Pearls of Wisdom, Part II

There are many pieces of wisdom used on the internet in signature blocks. While many people use their signature block as his or her own private advertising space to direct someone to a website, a blog, or advertise whatever they may be promoting, it is not unusual for a favorite quote to be included. Some relay sage advice, some deep philosophical revelations, some are used to share a smile through humor. Some interesting ones I have come across recently include:

"They say a picture is worth a thousand words. But let me tell you, a story is worth a million pictures."

~Randall Ingermanson

This is a wonderful observation. Stories play out in our heads, like our own private showing of a movie, not filled with the special effects of Hollywood, but of marvelous descriptive passages that allow us to create the scene and see the details of the story.

If you think you can, or if you think you can't, you're right.

~Henry Ford

Here is another insightful observation for your consideration. Have you ever heard of the theory of self-fulfilling prophecy? Does this quote not cut the reader to the quick ~ if you think you can you are inspired to try and continue trying until you accomplish what you set out to do. On the other hand, if you tell yourself you cannot accomplish the task at hand ~ if you lack the self-confidence to achieve your goal, you often tend to (unconsciously) hold yourself back assuring that you do, in fact, fail to accomplish the task at hand.

What lies behind us and what lies before us
Are small matters compared to what lies within us.
~Ralph Waldo Emerson

and a comparable

It is our choices, Harry, that show what we truly are, far more than our abilities.

~Dumbledore

Even in literature such as Harry Potter, we receive sage advice.

And, along the lines of fantasy comes one of my favorite quotations I have seen in a signature block, an excellent example of imagination and humor.

Meddle ye not in the affairs of dragons, for thou art crunchy and good with ketchup.

The final quotation I will leave you with is particularly applicable to those to whom the Muse whispers,

"The first chapter sells the book. The last chapter sells the next book."

~Mickey Spillane

May your Muse always whisper in your ear, encouraging you. Just a thought…

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Pearls of Wisdom, Part I

Have you ever taken the time to notice the little pearls of wisdom our friends and colleagues impart with their emails? I am talking about the little blurbs they put in their signatures. Sure, some redirect you to their website or blog or MySpace page, but some also add some great quotations, sage advice, if you will.

I have been paying particular attention to these over the past several days and would like to share with you some of my favorites.

“Try not. Do or do not. There is no try.”
~Yoda

Here is some sage advice from the vertically challenged Jedi master himself. He tells you, don’t just say you are going to try, just do it. (Who knew Nike was such a big Star Wars fan?! Or perhaps the wise master simply turned in his light saber for a really sweeeeet promotions gig with Nike!)

To writers everywhere Mark Twain leaves his advice:
"The difference between the almost right word & the right word is really a
large matter--it's the difference between the lightning bug and the lightning."
~Mark Twain


Least we not forget the late master of wit, the great Groucho Marx who said:
"Outside of a dog, a book is man's best friend;
inside of a dog, it's too dark to read."
~Groucho

Seriously, think about it!

I have been having great fun with these little gems, I hope you do too! I'll be back tomorrow with some more examples. Think about what sage advice would YOU like to impart to the world. Just a thought....