11 wise sayings about life lessons and what they mean

07/06/2025 by

Today, dear reader, I offer you 11 wise sayings about life lessons, along with some observations on what I believe they mean for your life.

I hope you find this valuable and interesting.

WISE SAYINGS ABOUT LIFE LESSONS
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Wise sayings about life lessons:

1. When in Rome, do as the Romans do. ~English Proverb

When visiting a foreign country with a different culture from your own, the best way to get along with the local people is to respect their culture and customs.

Essentially, it’s all about respecting and adhering to their way of life, as far as reasonably possible.

Respect people and they’ll appreciate it.

Learn a little bit of their language and you’ll connect with them. They won’t mind if you don’t get all the words and pronunciation completely correct. It’ll probably make them smile a little, and they’ll appreciate your effort.

Treat people with respect and they’ll treat you with respect. It’s that simple.

2. Be contrary and be known. ~Arab Proverb

If you want to get noticed, a ‘me too’ approach to life is unlikely to take you very far. When you’re just like everyone else, how can you stand out in the crowd?

If you want to get noticed, then you need to offer something a bit different, surely?

To stand out in the crowd, you’ll need to dress differently, have an unusual hairstyle or offer something new.

Go against the accepted thinking of the day and you’ll get noticed.

Suggest something that goes against the received wisdom of the day, and people might listen if you back up your observation with a reasoned argument.

Be different, be contrary, and you’ll get noticed.

Back it up with real substance, and you will make a permanent impression on public consciousness.

Elvis Presley was like nothing that went before him; neither were The Beatles.

These were people who had a look, style and approach all of their own. They made a genuine impact, and they changed people’s outlook on life permanently.

In other words, they made their mark, and you can too.

3. A beautiful thing is never perfect. ~Egyptian Proverb

There’s no such thing as perfect, certainly not when it comes to people.

We’re all imperfect in some way.

However, that’s what makes us interesting as individuals. It’s also what makes it easier for other people to live with us because no matter how good we are in some way, there are also ways in which we are not quite so good.

So accept your imperfections. Work to your strengths, minimise your weaknesses and do the best you can with whatever you have at your disposal. If you do that, you can succeed.

4. There’s no shame in not knowing; the shame lies in not finding out. ~Russian Proverb

How often do people refrain from asking a question for fear that they might look a little stupid? Does that ring a bell with you, dear reader?

We’ve probably all done it at some point in our lives, wouldn’t you agree?

However, it’s rather silly if you think about it.

None of us can know everything, can we? There will always be gaps in our knowledge, that’s for sure.

So if you don’t know something, surely it’s better to find out? It’s better to ask a question, even if you appear foolish momentarily.

People might laugh, but so what?

Intelligent people ask questions, and it’s better to look like a fool momentarily than proceed in ignorance. You may look like a fool for not knowing but you’ll look like an even bigger fool if you screw up because you didn’t ask.

Never, ever be afraid to ask a question if you don’t know.

That way you’ll learn. In any other way, and you’ll never learn. Remember: Intelligent people ask questions.

5. Experience is not always the kindest of teachers, but it’s surely the best. ~Spanish Proverb

Education is a wonderful thing, I’m sure you’ll agree.

However, the best teacher by a country mile is the School of Hard Knocks at the University of Life.

Making mistakes and getting your fingers burned teaches you lessons you’ll never forget. And those lessons are invaluable.

That’s what they call experience, and experience is indeed a valuable commodity.

Experience is the basis of all wisdom.

It’s also an essential element in finding out what you’re good at and what you enjoy.

And if you can find that sweet spot where what you’re good at coincides with what you enjoy doing, then you really will begin to shine. So shine on, my friend.

6. Having two ears and one tongue, we should listen twice as much as we speak. ~Turkish Proverb

How often are we so keen to get our point across that we don’t listen to what the other person has to say? That’s a mistake.

Listening is one of the most important skills you can develop.

To quote Stephen R. Covey, “Seek first to understand and then to be understood.”

To understand someone else’s point, you must listen first.

