Monday, May 10, 2010

Whenever I do nothing I feel I've accomplished a lot.

What variety is to life, contradiction is to the mind.

The flea that doubts doesn't jump nearly as high.

Water flows because it's willing.

Looking in the mirror is seeing what other people see.

If it's work you're trying too hard.

To hate everything is to be wounded by everything.

The old philosophers knew so little; that's why they were so wise.

The air lets the arrow pass right through.

In the wind, more leaves tremble than any theory can account for.

If the light's not in you, you're in the dark.

Someone told me the world is round, but I'm checking it out for myself.

95 comments:

  1. Hey, it is lovely to see some new ones and I especially like the top one. I suspect it is because it got me at just the right time. I have been messing about today doing nothing but thinking ...so perhaps instead I have really accomplished a lot! LOL Good to see you ~ ChrissyX

    ReplyDelete
  2. I think this might be my favorite batch. They really resonate with me.

    "Someone told me the world was round but I'm checking it out for myself." Love it. Exploration is a must.

    "Water flows because it's willing." Yes, we have to be open to possibilities.

    "The flea that doubts doesn't jump very high." And has a boring existence.

    "The air lets the arrow pass right through." I interpret this as being able to compromise and give a little. And that's a great goal to work on!

    ReplyDelete
  3. Looking in the mirror is seeing what other people see.
    If it's work you're trying too hard. - nothing profound

    Life is not that easy to be ourself..even to be someone else we admired required a great afford. But i rather choose to be myself even it looks broken. At least i don't have to work that hard..? haha

    ReplyDelete
  4. My college teachers used to say we must check things for ourselves instead of believe everything we're told. The last one in the list totally reminded me of that. =)

    My favorite, though, is this: To hate everything is to be wounded by everything. Loving this is so much easier and brings so many benefits, isn't?

    Always a pleasure to come and read you, Marty. You're amazing.

    Take care and keep smiling. Kiss your cheeks! ♥

    ReplyDelete
  5. My favorite one:"The flea that doubts..." Like "No risk, no gain" Or "If you don't shoot, you don't score'.
    They all resonate with me.

    ReplyDelete
  6. "Whenever I do nothing I feel I've accomplished a lot." Hmmm, seems I have accomplished bunches.

    "What variety is to life, contradiction is to the mind." So, contradiction is the spice of the mind?

    These are always so much fun, NP. They always make me think...it's hard to get me to think sometimes!

    ReplyDelete
  7. Marty, you're on a roll. No moss for you, my friend.

    ReplyDelete
  8. These are incredible.

    These two are some of my favourities yet:

    "The flea that doubts doesn't jump very high." - This is absolutely true. You need to have faith in yourself and in the surrounding environment if you want to succeed.

    "Someone told me the world was round but I'm checking it out for myself." Incredible! Not only should you explore but you shouldn't believe everything people tell you.

    Thanks for posting these. They always make my day a little brighter.

    ReplyDelete
  9. "To hate everything is to be wounded by everything." -nothingprofound

    How sad to live life this way, but I've met a few that do.

    Thank for these. Refreshing as always. :-)

    ReplyDelete
  10. Marty, how do you come up with these? What's your process? Just curious.

    Very insightful, once again!

    ReplyDelete
  11. Nice batch...

    In the wind, more leaves tremble than any theory can account for...

    One of the greatest secrets of so-called spiritual alchemy is the ability to place intent -- and then let go and do nothing. ~Richard Bartlett

    ReplyDelete
  12. I am happy to see you posting more often as I truly look forward to reading your aphorisms. They always give me plenty to think about and leave me smiling.

    Have you seen www.RunDramaRun.blogspot.com ? Positive thinkers are being recruited to add blog posts there. Go here to sign up, I did. http://rundramarun.blogspot.com/2010/05/100-positive-bloggers-wanted.html

    Please consider posting some of your aphorisms there. Your words would add so much.

    ReplyDelete
  13. another set of great aphorisms! keep up the good work! :)

    ReplyDelete
  14. Hi NP, I've just picked my favorite for a status update: "Someone told me the world is round, but I'm checking it out for myself" -nothing profound
    Great aphorisms!

