50 Observations about life from one who’s lived it

03/17/2026 by

Today, I am exploring observations about life.

All these observations reflect my own experience over many years. I’ve presented them as quotes, but they’re all about life as I see it.

You might see life differently, dear reader, and that’s fine. You might think I’m being a little cynical. Anyway, I hope they challenge your thinking, at least.

If, after reading them, you think I’m wrong, then that’s fair enough.

The important thing is that we constantly look at life and make sure we take care of our own interests, because I can assure you, no one else will.

So, without further ado, here are my 50 observations about life today.

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Observations about life:

  1. Be prepared to defend your civilisation or accept barbarism.
  2. If you want to attract the right person, you must be the right person.
  3. You can paint stripes on a horse, but that doesn’t make it a zebra. Pretend to be whatever you like, but it doesn’t change anything.
  4. Life is too short to waste it arguing with strangers on social media about something that doesn’t matter much and over which neither of you has any real knowledge or expertise.
  5. We’re all shaped by the environment that surrounds us in our formative years. We are the sum of those experiences.
  6. Politicians don’t work for ordinary folk. They work for whoever bankrolls their campaigns, and they represent their interests, not ours. To believe otherwise would be naive.
  7. Politicians should wear the names of their sponsors on their clothes, like Formula One drivers, and then at least we’d know who owns them and in whose interests they’re working.
  8. When politicians refer to investment, they mean spending public money to create a dependency, thereby securing future votes from those who become dependent on the taxpayer’s largesse.
  9. For every problem, there is a solution. If you can offer solutions for other people’s problems, you have the basis of a business. And your solution doesn’t have to be first to market; create a better solution, and you’ll still make money.
  10. If your life isn’t all you’d like it to be and you’re wondering who is to blame, look in the mirror.
  11. Your life can be better than it is, but it won’t change by accident, not unless you’re lucky. You must decide what you want, how you get to where you want to be, and then pursue your goals with passion and purpose.
  12. You can’t force different tribes to live together as if they are one and in peace. They will always be suspicious of each other. So, it doesn’t work.
  13. Every well-intended attempt to make the world a fairer place has precisely the opposite effect. The world isn’t fair, it has never been, and it will never be. We must all learn to play the set of cards life has dealt us as best we can.
  14. Leadership is not about optics; it’s about acting in the best interests of those you lead and represent. It’s not about what’s good for you; it’s about what’s good for them. If your actions are solely intended to benefit you, you’re not a leader; you’re just another grifter.
  15. Our forebears’ hard-won freedoms have been taken for granted for far too long. We must protect those freedoms and resist any attempt to dilute or dismiss them. Anything less would be an insult to the work of those who went before us.
  16. Your time is your most precious resource. Use it wisely and don’t let anyone waste it unnecessarily.
  17. Time and money matter, but time matters more because time is limited and we can never be sure about how much time we have.
  18. Only fools spend money they don’t have on stuff they can live without. It is a fact that unsecured debt becomes an expensive burden. Don’t be a fool.
  19. If you think any politician will improve your life, you’ll always be disappointed. The only person who can improve your life is you.
  20. Feed your mind with a healthy diet of everything that inspires you. Fuel your greatness.
  21. However much they can drive us nuts, our families are precious, and we should care about those relationships. Only when we’re in trouble and need their support do we realise just how much they really matter.
  22. Good people should matter to us all. They are the doers. They are the people who add value to others’ lives. People who make a positive contribution deserve our appreciation.
  23. Attitude matters. To an employer, an average person with a positive attitude is preferable to a clever individual with a bad attitude.
  24. An ideal life should have a purpose, a passion, and a hobby that helps us relax.
  25. With politicians, it’s essential to look beyond the rhetoric. What looks like an attempt to address a problem is usually nothing more than them trying to neutralise a political threat and placate public concern. It may fool the public, but it won’t change anything.
  26. Politicians are not ignorant of the problems, nor are they ignorant of the solutions. However, they also know that dealing with them effectively will come at a personal cost they are unwilling to pay. They say they care, but it is only for themselves.
  27. Those with real power won’t give it up easily and certainly not without a fight. There is an elite set of puppet masters behind the political system that will never just roll over and allow an interloper to waltz in and take their lunch. They will fight dirty, and the interloper will be squashed like a fly.
  28. It’s important to make a living, but it’s much more important to make a life. Having a sense of purpose is essential, of course, but it won’t look after us when we’re ill. Make time for family and friends.
  29. When politicians rob Peter to pay Paul, they do so knowing it guarantees their support from Paul. And if Peter wouldn’t vote for them anyway, he doesn’t matter.
  30. Fail to protect what is yours, and it will be taken from you. Slowly, almost imperceptibly at first, but gradually, the speed will rise, and suddenly you’ll wake up, and it will all be gone.
  31. Gaining knowledge and skills can be expensive, but not gaining them is even more expensive. 
  32. You have a right to live your life the way you like. And so does everyone else.
  33. Don’t assume politicians want you well-educated. They don’t. If you’re well-educated, you can’t be controlled. So, they want you sufficiently educated to do all the crappy jobs that need doing. Beyond that, they want you to remain as dumb as possible.
  34. Loneliness can only be beaten by getting out there and getting involved. You need to engage with other people, ideally people with shared interests and things you have in common.
  35. When politicians resort to smear tactics against their opponents, you know it’s because they themselves have nothing to say of value. They have no vision, no ideas, no solutions. In fact, they show themselves to be unworthy of your vote.
  36. Face your fears, or your life will be constrained by them. You can be more than you are, and you’ll grow by facing up to every challenge. It’s not too late to be all you could be.
  37. If you don’t have to prove yourself and earn your place, then that place isn’t worth having. If you get the prize just for showing up, it’s meaningless.
  38. The most valuable things you will learn in life you will not learn in a classroom or lecture theatre.
  39. We’re all inclined to believe lies that support our prejudices. That’s the fundamental principle that underpins newspaper sales.
  40. Judge not those who went before us. They were not of our times, nor we of theirs.
  41. Believe you have something to offer because you do. You have a lot more to offer than you realise.
  42. Make your own kind of music, even if no one sings along. Just be true to your own instincts for self-fulfilment.
  43. You cannot redistribute that which has not been created. Remove the incentives for the enterprising to work hard, and they don’t. And, before you know it, your economy is ruined.
  44. If it no longer serves you, let it go. Don’t be emotionally attached to stuff. Unburden yourself and get rid of anything you can live without.
  45. You’re not dead until you’re dead. So, now’s the time to enjoy life and make the most of every day.
  46. Those deployed to fight deserve our respect. Our safety and security depend on rough men being willing to do violence on our behalf.
  47. Mastering trendy dogmas and fashionable attitudes is not the same as having a rigorous education and developing the ability to think for yourself.
  48. We now live in an age when it’s perfectly acceptable to offend the many, because it’s completely unacceptable to offend the few.
  49. A shared identity, history, culture and way of life bind a nation. Lose those, and the nation will disintegrate over time.
  50. Never assume that politicians care about people. They don’t. They care about power, and once they gain power, they care about retaining it, particularly those on the left. People on the left see themselves as virtuous and those on the right as wicked. So, they will shamelessly do whatever it takes to retain power, regardless of how damaging their actions may be to ordinary citizens.
Phil Sutton

