is even rumored that he was screen-tested and interviewed for the role of Rhett Butler.

Never regret anything you have done with a sincere affection; nothing is lost that is born of the heart.

We must choose to live our passions and not look back.

Actress Uta Hagen was involved with over 22 Broadway Productions and is credited as one of the most important acting teachers in America. She wrote with wit and clarity about the technical craft of acting.

We must overcome the notion that we must be regular...it robs you of the chance to be extraordinary and leads you to the mediocre.

Think. Stand. Jump. Be Creative and follow your dreams and passion. We must live the life we feel inside us, just waiting to be free.

Intrigued by Western and Eastern philosophies, 1946 Literature Nobel Laurerate Hermann Hesse was awarded with these words,

"for his inspired writings which, while growing in boldness and penetration, exemplify the classical humanitarian ideals and high qualities of style."

His last work was The Glass Bead Game. Interesting to note, his popularity in America occurred during the late 1960's and into the out-spoken 1970's. Hesse died in August 1962.

If you hate a person, you hate something in him that is part of yourself. What isn't part of ourselves doesn't disturb us.

All cut from the same cloth, should we mend our own imperfections, others would also be no longer visible.

Until the 1920's, this man was known chiefly in avant-garde and esoteric literary circles. The 1947 Nobel Prize of Literature went to French writer André Paul Guillaume Gide with this statement, "for his comprehensive and artistically significant writings, in which human problems and conditions have been presented with a fearless love of truth and keen psychological insight."

It is said his works gravitate around his continuous effort to achieve intellectual honesty and self-exploratory.

It is only in adventure that some people succeed in knowing themselves - in finding themselves.

I think we determine its an adventure when we're already on the roller coaster, or when the ride has come to its stop.

Once-time ambulance driver Ernest Hemingway was honored with the 1954 Nobel Prize in Literature with these stated remarks, "...for his mastery of the art of narrative, most recently demonstrated in The Old Man and the Sea, and for the influence that he has exerted on contemporary style."

il faut d'abord durer

French in origin the phrase translates to "first, one must last." I invite you to give me your perspective. It reminds me that we must act with the thought that our actions will be remembered for eternity.

1978 Nobel Laureate of Literature, Gabriel García Márquez wrote various novels, screenplays and most known for his journalistic writings traveling through Mexico and Europe.

A man knows when he is growing old because he begins to look like his father.

I don't know why, but i am shocked when told of the 'spitting-image' resemblance, mannerism and habits of his.

In his will, Alfred Bernhard Nobel established an Award to recognize and inspire those of genius, creativity and perserverance.

If I have a thousand ideas and only one turns out to be good, I am satisfied.

I wonder sometimes the unlimited potential I could have, if only I focused my energies.

More about the life of Mr. Noble.

2000 Nobel Prize Winner of Literature, Gao Xingjian is revered for his writings and story=telling. In time, he was banned by the Chinese government for his expressions of life, politics and society.

When you use words, you're able to keep your mind alive. Writing is my way of reaffirming my own existence.

I find the expression of thoughts in writing or in speech to cleanse my mind and clarity of spirit.

Read more about Gao.

Britian's Margaret Thatcher is the only woman to be Prime Minister of the United Kingdom. Her reign lasted 11 years and 2 US Presidents.

Standing in the middle of the road is very dangerous; you get knocked down by the traffic from both sides.

As a dear friend often tells, "If you don't stand for something, you'll fall for anything." Whether right or wrong, we must make a decision, stand by it, learn and live.

Bo Jackson was the first athlete named to play in the All-Star Game of two major sports, baseball and football. Nike catch phrase
'Bo Knows' soon made him a household name and an athlete icon. Jackson suffered a career-ending injury in 1991, by which he never fully recovered physically and making this comment,

God has his way of opening up our eyes to see reality.

No matter of social status, it seems to me that we too often get caught up in our lives failing to see reality. If we were only to sit back, open our eyes and see what is around us, perhaps we would all be more grateful.

Business mogul and Richest Man in the World Andrew Carnegie said,

As I grow older, I pay less attention to what people say. I just watch what they do.

Carnegie publicly stated his wealth was given to benefit the community, he called philanthropy a moral obligation. During his life, he donated over $350 Million and was directly responsible for establishing over 2500 public libraries believing every person had the right to self-educate themself.

It is sad commentary that we too commonly say one thing
and do another.

The famous War-Time Prime Minister and British Leader Sir Winston Churchill said,

Courage is what it takes to stand up and speak; courage is also what it takes to sit down and listen.

When I feel compelled to speak, it is sometimes tougher to stay silent than is to speak my mind, and other times, it is more righteous to speak than let be overshadowed in silence. For this reason, it is not in speaking or listening that courage is found, but in the decisive action of doing one lest the other.

A quick side note of trivia: Churchill proposed marriage to the Academy Award-Winning Actress Ethel Barrymore, she declined.
I say she had courage.

Author and Pulitzer-Prize Columnist Anna Quindlen tell us,

The thing that is really hard, and really amazing, is giving up on being perfect and beginning the work of becoming yourself.

Hamburger king Ray Kroc said,

"When you're green, you're
growing. When you're ripe,
you rot."

Note: Kroc is not the original founder of McDonald's (see wikipedia), he created the corporation franchising McDonald's across the US and internationally.

The literary and spiritual writings of Ralph Waldo Emerson have been loved by generatioins. He is known as a poet, essayist and a gifted writer of prose. Today, he tell us,

"What lies behind us and what lies before us are tiny matters compared to what lies within us."