    ReplyDelete
  15. "If the light's not in you...", and the one about the flea have done me good. It's been great to stop by and read your aphorisms again.

    ReplyDelete
  16. "Someone told me the world is round, but I'm checking it out for myself."

    "The flea that doubts doesn't jump nearly as high.

    "Water flows because it's willing."

    I've recently challenged myself to visit three countries that I've never been to before I turn 30, so these three really resonate with me. Always a pleasure. :)

    ReplyDelete
  17. NP, How nice to see that you have upgraded "Out Of Context: pieces of a life" according to its monthly schedule.

    So,here are your quotes which I feel are also the voice of my heart:

    "Looking in the mirror is seeing what other people see."

    "To hate everything is to be wounded by everything."

    "The old philosophers knew so little; that's why they were so wise."


    The following is really amazing, I loved it so so much.

    "Someone told me the world is round, but I'm checking it out for myself."

    It has lesson for those who take every news on media as the word of God.

    Thank you so much for these reminders.

    Wish you all the best.

    ReplyDelete
  18. "The air lets the arrow pass right through."
    . . . is my favourite of this batch. :-)

    ReplyDelete
  19. It's exhilirating to read these aphorisms that are startling, but un-flashy, heartfelt and straight forward. I have the sense that you disappear and the words appear.

    Some of my favorites are-
    "Water flows because it's willing."

    "To hate everything is to be wounded by everything."

    "The air lets the arrow pass right through."

    I love these bare-bones sutras, which are like a cross between a poem and a koan. Thank you!

    ReplyDelete
  20. You are a profound thinker in every way. We need more insight into life and how to continue to keep things in perspective. Thank you so much for your great works.

    ReplyDelete
  21. Marty,
    As always..simply profound. I saw Henry Ford in the aphorism-The flea that doubts doesn't jump nearly as high.
    Reminds me of his quote:
    Whether you believe you can do a thing or not, you are right.
    Well done Marty, cheers!

    ReplyDelete
  22. It's always refreshing to visit this still-point you create, np. Thanks for inviting me here.

    ReplyDelete
  23. We were just talking about that last night (“The old philosophers knew so little; that's why they were so wise”) with regards to people who think they know everything. It is very hard to fill a cup which is already full.

    The last point is crucial. Always validate theories for yourself.

    ReplyDelete
  24. I mean, we weren't talking about it in relation to philosophers - just the fact that someone who thinks they know everything can't be taught anything new!

    ReplyDelete
  25. Another treasure of wisdom:
    ..Whenever I do nothing I feel I've accomplished a lot.
    What variety is to life, contradiction is to the mind....
    Water flows because it's willing.
    To hate everything is to be wounded by everything...
    In the wind, more leaves tremble than any theory can account for...
    If the light's not in you, you're in the dark...
    Thanks Marty for sharing.
    God bless.

    ReplyDelete
  26. Beautiful wisdom, NP.

    This is probably my favorite batch so far...where shall I start?

    "Whenever I do nothing I feel I've accomplished a lot." = "By attrition he reaches a state of inaction
    Wherein he does nothing, but nothing remains undone." ~ Lao Tzu

    "The flea that doubts doesn't jump nearly as high." = The mind can be a debilitating thing, so emancipate it to achieve the impossible.

    "Water flows because it's willing." = “Empty your mind, be formless… shapeless, like water. If you put water into a cup, it becomes the cup. You put water into a bottle; it becomes the bottle. You put it into a teapot; it becomes the teapot. Water can flow, or it can crash. Be water, my friend…” ~ Bruce Lee

    "The old philosophers knew so little; that's why they were so wise." = Socrates

    "If the light's not in you, you're in the dark." = To dispel the darkness of ignorance, "Be a light unto oneself" ~ Jiddu Krishnamurti

    "Someone told me the world is round, but I'm checking it out for myself." = Don't trust the educational system. Educate yourself with truth.

    ReplyDelete
  27. Once again, NP, very nice set!

    The philosopher aphorism reminds of one "Avatar" wrote: "All I know is I know nothing, and I'm not even sure of that" ;)

    ReplyDelete
  28. Great blog. You do get up early in the morning I noticed!!