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You did? I hope so anyway.

If you did enjoy them, please share this post with your friends on social media because when you share, everyone wins.

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Thank you.

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30 sharp and funny quotes by George Carlin

03/16/2026 by

Today I thought it would be a good idea to look back at some funny quotes by George Carlin.

The late George Carlin was an American stand-up comedian, actor, philosopher, author, and social critic. He’s probably best known for his sardonic, irreverent wit and his reflections on politics, the English language, psychology, religion, and various other taboo subjects.

Sadly, George Carlin died on June 28, 2008, in Santa Monica, CA. He was 71 years old.

I loved his irreverent wit, and I thought he was a funny man.

If you’re unfamiliar with his work, then it’s worth checking out some of the many videos of his performances that you’ll find on YouTube.

Here are 30 funny quotes by George Carlin that I’m confident will get you thinking about life, the universe, and everything.

Enjoy them all.

And please, feel free to pass them on.

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Funny quotes by George Carlin

I think I am, therefore, I am … I think.

It’s never just a game when you’re winning.

What if there were no hypothetical questions?

Fighting for peace is like screwing for virginity.

If you try to fail and succeed, which have you done?

Men are from Earth; women are from Earth. Deal with it.

Just when I discovered the meaning of life, they changed it.

When you step on the brakes, your life is in your foot’s hands.

One can never know for sure what a deserted area can look like.

The reason I talk to myself is that I’m the only one whose answers I accept.

A house is just a place to keep your stuff while you go out and get more stuff.

‘Bipartisan’ usually means that a larger-than-usual deception is being carried out.

Some people have no idea what they’re doing, and a lot of them are really good at it.

Just because you got the monkey off your back doesn’t mean the circus has left town.

I have as much authority as the Pope. I just don’t have as many people who believe it.

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Think of how stupid the average person is, and realize half of them are stupider than that.

I think it’s the duty of the comedian to find out where the line is drawn and cross it deliberately.

Isn’t making a smoking section in a restaurant like making a peeing section in a swimming pool?

Most people work just hard enough not to get fired and get paid just enough money not to quit.

Have you ever noticed that anybody driving slower than you is an idiot, and anyone going faster than you is a maniac?

If the Black Box flight recorder is never damaged during a plane crash, why isn’t the whole airplane made out of that stuff?