Listening is not the same as hearing.

Hearing is simply being aware of the sounds going on around you.

Listening is absorbing what is being said and considering it carefully.

Listening requires both your ears and your brain to be engaged simultaneously.

Naturally, you want to feel that your perspective matters.

If you listen to people first, not only will they appreciate it, but they’ll also start listening to you. If you’re showing them respect, then they’ll do the same to you.

By listening to each other, we can begin to understand each other.

And if we understand each other, we have the basis for getting along together.

So listen more and talk less.

In this way, the world might just become a better place. Let’s hope so anyway.

7. It’s better to die than to live on with a bad reputation. ~Vietnamese Proverb

Some time ago, a friend of mine was working for a retailer and foolishly did something dishonest. The result was that he lost his job and damaged his reputation in the process.

Only when he began to realise how much damage he’d done to his reputation did he begin to realise how foolish he’d been.

Damaging your reputation can have serious consequences, and you can often feel the impact of that for many years after the original indiscretion.

So, protect and value your reputation.

It’s one of the most important commodities you have to offer.

Whether you’re in employment or self-employed, you’ll always be judged on your reputation. A bad reputation can lead to harsh judgment.

8. A society grows great when old men plant trees whose shade they know they shall never sit in. ~Greek Proverb

Your legacy in life will be based on what you’ve done for other people, regardless of whether you’ve benefitted from it yourself.

That’s how you’ll be remembered.

A civilised society depends on each of us making a contribution toward the greater good. We cannot just leave it all to someone else.

If you want your grandchildren and their children to enjoy a well-ordered and civilised society, then you must be prepared to do something the result of which you may never see. The payoff for you will simply be the knowledge that future generations will benefit from your altruism.

Leaving something that enriches the lives of future generations would be a real and genuine legacy, wouldn’t you agree?

9. God gives the nuts, but he doesn’t crack them. ~German proverb

You can’t expect everything to be done for you.

At some point, you have to do something for yourself.

If everything is done for you, you’ll never learn; you’ll never develop new skills, and you’ll never be able to deal with life.

So don’t try to avoid the chore, embrace it with enthusiasm and recognise that it’s in your own best interests to act.

10. A wise man makes his own decisions; an ignorant man follows public opinion. ~Chinese Proverb

Criticism can be uncomfortable, so it’s easy to be swayed by the majority view. However, how can we be sure that the majority view is correct? Perhaps they’re all wrong.

Just because a lot of people think something is so, it doesn’t mean that they have a monopoly on knowledge and common sense.

Rather than simply following the herd, it’s much better to consider a situation carefully, weighing the various possibilities, and then form your own opinion or make an informed decision.

Think for yourself; don’t allow the herd to impose their thinking on you.

11. Every ass loves to hear himself bray. ~Proverb of Unknown Origin

As the old saying goes, empty vessels make the most sound.

However, just because someone can talk a good game doesn’t mean they can play a good game.

People who are truly skilled at something will demonstrate it through their actions, not their words. They’ll leave the talking to other people.

You’ll never impress anyone by singing your own praises.

However, you’ll win them over if you can demonstrate your effectiveness through the results you deliver.

So go on, show people what you can do.

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VOICE OF EXPERIENCE: 45 life lessons everyone should know

05/31/2025 by

If you’re looking for some lessons from the voice of experience, then I’ve been on this earth long enough to have learned quite a few.

Usually, I share these lessons on my microblog, otherwise known as my X feed.

However, today I thought readers might be interested to read some of my more recent observations about life and the human condition.

Here are 45 life lessons I’ve learned, many of which I’ve learned the hard way, and I hope you find them interesting and useful.

Please feel free to share them with your friends.

VOICE OF EXPERIENCE
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Lessons from the voice of experience (1-10):

  1. On Spaceship Earth, we’re all crew.
  2. People believe what they want to believe.
  3. Visibility matters. Personal PR is essential.
  4. We’re all products of the choices we make.
  5. Life is life, and we cope with it as best we can.
  6. You can listen to the wise or let adversity teach you.
  7. You’re not committed to anything until you start taking action.
  8. Don’t underestimate the power of your voice. Your voice matters.
  9. If you don’t go for it, then you won’t get it. Not unless you’re lucky.
  10. Create your own job, and you’ll never be threatened by layoffs again.

