A Precursor

I believe that faith is a precursor of all our ideas.  Without faith, there never could have evolved hypothesis, theory, science or mathematics.  I believe that faith is an extension of the mind.  It is the key that negates the impossible.  To deny faith is to refute oneself and the spirit that generates all our creative forces.  My faith is in the unknown, in all that we do not understand by reason; I believe that what is beyond our comprehension is a simple fact in other dimensions, and that in the realm of the unknown there is an infinite power for good.

-- Sir Charles Spencer "Charlie" Chaplin, KBE (1889 - 1977), British comedic actor and director, My Autobiography (1964), p. 291

Unless It Is First Known

The acquisition of any knowledge is always of use to the intellect, because it may thus drive out useless things and retain the good.  For nothing can be loved or hated unless it is first known.

-- Leonardo da Vinci (1452 - 1519), Italian Renaissance painter, architect, inventor, scientist, and sculptor, The Notebooks of Leonardo da Vinci (1883) XIX Philosophical Maxims.  Morals.  Polemics and Speculations

RIP Ted Turner

If I only had a little humility, I'd be perfect.

-- Robert Edward "Ted" Turner III (19 November 1938 - 6 May 2026), American media mogul and philanthropist, known as founder of the Cable News Network more popularly known as CNN, the first 24-hour cable news channel, and for his $1 billion gift to support the United Nations, as quoted in "At Long Last, He's Citizen Ted", Forbes (30 January 2003)

Three Things

To bring together the records of the past and to house them in buildings where they will be preserved for the use of men and women in the future, a Nation must believe in three things.  It must believe in the past.  It must believe in the future.  It must, above all, believe in the capacity of its own people so to learn from the past that they can gain in judgement in creating their own future.

-- Franklin D. Roosevelt (1882 - 1945), 32nd President of the United States, Remarks at the Dedication of the Franklin D. Roosevelt Library at Hyde Park, New York (30 June 1941)

587,328 Hours

587,328 hours of life (67 years) so far.  On Sunday the family gathered for a birthday dinner. I've got business plans and martial arts plans, and maybe I'll make time for other plans as well.

I'm looking forward to another busy year full of adventures. 

A Vast Bazaar

Literature is a vast bazaar where customers come to purchase everything except mirrors.

-- James Branch Cabell (1879 - 1958), American author of satirical fantasy works, The Certain Hour (1916) "Auctorial Induction"

Suit His Temper

He is happy, whose circumstances suit his temper; but he is more excellent, who can suit his temper to any circumstances.

-- David Hume (1711 - 1776), Scottish philosopher, historian, economist, and essayist, An Enquiry Concerning the Principles of Morals (1751) § 6.9 : Of Qualities Useful to Ourselves, Pt. 1