The great Negro League Pitcher and Baseball Hall of Famer
Satchel Paige said this,

"How old would you be if you didn't know how old you was?"

The man's got a point.

On this day of birth, we remember the creator of Sherlock Holmes, Sir Aruthur Conan Doyle, Sr. Though most notable as a writer with over 50 books to his name, Conan was also a respected Physician and merritime surgeon.

Mediocrity knows nothing higher than itself, but talent instantly recognizes genius.

Former US Secretary of State and revered Nobel Peace Prize honoree Henry Kissinger said,

Each success only buys an admission ticket to a more difficult problem.

Thanks to Puneet for today's quote. 'Go for it. Just go for it.'

Belovedly known to many as Mr. October, Reggie Jackson is a Hall-of-Famer who has inspired many on and off the field.

I didn't come to New York to be a star, I brought my star with me.

Painting by Gabe Perillo

Olympic gold medalist and World Champion Boxer Sugar Ray Leonard jabs...

You have to know you can win. You have to think you can win. You have to feel you can win.

Portrait by Edgar S. Nocom

The 40th American President Ronald Reagan stated...

There are no constraints on the human mind, no walls around the human spirit, no barriers to our progress except those we ourselves erect.

Sir Arthur Conan Doyle gives us the words of Legendary Detective, Sherlock Holmes...

The temptation to form premature theories upon insufficient data is the bane of our profession.

Do we not all form judgements with incomplete and limited knowledge?

My dear friend Charlie Brown and his creator Charles M. Schulz had this to say...

In the book of life, the answers aren't in the back.

How often we attempt to use shortcuts to find success. Start at page 1 and read it through.

American Dance Legend Martha Graham shaped the Art of Dance for more than a century.

"Dance is the hidden language of the soul of the body."

Sometimes the most profound quotes have been made without credit to who spoke the words. To me, this means that the wisdom of an 'Anonymous quote' lives in each of our hearts.

Love is what makes two people sit in the middle of a bench when there is plenty of room at both ends.

Born in 1859, Jerome K. Jerome was a master playwright and a heralded author of his day. He is mostly well-known for his comedic work, Three Men in a Boat.

Time is but the shadow of the world upon the background of Eternity.

From his message, let's not watch our shadows, but make them move.

Author, Philosopher and Jesuit Priest Teilhard de Chardin shares with us...

You are not a human being in search of a spiritual experience. You are a spiritual being immersed in a human experience.

Spiritual leader Sri Sathya Sai Baba tells us,

Life is a challenge, meet it! Life is a dream, realize it! Life is a game, play it! Life is Love, enjoy it!

As K-Sra ponders the human need for revenge, we learn from Civil War Commander and the 18th American President, Ulysses S. Grant who gives us insightful wisdom in response.

Every human being, of whatever origin, of whatever station, deserves respect. We must each respect others even as we respect ourselves.

In irony, these words come from a man whose Presidential term is now viewed historically as marginally corrupt. Yet, his personal reputation is still regarded as being of high moral personal integrity. It begs question, or rather this simple retort,

It is not words which credence integrity, but action.

April 26th marks the Birthday of Roman Emperor and Stoic Philosopher Marcus Aurelius. Aurelius penned a series of writings now called Meditations.

To refrain from imitation is the best revenge.

Created uniquely, why do we revert to imitation.

Today we learn from the words of Radio and Journalism Icon Edward R. Murrow.

Difficulty is the excuse history never accepts.

How often do we use 'difficulty' to explain our hesitations and failure to act.

Emigrating to America in 1849 from Scotland, Explorer and Naturalist John Muir was responsible for establishing Yosemite as a National Park. Mr. Muir is pictued on the California State Quarter issued in 2005.

In every walk with nature one receives far more than he seeks.

Into the time period of Advent, the days following Easter, we continue with the words of President Thomas Jefferson...

Had the doctrines of Jesus been preached always as pure as they came from his lips, the whole civilized world would now have been Christians.

And if I may add, the world would be filled with Love, rightfully so.

Image is from the collection of Danny Hahlbohm

We learn from the wise words of Mother Theresa...

If you can't feed a hundred people, then just feed one.

Greek philosopher Epicurus quoted so wisely...

Do not spoil what you have by desiring what you have not; remember that what you now have was once among the things you only hoped for.

How true it is that we often do not appreciate the little things, the blessings of life in earnest for more - but at the same time, not really understanding why we want 'more.'

Words from my good friend, Winnie the Pooh...

You can't stay in your corner of the Forest waiting for others to come to you. You have to go to them sometimes.

Sometimes wisdom comes from those you least expect. A lesson that wisdom is within us, we just often fail to realize it.

Master Teacher and Lord Jesus Christ gives us this message...

In the world you will have trouble, but take courage for I have conquered the world.

On this Good Friday, we quote the teachings of Jesus Christ.

If you bring forth what is within you, what you bring forth will save you.
If you do not bring forth what is within you, what you do not bring forth will destroy you.

And in His words...

Live in me, let me live in you.

On this day of Holy Thursday in Christian society, we hear from the 3rd American President and Declaration of Independence author, Thomas Jefferson.

Of all the systems of morality, ancient or modern, which have come under my observation, none appear to me so pure as that of Jesus.

Britian's Noble Laureate Bertrand Russell tell us...

To be able to fill leisure intelligently is the last product of civilization.

I guess that means no television. =(

Again I refer to 'Honest Abe' for words of inspiration.

Nearly all men can stand adversity, but if you want to test a man's character, give him power.

-Abraham Lincoln
16 President of the U.S.