People who say they don’t care what people think are usually desperate to have people think they don’t care what people think.

I wanna live. I don’t wanna die. That’s the whole meaning of life: Not dying! I figured that out by myself in the third grade.

If it’s true that our species is alone in the universe, then I’d have to say that the universe aimed rather low and settled for very little.

I went to a bookstore and asked the saleswoman, ‘Where’s the self-help section?’ She said if she told me, it would defeat the purpose.

Some national parks have long waiting lists for camping reservations. When you have to wait a year to sleep next to a tree, something is wrong.

Here’s all you have to know about men and women: women are crazy, and men are stupid. And the main reason women are crazy is that men are stupid.

When I ask how old your toddler is, I don’t need to hear ’27 months.’ ‘He’s 2’ will do just fine. He’s not a cheese. And I didn’t really care in the first place.

Some people see things that are and ask, ‘Why?’ Some people dream of things that never were and ask, ‘Why not?’ Some people have to go to work and don’t have time for all that.

Religion has convinced people that there’s an invisible man living in the sky who watches everything you do, every minute of every day. And the invisible man has a list of ten specific things he doesn’t want you to do. And if you do any of these things, he will send you to a special place of burning and fire and smoke and torture and anguish for you to live forever and suffer and burn and scream until the end of time. But he loves you. He loves you, and he needs money.

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25 inspirational quotes about success to motivate you

03/14/2026 by

If you’re looking for inspirational quotes about success, you should consider what success means to you. Your definition of success will not necessarily be the same as someone else’s.

Success for you might be nothing more than being happy and content.

That’s admirable, of course. There’s nothing wrong with having that as your goal. However, someone else might be looking for a lot more from life.

For them, success might be an Olympic gold medal or winning the Super Bowl.

So, before you pursue success, you would do well to reflect on what it means to you and why you want it.

Knowing your ‘why?‘ is half the battle when it comes to achieving success.

Success is desired by many but achieved by only a few.

To be successful, you have to want it so bad that it hurts.

That’s why it’s important to know your why.

If you know your ‘why?’ you will be able to bear any ‘how?’.

You must be focused on your goals; you must be disciplined; you must be determined; you must be prepared to make sacrifices; you must be prepared to work very, very hard; and you must possess self-belief too.

Remember, nothing worth having ever comes easy.

If you want success, you must be prepared to pay the price in blood, sweat, and tears. And that price must always be paid first.

You’ll get nothing before you’ve paid the price.

You’ll find that even people who are an ‘overnight success’ have spent years honing their skills before favourable circumstances provided them with an opportunity to shine like a star.

Nothing happens overnight. You’ve got to work at it and keep working at it.

And remember this too: you’ll experience failure from time to time, and you’ll question whether you’re good enough over and over again.

The temptation to quit will be overwhelming at times. You’ll be constantly tempted to settle for an easier life. Don’t!

Success can be achieved if you stick to it and keep going. Focus on the prize.

In the words of the late, great Muhammad Ali, I hated every minute of training, but I said, ‘Don’t quit. Suffer now and live the rest of your life as a champion.’

Success can be yours if you work hard and hang on until you achieve whatever it is that you want to achieve. Just go for it!

And remember also, it’s better to try and fail than never have tried at all. At least you won’t spend the rest of your life wondering what might have been.

Here are 25 interesting and inspirational quotes about success.

Inspirational Quotes About Success

Success is dependent on effort. ~Sophocles

Eighty per cent of success is showing up. ~Woody Allen

Action is the foundational key to all success. ~Pablo Picasso

Strive not to be a success, but rather to be of value. ~Albert Einstein

Success is the sum of small efforts, repeated day in and day out. ~Robert Collier

If everyone is moving forward together, then success takes care of itself. ~Henry Ford

Find something you’re passionate about and keep tremendously interested in it. ~Julia Child

All you need in this life is ignorance and confidence, and then success is sure. ~Mark Twain

Man needs his difficulties because they are necessary to enjoy success. ~APJ Abdul Kalam

Successful people maintain a positive focus in life no matter what is going on around them. They stay focused on their past successes rather than their past failures, and on the next action steps, they need to take to get them closer to the fulfilment of their goals rather than all the other distractions that life presents to them. ~Jack Canfield

At the end of the day, you are solely responsible for your success and your failure. And the sooner you realize that you accept that, and integrate that into your work ethic, you will start being successful. As long as you blame others for the reason you aren’t where you want to be, you will always be a failure. ~Erin Cummings

Would you like me to give you a formula for success? It’s quite simple, really: Double your rate of failure. You are thinking of failure as the enemy of success. But it isn’t at all. You can be discouraged by failure, or you can learn from it, so go ahead and make mistakes. Make all you can. Because remember, that’s where you will find success. ~Thomas J. Watson

Success consists of going from failure to failure without loss of enthusiasm. ~Winston Churchill

