Sayings

As I work my way through school there are a few sayings that I remember to keep me going for various reasons. This is one my mother clipped for me years ago that I have not forgotten.

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.

- Calvin Coolidge

Another message about persistence I liked was from a book my brother recommended, Outliers. In the book they studied student performance and found students who do the best in school are those who spend the most time studying/working on their coursework. What a surprise!

The next message is one I remembered and looked up the other day as I observed several people working toward an almost identical goal each claiming it was their idea (important in academics), a situation I have encountered myself. Just when I think I have come with something innovative or new I find that it has already been done.

Ecclesiastes 1:9-14

9 The thing that hath been, it is that which shall be; and that which is done is that which shall be done: and there is no ^anew thing under the sun.

10 Is there any thing whereof it may be said, See, this is new? it hath been already of old time, which was before us.

11 There is no ^aremembrance of former things; neither shall there be any remembrance of things that are to come with those that shall come after.

12 ¶ I the Preacher was king over Israel in Jerusalem.

13 And I gave my heart to seek and search out by ^awisdom concerning all things that are done under heaven: this ^bsore travail hath God given to the sons of man to be exercised therewith.

14 I have seen all the works that are done under the sun; and, behold, all is ^avanity and ^bvexation of spirit.

And finally, I find it amusing when people criticize the work of others because it does not match up to their imagination. To these people I say:

Ecclesiastes 9:4

...a living dog is better than a dead lion.

Uuuuhh, kind of works...