Ranulph Fiennes on Ageing

“You realise that if you’d reached the ripe old age of, shall we say, over 50 without some dreadful sickness or disease or accident or something like that, and you’ve never wanted for food other than through your own fault, and you’ve never suffered from war other than your own fault, you’re incredibly lucky and therefore you shouldn’t allow negative thoughts [about ageing].”

~ Ranulph Fiennes

Epictetus on Strengths

“The possession of a particular talent is instinctively sensed by its owner”

Epictetus

Winston Churchill on Work

“Continuous effort — not strength or intelligence — is the key to unlocking our potential.”

~ Winston Churchill

A Few Scots Proverbs

Better alane than in ill company.

Better rue sit than rue flit.

Cut your coat according to your claith.

Daylight will peep through a sma hole.

Enough’s as good as a feast.

Fore-warned, half armed.

He’ll soon be a beggar that canna say nae.

He that does you an ill turn will ne’er forgie you.

He that lives upon hope has a slim diet.

He that looks to frets, frets follow him.

He that wad eat the kernel maun crack the nut.

His heart is in his hose.

Law-makers should na be law-breakers.

Laugh at leisure, ye may greet e’er night.

Learn you tae an use and ye’ll ca’t custom.

Little ken’d the less cared for.

Make the best of an ill bargain.

Malice is mindfou.

Never quat certainty for hope.

Oppression will make a wise man mad.

Set a knave to grip a knave.

She‘s better than she‘s bonny.

The higher up the greater fa‘.

The mair noble the mair humble.

The mair mischief the better sport.

The poor man’s ay put to the warst.

 

Epictetus on Desires

“To (children) who put their hand into a narrow necked earthen vessel and bring out figs and nuts, this happens; if they fill the hand, they cannot take it out, and then they cry. Drop a few of them and you will draw things out. And do you part with your desires: do not desire many things and you will have what you want. ”

Epictetus, Discourses