Success depends upon previous preparation, and without such preparation, there is sure to be failure. ~Confucius

Every successful individual knows that his or her achievement depends on a community of people working together. ~Paul Ryan

Always be yourself, express yourself, and have faith in yourself; do not go out and look for a successful personality and duplicate it. ~Bruce Lee

The difference between a successful person and others is not a lack of strength, not a lack of knowledge, but rather a lack of will. ~Vince Lombardi

Believe in yourself! Have faith in your abilities! Without humble but reasonable confidence in your own powers, you cannot be successful or happy. ~Norman Vincent Peale

The price of success is hard work, dedication to the job at hand, and the determination that whether we win or lose, we have applied the best of ourselves to the task at hand. ~Vince Lombardi

Success is to be measured not so much by the position that one has reached in life as by the obstacles which he has overcome. ~Booker T. Washington

Commitment is a big part of what I am and what I believe. How committed are you to winning? How committed are you to being a good friend? To being trustworthy? To being successful? How committed are you to being a good father, a good teammate, a good role model? There’s that moment every morning when you look in the mirror: Are you committed, or are you not? ~LeBron James

Success is a lousy teacher. It seduces smart people into thinking they can’t lose. ~Bill Gates

Success is how high you bounce when you hit bottom. ~George S. Patton

Don’t aim for success if you want it; just do what you love and believe in, and it will come naturally. ~David Frost

Most people give up just when they’re about to achieve success. They quit on the one-yard line. They give up at the last minute of the game one foot from a winning touchdown. ~Ross Perot

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15 powerful quotes by Khalil Gibran to make you think

03/12/2026 by

If you’re looking for quotes by Khalil Gibran, I have some excellent ones for you today.

However, if you are unfamiliar with Khalil Gibran, he was a Lebanese writer, poet, and visual artist.

As a young man, Gibran moved with his family to the United States, where he studied art and began his literary career.

In the Arab world, he is regarded as a literary and political rebel, but he is widely respected as a great thinker, and his work offers some interesting insights into life and its meaning.

So here are 15 quotes by Khalil Gibran guaranteed to make you think.

And if you prefer, there’s a video version of the quotes below.

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Quotes by Khalil Gibran:

  1. To belittle, you have to be little. ~Khalil Gibran
  2. We are all like the bright moon; we still have our darker side. ~Khalil Gibran
  3. The smallest act of kindness is worth more than the greatest intention. ~Khalil Gibran
  4. Friendship is always a sweet responsibility, never an opportunity. ~Khalil Gibran
  5. You may forget with whom you laughed but you will never forget with whom you wept. ~Khalil Gibran
  6. If you reveal your secrets to the wind, you should not blame the wind for revealing them to the trees. ~Khalil Gibran
  7. Out of suffering have emerged the strongest souls; the most massive characters are seared with scars. ~Khalil Gibran
  8. Ever has it been that love knows not its own depth until the hour of separation. ~Khalil Gibran
  9. It takes a minute to have a crush on someone, an hour to like someone, and a day to love someone, but it takes a lifetime to forget someone. ~Khalil Gibran
  10. Generosity is giving more than you can, and pride is taking less than you need. ~Khalil Gibran
  11. You give but little when you give of your possessions. It is when you give of yourself that you truly give. ~Khalil Gibran
  12. To understand the heart and mind of a person, look not at what he has already achieved, but at what he aspires to. ~Khalil Gibran
  13. They deem me mad because I will not sell my days for gold, and I deem them mad because they think my days have a price. ~Khalil Gibran
  14. You talk when you cease to be at peace with your thoughts. ~Khalil Gibran
  15. Trust in dreams, for in them is the hidden gate to eternity. ~Khalil Gibran
Phil Sutton

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How to get motivated and achieve big things

03/05/2026 by

How to get motivated and achieve big things is a common question I’m asked. Coming up with ideas is easy, but getting motivated can be much harder.

Do you have a problem getting motivated? You know what you’d like to do, but you just can’t seem to get going.

Many people feel this way, and, if I’m honest, I can be like that too. So whenever I struggle to get going, I like to watch a motivational video or listen to a motivational podcast or audiobook.

When I need a little push, I listen to people who inspire me. People like Jim Rohn, Tony Robbins, and Brian Tracy.

And here’s another inspiring speaker from TEDxVirginiaTech. In this video, Scott Geller talks about the psychology of self-motivation. I found this very useful, and I hope you will too. Certainly, it’s worth your time to listen to it.

How to get motivated

How to get motivated
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The advantages of work: Why you should take it seriously

03/01/2026 by

The advantages of work are many, but often people fail to appreciate the importance of their work. So my question to you today, dear reader, is, how do you regard your work?

Perhaps for you, work is just a source of income, but by no means your passion.