    ReplyDelete
  29. GooD Relationship iS LikE a TREE
    iT DemanDs AttenTion & CaRe
    iN ThE Beginning,
    BuT oNce iT BLoSsomS,
    iT PRovides Shade & PRotectioN iN aLL SituaTions of Life

    ReplyDelete
  30. inspiring as ever - sometimes we try so hard when we just need to go with the flow!

    ReplyDelete
  31. thanks dear friend x your visit.I love to come here and read your beatifull articles,""If the light's not in you, you're in the dark." I love this part,its absolutely true,and is so easy to see or to understand....
    I´m coming soon,take care,God bless you!

    ReplyDelete
  32. I think that I am probably more of a nihilist than you, Marty. This ancient Zen notion of accomplishing something by doing nothing goes against our society's grain, but it is one of the most rewarding things you can do. I am fortunate enough at this point in my life to understand and practice doing nothing at all and I can vouch for the personal satisfaction it brings. The others in this post are good mind fodder if people would only chew on them for a while.

    ReplyDelete
  33. i just love these posts. i think that mirrors themselves are distorted! or is it the mind that distorts? ;)

    ReplyDelete
  34. This one's hard to pick out a favorite this time because they're all so interesting!

    I suppose the one that speaks out to me the most right now is the one about contradiction and the mind. I feel like that right now...

    All the arrow aphorism has a lot of fun angles, I have to admit...

    ReplyDelete
  35. Love them all, can't pick just one without thinking that the other is better. They're simply the best! Thanks for this new set, NP! They spice my days until the next post.

    ReplyDelete
  36. Another wonderful batch, NP. It seems that you must have a renewed fire yourself lately. You are banging out aphorisms like no one's business! :-)

    Nice job again!

    ReplyDelete
  37. love it! especially the last one!

    ReplyDelete
  38. Hi NP, these are just perfect as usual!
    Your work is so inspiring for me! You are one of my favorite writer.
    I just wish I had a real ( paper book), because I am old school, and love to have books that I can put in my bag, etc..
    My favorite this time are:
    "The flea that doubts doesn't jump nearly as high."
    "In the wind, more leaves tremble than any theory can account for."
    "If the light's not in you, you're in the dark."
    "Someone told me the world is round, but I'm checking it out for myself"
    "To hate everything is to be wounded by everything."
    "The old philosophers knew so little; that's why they were so wise."
    "Water flows because it's willing."

    I think I should have copy the whole post :)))

    ReplyDelete
  39. To hate everything is to be wounded by everything.

    :)

    ReplyDelete
  40. The flea that doubts doesn't jump nearly as high.

    Water flows because it's willing.


    Thank you for this NP, it's very true!

    ReplyDelete
  41. NP you are a Zen Blog rockstar!

    ReplyDelete
  42. The flea that doubts...sometimes has little self-confidence.

    ReplyDelete
  43. "The flea that doubts doesn't jump nearly as high." I need to share this with my artist friends. They tend to be overly self-critical & questioning.

    ReplyDelete
  44. The old philosophers knew so little; that's why they were so wise.

    Nothing i know about anything, so I should be very wise. But I'm afraid that it's not true.

    Greetings!
    Haver

    Greetings!
    Haver

    ReplyDelete
  45. The old philosophers knew so little; that's why they were so wise.

    this one give me a 'hmmmmmm' moment.Wow, something to think about.

    ReplyDelete
  46. "The flea that doubts doesn't jump nearly as high."

    But it can make a dog its biatch or play bass in a band called Red Hot Chili Peppers. ;-)

    ReplyDelete
  47. I really love the line that says "The old philosophers knew so little; that's why they were so wise." That one is going to stay with me for a long time.

    ReplyDelete
  48. To hate everything is to be wounded by everything. ==> very very true ! thankfully I am body and brain armoured :)

    ReplyDelete
  49. "To hate everything is to be wounded by everything."
    i loved that! so true.

    ReplyDelete
  50. ...and often when I do a lot I feel like I've done nothing.

    The "hate" one reminds me of a great Nelson Mandela quote: "unforgiveness is like drinking poison and thinking it will kill your enemies."

    ReplyDelete
  51. The flea that doesn't jump so high jumps more often and sees more. Doubt is the curry of life for me, but you continue to entertain.