Lessons from the voice of experience (11-20):

  1. A question asked does not imply an obligation to provide an answer.
  2. Your future’s yet to be written, but the good news is that you’ve got the pen.
  3. Political power derives from a group of like-minded people acting as one.
  4. Income does not determine your wealth if you keep spending more than you earn.
  5. You won’t regret the things you didn’t buy, but you may regret the things you didn’t do.
  6. Focus on where you’re going, not where you’ve been. What’s ahead is what matters most.
  7. Differentiate yourself from the competition. You won’t stand out if you’re just the same as everyone else.
  8. Your years on this earth will teach you far more than you could possibly learn in any school, college, or university.
  9. What you get out of life will be in direct proportion to what you put in. You’ll get very little out if you’ve put nothing in.
  10. If you don’t use it, don’t let it go to waste. Sell it. Someone else can use it, and you have a little extra money in the bank.

Lessons from the voice of experience (21-30):

  1. A promotion at work is not a reward for what you’ve done in the past; it’s an opportunity to show what you can do in the future.
  2. Just because they seem nice doesn’t mean they are nice. Don’t be too trusting of people you barely know. Trust must be earned.
  3. Ridiculous notions take root because the silent majority don’t have the guts to say, “No! I’m not playing that game.”
  4. Happiness is a state of mind. It’s finding a little joy in everything you do. Life’s challenges are there for all of us. Don’t let them steal your joy.
  5. We’ll keep making the same mistake until we learn the lesson the mistake was intended to teach us. Life is a classroom, and the lessons never stop.
  6. No one is right all the time, and it would be unwise to assume otherwise. So listen carefully to others before deciding on what you think may be right.
  7. If you want to make money, be the solution to someone’s problem. There will always be people with problems willing to pay someone to provide a solution.
  8. Never use other people just so you can feel better about yourself. Help people by all means, but out of genuine benevolence rather than your own self-interest.
  9. When others do unspeakable things that hurt you, the best revenge is to move on and enjoy your own happy life. Show them you don’t need them; it’ll drive them nuts.
  10. Real friends are people you could call at 3 a.m. if you were in trouble, and know they’d be willing to help you. Internet friends are nothing more than digital acquaintances.

Lessons from the voice of experience (31-35):

  1. We all want to be someone or something else, but we can only be the people we are and deal as best we can with the cards life has dealt us. Frustrating as it may be, that’s life.
  2. If society’s direction of travel is not to your liking, then make your voice heard loudly, in collaboration with like-minded people. If enough people speak, things can change.
  3. It’s for us to give our lives meaning. Our aim should be to leave a legacy by doing something that will add value to the lives of others and make the world a slightly better place.
  4. You can eat well, sleep well, get regular exercise, and drink plenty of water, but you’re still going to die. So make sure you enjoy life while you can, and don’t be too obsessed with healthy living.
  5. Never let anyone tell you how you should think. Think for yourself and draw your own conclusions. No one has a monopoly on knowing what’s best. Your opinion is just as valid as the next person’s.
voice-of-experience
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Lessons from the voice of experience (36-40):

  1. Remaining loyal to the circumstances into which you were born is not a noble act. It’s perfectly reasonable to want more out of life. Just because you were born poor doesn’t mean you must remain poor.
  2. Never, ever put anything in print that you wouldn’t want coming back to haunt you later. If there’s a record there’s always a chance that someone could use it against you when it suits them to do so.
  3. In a civilised world, physically attacking people is unacceptable, of course. So when we’re upset with others, we attack them with words. We lob ‘word bombs’ at them in the hope we’ll hurt them that way.
  4. To remain silent is to be irrelevant. A quiet life will come at a cost to you. The cost is that people with louder voices are moving the world in a direction you may not like. Speak up, or live with the consequences.
  5. Those with an unshakable belief in the virtue of their own opinions will never be swayed by contrary opinions expressed by others, regardless of how much evidence is offered in support of those opinions.