Maybe it’s something you must do simply because you desperately need an income, but it doesn’t leave you feeling energized and motivated to do the best job you possibly could do?

Perhaps mostly you’re just going through the motions, doing the minimum you can get away with each day and longing for the weekend and time off.

Maybe you’re the sort of person who prefers to spend your time in the office chatting and drinking coffee with your workmates.

Does any of this sound like you, dear reader, or possibly a slightly exaggerated version of you?

If that’s not you and your work is your passion, or at least you take it seriously, then this article is not really for you.

This article is for readers who feel less than energised by the work they’re currently doing and those who need a timely reminder that there are good reasons for taking work seriously.

The advantages of work:

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Work is your livelihood:

If you’re not pulling your weight in your current job, then you should know that it won’t have gone unnoticed. Just because your boss has yet to say anything doesn’t mean he or she hasn’t noticed.

And if you’re building a reputation for being a slacker, then it’s only a matter of time before the company will find a reason to get rid of you, if you’re not careful.

You must appreciate that a business cannot carry costs that add little or no value to that business. That is, it can’t if its aim is to survive, at least.

Commercial reality will very quickly kick any business in the butt should its management fail to keep tight control on costs.

Companies are not registered charities.

Any costs must be covered by the prices charged. If a business bears unnecessary costs for long then the result will be pricing that is simply uncompetitive. And if the business isn’t competitive, then it will lose out to the competition.

Think about that for a second. As a consumer, if Company A is selling a product at a lower price than Company B, where will you buy it? You’ll go for the best price every time. No customer loyalty will survive even a small saving in price. To believe otherwise would be naïve.

So if you’re not adding value, then potentially you’re at risk of losing your job.

Your work is your livelihood, so losing your job could actually hurt you. In fact, the best way to appreciate your job is to imagine your life without it.

Work provides you with a sense of purpose:

The very essence of what work is all about is simple. Work is just doing stuff for other people in return for money. It gives us an income, but it also gives us a sense of purpose.

Through work, we apply our skills and know-how to deliver an output or an outcome for someone else. That may be an individual or an organisation, but either way, we are paid for what we actually deliver.

Essentially, that’s the psychological contract we enter into when we agree to do work for someone else.

If we’re not delivering what we’re paid to deliver, then we’re not doing our job properly. We are not fulfilling the psychological contract that is work.

Taking pride in our work is important, too. Our sense of purpose should drive us to do the best we can with the skills we have, and we should be constantly seeking to improve.

If we don’t love what we do at any given time, then we should be looking for ways to change our mindset to take a more positive view.

If we view our work positively, then we’re more likely to be energised by it, and if we’re energised by it then we’re more likely to do it well.

Work is how we make a difference:

You must also recognise that there’s a big difference between being busy and delivering real results. Never confuse industry with effectiveness. The two are very different things.

If I’m paying you to paint houses, then the only measure I will use to judge you on is how well and how efficiently you paint houses. I don’t really care how helpful you might have been to the electrician or the refuse collector.

Being busy doesn’t count for anything unless you’re busy doing the right things. Doing the right things is how we make a real difference. And surely we’d all like to make a difference?

Other benefits:

Having a job actually provides us with many benefits.

For a start, the income it generates allows us to put a roof over our heads and food on our table.

Managed carefully, the money we earn will put clothes on our backs and allow us to heat our homes.

And of course, it provides so much more, too.

Having a job gives us status, and our own income gives us a degree of independence and freedom.

All these things together improve our self-esteem.

And of course, work gives us a reason to get you out of bed each day.

Work is how we contribute to the society around us. Not just in what we actually do, but also in the taxes we pay. That’s how we pull our weight and justify membership in the society in which we live.

However, let us not forget the camaraderie we enjoy with work colleagues. People are social animals, and we need the company of others.

Yes, some of them will drive us nuts at times, but mostly they’re good people just like us, with lives just like ours and with whom we can relate.

We share their laughs, and we share their tears, too, at times; the good times and the bad times; it all makes life worth living.

Work allows us to engage with other people, and that’s very important.

Your work can be your legacy too:

Work is what we do for other people, and what we’ve done for other people is how we’ll be remembered long after we’re gone. So potentially your work is your legacy.

On that basis, whatever you do, strive to do it well.

It might not seem much to you, but it will matter to other people.

Have a sense of pride in your work, whatever it is. It doesn’t matter whether you sweep roads or you’re a skilled heart surgeon; we all have our place in society, and we all have our contribution to make.

And whatever role you play, no one is better than anyone else.

Enjoy your work or keep looking:

It’s important you find a way to enjoy your work because you spend a third of each day doing it.

Sometimes it’s just a case of looking at your work differently in order to appreciate what you have. However, sometimes, even then, for whatever reason, you’ll feel unhappy.

If you can’t find a way to enjoy your work, then find another job. One more suited to your natural talent, perhaps. However, until you find the right thing, you must grit your teeth and do your current work to the best of your ability.

