Ask HN: Your words of wisdom to live by?

[bherms]

I'm the CTO for a non-profit that mentors kids in high school to help them discover their passions early in life. When I talk to the kids I mentor and give advice to, I always try my best to impart my most important words of wisdom to them. Throughout my own life, several people have passed on principles, words to live by, and advice that has helped shape who I am today.

I sat down tonight and started writing out different things that I use to guide myself through life. I thought it would be a good idea to keep a list that I can pass on to kids and, someday, my own children.

While I was writing this stuff down, I thought getting input from the HN community could be a very valuable exercise. With so many intelligent, successful, and thoughtful people, I think we could really build an awesome list.

So, please contribute your words of wisdom, principles to live by, or anecdotes that have guided you in life. I'll start with a few of the most important to me in the comments. After a week or so, I'll compile these into a webpage and get it online. Thanks!

[cperciva]

Learning is like money: You might not know exactly when you're going to use it, but sooner or later you'll be glad that you acquired it.

[bartonfink → cperciva]

And just like money, it can't buy happiness but it does buy options.

[highlander]

1. The answer to "What do you do?" is "Whatever it takes". 2. What do you want to achieve? Figure out the gap between where you are now and achieving it. Figure out the first step, however small you can take that'll bring you closer. Take it. 3. Look after your body and your health. This may sound boring but this can make _such_ a massive difference to your life. Eat well and get fit. Do weights and cardio if you can. Your health, your confidence and your prospects in general will be greatly improved. 4. Drive hard towards your goals but live a balanced life. Enjoy your friends and your family and keep learning broadly throughout your life. 5. Old cliche but important - treat others as you would wish to be treated.

[komlenic]

Under-promise and over-deliver.

Never attribute to malice, that which can be attributed to ________.

Your true friends are those who care how your life turns out.

Genuinely asking someone "How does that make you feel?" or "How do you feel about X?" will make you instantly likable, diffuse almost any tension, defensiveness, or aggression, and is always appropriate when you don't know what to say.

[bherms]

1) Try to improve yourself in some way every single day. Even if it's the smallest thing, making a conscious effort to be a better person in some way will put you far ahead of most people.

2) Make a strong effort to always leave things better than you found them. A fraternity advisor issued a challenge to me my freshman year. He challenged me to be able to look myself in a mirror at the end of my college career and be able to say that the organization is better for my having been there. I now challenge myself to this with all that I touch.

3) When being criticized, keep your calm and listen. If you result to defensiveness, you'll miss the point. Listen, reflect, and then form your opinions. Criticism is generally not meant as an attack, but comes from people trying to help you.

4) It's better to fail chasing your dreams than to succeed in not.

[cheae]

1. Have a clear vision about what do you want out of your life? 2. Don't worry too much if you yet to find how to get there. Be in constant search for the "How" 3. Never ever compare yourself with other people. Set your own standards and live accordingly.

[bherms]

Just recalled the famous Calvin Coolidge quote:

"Nothing in the world can take the place of Persistence. Talent will not; nothing is more common than unsuccessful men with talent. Genius will not; unrewarded genius is almost a proverb. Education will not; the world is full of educated derelicts. Persistence and determination alone are omnipotent. The slogan 'Press On' has solved and always will solve the problems of the human race."

[derrida]

There are three "good" things in the world, Truth, Beauty and Kindness and all good things are done in the interests of these three things.

Another idea that has helped me is: You can only do what you want, not want what you want.

[solipsist]

Be happy - that's the ultimate goal in life. The way you find it is up to you.

[mikecane]

Find out what you really like to do. Then find a way to make money from it.

[bobf]

"Hope is not a strategy." - ? Also, "The definition of insanity is doing the same thing over and over and expecting different results." - Benjamin Franklin

[shadowpwner → bobf]

Could have sworn the last one was attributed to Einstein, but I'm being pedantic.

[bobf → shadowpwner]

See http://en.wikiquote.org/wiki/Benjamin_Franklin :

"The definition of insanity is doing the same thing over and over and expecting different results. - Misattributed to various people, including Albert Einstein and Mark Twain. The earliest known occurrence, and probable origin is Rita Mae Brown, Sudden Death (Bantam Books, New York, 1983), p. 68."

[proexploit]

Expect that your relationship will change and be prepared to change with it. Expect to forgive the past and expect to discover the future.

[haasted]

Determine never to be idle. -- Thomas Jefferson

[iworkforthem]

- Never give up on your dreams. EVER!

- Do one thing a day.(Everyday)

- Happiness != Wealth. Love != Wealth. Love = Happiness.

[DarrenLehane]

"It always seems impossible until it's done"

and

"Luck is what you make it"

[Tonysr]

you only get what the other person is willing to give in life.

[DanielBMarkham]

The culture will tell you to focus inward, and to wait for some great event to happen. You'll win the lottery, you'll be discovered on a TV show, or you'll meet the right person. The culture will tell you it's all chance and you have to put yourself first.

But, counter-intuitively, to be happy and successful you have to focus outward on something bigger than yourself, and completely forget about random good things happening or imagining what might happen if they do. Find something to pour yourself into and make yourself useful. Today. The more you focus on yourself and luck the more you are missing the entire point of living. Don't be a spectator in your own life.