Lessons from the voice of experience (41-45):

  1. Unkind speech is not the same as hate speech. Much of what is often described as hate speech is just people saying things that are unkind and even deeply unpleasant, but they’re not necessarily rooted in hate.
  2. The game of Monopoly tells you all you need to know about getting rich. Use the money you have to buy assets that will generate income. Use that income to buy more assets to generate more income to buy more assets to generate even more income. Keep repeating the process, and you’ll get rich.
  3. Ideological positions don’t have to be accepted without question. They can and should be challenged. If they have sufficient merit they’ll withstand a challenge. If they don’t, they’ll fall, as they should. Don’t allow yourself to be intimidated by ideologues.
  4. The university system has become a racket. Unless your ambition is to secure a job for which a degree is mandatory, you’re wasting your time and money by going to university. You’re unlikely to get a return on the debt you’ll incur. Consider your options carefully.
  5. Successful relationships are underpinned by friendship, and friendship is a relationship of equals. Both parties must feel they’re getting what they need from the relationship. So before asking, what can a potential partner offer me? Ask yourself, what do I have to offer a potential partner? If the answer is nothing positive, don’t be surprised if you struggle to find a partner.
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The Guy in the Glass and why he really matters

03/24/2025 by

If you’re unfamiliar with the poem “The Guy in the Glass,” dear reader, I recommend you spend a few moments reflecting on it now.

I’m sure you’ll know that life’s not a rehearsal. Whether we like it or not, we’ll live it only once.

It seems obvious to me that we must make the most of our time and try to enjoy every moment. That’s a healthy personal philosophy by which I certainly try to live, most of the time, at least.

Enjoying every single moment is not possible, of course.

There will always be good times, but, inevitably, there will be bad times too.

Let’s face it, you couldn’t appreciate the good times without experiencing a few bad times along the way, could you?

Now, I am a firm believer in the notion that you only get out of life what you put in.

If you drift along with little effort and a lot of unwise choices, then your future is likely to be unexciting at best, unless you get very, very lucky.

Whereas making some effort to realise your full potential; deciding what you want and pursuing your dreams with hard work and determination; this approach is more likely to lead to better life experiences.

Ask yourself this question:

When I’m old and frail and reflecting on years gone by, how will I feel if I’ve wasted those years?

The problem with time is that once it’s gone, it’s gone. You can’t get it back. So, surely time is our most precious resource?

The answers to the above questions matter only to you.

You’re the one who must look at yourself in the mirror each day. You’re the one who must look yourself in the eye.

You may fool other people with tales of what might have been, but you can’t fool yourself.

Deep down, you’ll know whether you tried or not. You’ll know whether you made a lot of choices you wish you hadn’t made. You’ll know whether you cheated yourself. And let’s face it, regret lies at the heart of cheating yourself.

So my advice would be, don’t do it.

When you look in the mirror each day, ask yourself some searching questions:

Are you making the most of your natural talent, whatever that might be?

Are you looking after your body and your mind?

Are you developing habits that will be detrimental to your well-being?

Are you looking after those who matter most to you?

Can you reflect on your life so far with at least some degree of pride and satisfaction?

If you’re getting too many negative answers, then perhaps it’s time for some changes in your life, don’t you think?

Reflecting on today’s idea is what got me thinking about the poem The Guy in the Glass, mentioned above.

This poem is included as part of the process Alcoholics Anonymous uses to help its client base.

However, I think it’s relevant to us all, regardless of whether we’re alcoholics or not. The underlying message is that your behaviour should be consistent with the need we all have to be able to look ourselves in the eye.

It is a thought-provoking verse, and, despite its title, the message applies equally to men and women. The glass is, of course, the mirror on your wall. The poem was written by the late Dale Wimbrow in 1934 for publication in The American Magazine:

Poem: The Guy in the Glass

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