And never, ever just walk away from a job without having another one to go to.

It is ironic, perhaps, but it’s always much easier to find another job when you already have one.

Without a job, a potential employer might wonder whether you’re unlucky or just a loser. And usually, employers will be reluctant to take a chance on you if they’re unsure.

Conclusion:

The importance of work to our lives and our self-esteem should not be underestimated. So do the work you’re paid to do and do it well. Do that, and success can be yours.

Don’t do your job properly, and you’ll struggle to hold on to it for very long. Lose it, and almost certainly you’ll regret it.

That’s the nature of work, it always has been, and it always will be.

Phil Sutton

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9 truly inspirational quotes worthy of a moment’s reflection

02/25/2026 by

If something to inspire you is what you’re seeking today, then I have nine truly inspirational quotes just for you.

Four of them may be from the same author, but they’re all worthy of reflection. I found them inspirational, and I hope you do too.

Enjoy them all, and then please pass them on to your friends and colleagues.

9 Truly Inspirational Quotes
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Truly Inspirational Quotes:

  1. Time is a created thing. To say ‘I don’t have time’ is like saying, ‘I don’t want to.’ ~Lao-Tzu.
  2. Time is not something you FIND or MAKE. The clock and the calendar move on at their own pace, with or without you. Your choice is how you use it. ~Michael Josephson
  3. Sometimes life doesn’t turn out how you had expected or hoped. That doesn’t mean you can’t or won’t be happy. If you don’t limit yourself to your first version of your life there is always a bright future ahead. If you believe that the best is yet to come you will be right. ~Michael Josephson
  4. Doing what you like is FUN. Doing what you love is HAPPINESS. Doing what you want is FREEDOM. Doing what you say is INTEGRITY. Doing what you can is SERVICE. Doing what you must is DUTY. Doing what you should is CHARACTER. ~Michael Josephson
  5. It is not enough to exist, you must LIVE. It is not enough to survive, you must THRIVE. It is not enough to care, you must COMMIT. It is not enough to seek success, you must seek SIGNIFICANCE. It is not enough to live long, you must LIVE WELL. ~Michael Josephson
  6. Life is what you make it. You can be more than you are, but it won’t happen by accident. You need a “why,” and with a “why,” you’ll be able to bear any “how.” ~Lucius B. Wack
  7. Live every day as if it’s your last, because one day it will be. ~Anonymous
  8. Enjoy the life you have and make the most of every moment, because you’ll be dead for a long time. ~Anonymous
  9. Everyone has something to offer. If you can solve problems for other people, you’ll always earn a living. ~Joseph Crosby
Phil Sutton

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45 Quotes by Napoleon Hill to inspire you to personal success

02/24/2026 by

Although in modern times he’s become a more controversial figure, today I want to explore some quotes by Napoleon Hill. Regardless of any controversy, he’s a man whose written work I admire.

Oliver Napoleon Hill, to give him his full name, was an American self-help author. He is probably best known for his book Think and Grow Rich, which is among the 10 best-selling self-help books of all time and remains essential reading to this day, in my opinion.

Essentially, Napoleon Hill’s written work insists that impassioned expectations are essential to improving one’s life. That is, they suggest the need for a burning desire to improve one’s lot in life. Most of his books expound on these underlying principles for achieving success.

So let’s take a look at some of his many quotes. I found them inspiring, so I hope you will too.

Enjoy them all, and feel free to share them with your friends.

Quotes by Napoleon Hill
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Quotes by Napoleon Hill (1-20):

  1. You give before you get.
  2. A goal is a dream with a deadline.
  3. Don’t wait. The time will never be just right.
  4. Money without brains is always dangerous.
  5. Fears are nothing more than a state of mind.
  6. Ideas are the beginning points of all fortunes.
  7. The starting point of all achievement is desire.
  8. There is no such thing as something for nothing.
  9. Happiness is found in doing, not merely possessing.
  10. Your big opportunity may be right where you are now.
  11. If you do not conquer self, you will be conquered by self.
  12. If you cannot do great things, do small things in a great way.
  13. What the mind of man can conceive and believe, it can achieve.
  14. Effort only fully releases its reward after a person refuses to quit.
  15. Everyone enjoys doing the kind of work for which he is best suited.
  16. No man can succeed in a line of endeavour that he does not like.
  17. There are no limitations to the mind except those we acknowledge.
  18. All achievements, all earned riches, have their beginning in an idea.
  19. It takes half your life before you discover life is a do-it-yourself project.
  20. Strength and growth come only through continuous effort and struggle.

Quotes by Napoleon Hill (21-30):

  1. Big pay and little responsibility are circumstances seldom found together.
  2. You might well remember that nothing can bring you success but yourself.
  3. Education comes from within; you get it by struggle and effort and thought.
  4. Opportunity often comes disguised in the form of misfortune, or temporary defeat.
  5. The man who does more than he is paid for will soon be paid for more than he does.
  6. Patience, persistence and perspiration make an unbeatable combination for success.
  7. It is literally true that you can succeed best and quickest by helping others to succeed.
  8. More gold has been mined from the thoughts of men than has been taken from the earth.
  9. You don’t have to fear defeat if you believe it may reveal powers that you didn’t know you possessed.
  10. Edison failed 10,000 times before he made the electric light. Do not be discouraged if you fail a few times.

Quotes by Napoleon Hill (31-40):

  1. The world has the habit of making room for the man whose actions show that he knows where he is going.
  2. Wise men, when in doubt about whether to speak or to keep quiet, give themselves the benefit of the doubt, and remain silent.
  3. Nature cannot be tricked or cheated. She will give up to you the object of your struggles only after you have paid her price.
  4. Create a definite plan for carrying out your desire and begin at once, whether you’re ready or not, to put this plan into action.
  5. Until you have learned to be tolerant of those who do not always agree with you, you will be neither successful nor happy.
  6. Desire is the starting point of all achievement, not a hope, not a wish, but a keen pulsating desire which transcends everything.
  7. Reduce your plan to writing. The moment you complete this, you will have definitely given concrete form to the intangible desire.
  8. Until you have formed the habit of looking for the good instead of the bad there is in others, you will be neither successful nor happy.
  9. The battle is all over except for the ‘shouting’ when one knows what is wanted and has made up his mind to get it, whatever the price may be.
  10. Think twice before you speak, because your words and influence will plant the seed of either success or failure in the mind of another.

Quotes by Napoleon Hill (41-45):

  1. Until you have cultivated the habit of saying some kind word of those whom you do not admire, you will be neither successful nor happy.
  2. There is one quality which one must possess to win, and that is definiteness of purpose, the knowledge of what one wants, and a burning desire to possess it.
  3. You can start right where you stand and apply the habit of going the extra mile by rendering more service and better service than you are now being paid for.
  4. Success in its highest and noblest form calls for peace of mind and enjoyment and happiness which come only to the man who has found the work that he likes best.
  5. It has always been my belief that a man should do his best, regardless of how much he receives for his services, the number of people he may be serving or the class of people served.
Phil Sutton

Think and Grow Rich:

Napoleon Hill’s book Think and Grow Rich reveals the money-making secrets of hundreds of America’s most affluent people.

The underlying message in the book is that by thinking like them, you can become wealthy like them, and the book offers a 13-step program that will set you on the path to wealth and success.

According to Hill, the magic formula for making money never changes, and he has certainly inspired many people to pursue personal wealth successfully.

If you aim to become successful and wealthy, then I recommend you read Think and Grow Rich.

It’s still available, and you can check it out on Amazon.

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15 Quotes by Albert Einstein to inspire you

02/22/2026 by

Today, I am exploring quotes by Albert Einstein.

Albert Einstein was a German-born theoretical physicist, probably best known for the theory of relativity, amongst other things.

Certainly, his work had a major influence on the philosophy of science.

However, he was also widely respected as a great thinker, and many of the quotes attributed to him offer much for developing our personal philosophy.

Here are 15 quotes by Albert Einstein to prove the point:

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Quotes by Albert Einstein:

  1. Any man who can drive safely while kissing a pretty girl is simply not giving the kiss the attention it deserves. ~Albert Einstein
  2. Everyone should be respected as an individual, but no one should be idolized. ~Albert Einstein
  3. Strive not to be a success but rather to be of value. ~Albert Einstein
  4. Information is not knowledge. ~Albert Einstein
  5. The only source of knowledge is experience. ~Albert Einstein
  6. If you can’t explain it simply, you don’t understand it well enough. ~Albert Einstein
  7. Weakness of attitude becomes weakness of character. ~Albert Einstein
  8. Learn from yesterday, live for today, and hope for tomorrow. The important thing is not to stop questioning. ~Albert Einstein
  9. Great spirits have always encountered violent opposition from mediocre minds. ~Albert Einstein
  10. It is a miracle that curiosity survives formal education. ~Albert Einstein
  11. The world is a dangerous place to live, not because of the people who are evil, but because of the people who don’t do anything about it. ~Albert Einstein
  12. Only two things are infinite: the universe and human stupidity, and I’m not sure about the former. ~Albert Einstein
  13. It’s not that I’m so smart; it’s just that I stay with problems longer. ~Albert Einstein
  14. You ask me if I keep a notebook to record my great ideas. I’ve only ever had one. ~Albert Einstein
  15. Sometimes one pays most for the things one gets for nothing. ~Albert Einstein

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Thank you for being so supportive.

Phil Sutton

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100 Russian Proverbs – Life, love and making the most of what you have

02/21/2026 by
100 Russian Proverbs

In today’s post, I am exploring Russian proverbs. I think there’s much to be said for Russian culture. So I’m exploring ideas about life, love, and making the most of what you have.

Russian culture is rich in proverbs, and many are short, sharp, and deeply philosophical.

So, here are 100 authentic Russian proverbs to inspire you. Each one in English translation (not overly literal, but culturally faithful, I hope).

For any Russian readers, I hope I have been culturally faithful on this occasion.

Life and Wisdom (1–40)

  1. To live a life is not like crossing an open field.
  2. You can’t pull even a fish out of a pond without effort.
  3. You reap what you sow.
  4. Live for a century, learn for a century.
  5. Patience and hard work overcome everything.
  6. Not everything that glitters is gold.
  7. Man plans, but God decides.
  8. A bird in the hand is better than a crane in the sky.
  9. Measure seven times, cut once.
  10. Better to have a hundred friends than a hundred rubles.
  11. Visiting is nice, but home is better.
  12. Where you were born is where you’re useful.
  13. Don’t enter the water without knowing the depth.
  14. Speech is silver; silence is gold.
  15. People learn from mistakes.
  16. There’s a time for work and a time for play.
  17. Live simply, and you’ll live longer.
  18. Misfortune can bring happiness.
  19. Everything has its season.
  20. Trouble never comes alone.
  21. Happiness loves silence.
  22. The eyes fear it, but the hands do it.
  23. Those who don’t risk don’t drink champagne.
  24. Morning is wiser than evening.
  25. Live while life lets you.
  26. Neither fish nor meat.
  27. Everything is good in moderation.
  28. Fools don’t follow rules.
  29. It’s not always a holiday.
  30. Better late than never.
  31. Life is a kopeck, fate is a ruble.
  32. Your own burden doesn’t feel heavy.
  33. Those who dwell on the past lose an eye.
  34. It breaks where it’s weakest.
  35. We live only once.
  36. Another person’s soul is darkness.
  37. Not everything at once.
  38. If you want to live, learn to adapt.
  39. To each their own.
  40. Without the past, there is no future.
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Love, Relationships and the Heart (41–70)

  1. Love is blind — you may love even a goat.
  2. With your beloved, even a hut feels like paradise.
  3. You can’t command the heart.
  4. Love isn’t a potato — you can’t throw it out the window.
  5. Where there is love, there is God.
  6. Out of sight, out of heart.
  7. Jealousy is love’s sister.
  8. Love and good counsel mean no sorrow.
  9. One heart sends messages to another.
  10. Love knows no obstacles.
  11. Love endures everything.
  12. He beats you because he loves you. (WARNING: historical saying, not endorsed today)
  13. Love isn’t just sighs on a bench.
  14. Marriage isn’t something you slip on lightly.
  15. Husband and wife are one devil.
  16. An old friend is better than two new ones.
  17. Love comes and goes, but hunger stays.
  18. Love is a delicate matter.
  19. Happiness isn’t in wealth, but in love.
  20. Without love, life isn’t sweet.
  21. Love till the grave — two fools. (ironic)
  22. Love isn’t for something, but despite everything.
  23. Where there is no love, there is no joy.
  24. Love is work.
  25. For the lover, even the sea is knee-deep.
  26. Love begins with the eyes.
  27. The heart knows the truth.
  28. You can’t buy love.
  29. With your beloved, even to the edge of the world.
  30. Without love, a person is an orphan.
Phil Sutton

Making the Most of What You Have (71–100)

  1. We don’t value what we have until it’s gone.
  2. Small, but precious.
  3. Bread and water are a hero’s food.
  4. Stretch your legs according to your clothes.
  5. Better little, but your own.
  6. Your own shirt is closer to your body.
  7. Poverty is not a sin.
  8. A kopeck saves the ruble.
  9. We’re happy with what we have.
  10. Even that deserves thanks.
  11. Money doesn’t bring happiness.
  12. Poverty makes people inventive.
  13. The grass is greener where we aren’t.
  14. Be content with little.
  15. Your own hut is your own corner.
  16. When there’s no fish, even a crayfish counts.
  17. A thread from everyone clothes the naked.
  18. Guard your honour from youth.
  19. No need for excess.
  20. Better quietly and fed.
  21. He who’s content with little is rich.
  22. We live on what God gives.
  23. You can’t hold happiness with your hands.
  24. Chase big things, lose small ones.
  25. The slower you go, the farther you’ll get.
  26. Live within your means.
  27. Even small good is good.
  28. Joy isn’t in luxury.
  29. Happiness is in simplicity.
  30. The rich aren’t those who have much, but those who have enough.
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Please share these quotes with your friends:

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When you share, everyone wins.

Please share this post now. If you do, I’ll be ever so grateful. You’ll be helping a keen blogger reach a wider audience.

Thank you.

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