    ReplyDelete
  52. 'Water is a slave to gravity, and steam only rises because cold air pushes it out of the way' Snappy or what, i think i might learn this writing racket.

    ReplyDelete
  53. Don't take this too personally, but where does it all lead?

    ReplyDelete
  54. "Whenever I do nothing I feel I've accomplished a lot." I love this one! I feel inspired just by "being". "Doing" is way too conventional for me...

    ReplyDelete
  55. Thanks for checking out my blog.
    Yours is fantastic!
    Continue to write.
    I agree with steve... the line "Whenever I do nothing I feel I've accomplished a lot." is such a well threaded sentence.
    :) keep it up!

    ReplyDelete
  56. I really like your postive blog. I always feel like I have to be doing something to feel like I am accomplishing something. I have been un emmployed so If I write and make comments it beats sleeping! To be productive is so important but on the other side of the coin doing nothing and just thinking can be quit relaxing too. My calming technique is READING...for some odd reason if I read I am calm. Great blog! Love it

    ReplyDelete
  57. Great writing I had to follow. Sorry for the short comment... in a rush.

    http://redeemart.blogspot.com/

    ReplyDelete
  58. Anonymous asks where it all leads...well, enjoyment and ease are not destinations.
    Beware though, the flea that jumps too high can lose his dog. My best

    ReplyDelete
  59. Brilliant: "The flea that doubts doesn't jump nearly as high."

    My 2 other faves:
    "To hate everything is to be wounded by everything."

    "If the light's not in you, you're living in the dark"

    Job well done, once again

    79sparrows

    ReplyDelete
  60. If the light's not in you, you're in the dark.

    Sometimes I sit in the dark, waiting for the sun to rise.

    henry

    ReplyDelete
  61. I can't pick my favourite thing from this piece of writing, as it caputures so many truths, but I do know it made me feel very excited and ready to explore. I nodded in agreement to the philosophers of old being wise because they had less to know, we are full of wonder around us and definitely need to take it all for ourselves and learn and construct our own realities and wisdom!

    ReplyDelete
  62. They're ALL little gems to provoke our thinking. Thanks for the inspiration.

    My favorite is the one about variety and contradiction. We can be enriched and broadened by both.

    ReplyDelete
  63. Reading each of these is like meditation. A bit of a mini spuritual wandering that is somehow centering. Lovely.

    ReplyDelete
  64. Wow, some very profound lines...especially the one regarding the dark and water being willing..powerful thoughts.

    Dorothy from grammology
    grammology.com

    ReplyDelete
  65. Wow, this really captured me...I like how give the ideas and readers can make their own conclusions about the idea.

    I really admire your work, I'm 14 and I just started a blog, if you could check it out that would be greatly appreciated.

    http://peacevisionary.blogspot.com/

    ReplyDelete
  66. Beautiful!
    Did you write this stuff yourself?

    ReplyDelete
  67. your words are so full of depth and wisdom. they always amaze me.

    sharmishtha
    agnitrisha.blogspot.com

    ReplyDelete
  68. Wow Marty, beautiful as always.

    My favorite one is:

    Water flows because it's willing.

    No doubt about that. It is all a matter of your will. Bless you for your wisdom and sharing it with all of us.

    ReplyDelete
  69. This is a really cool blog! Love the last line on this page.

    ReplyDelete
  70. "Old philosophers knew so little; that's why they were so wise." NP, this is profound. The media is throwing so much mud around to fill their 24/7 news cycle, that people do not have time to fully digest it. There are very few in this world whom I would consider wise. There are some, of course, but they probably have little to do with politics and the news. It's such a loss of all of us.

    ReplyDelete
  71. The truth in life...

    "If the light's not in you, you're in the dark"

    Your blog is one reason i open my loptop.

    Shine on my friend.

    ReplyDelete
  72. I think my favorite is: "The air lets the arrow pass right through."

    There's a simple beauty in that one.

    ReplyDelete
  73. Hi Marty,
    Great to see you this morning on Tioga St. I am enjoying your aphorisms. This sight is so ... you.
    Steven

    ReplyDelete
  74. hey, to collect the prize you just have to right click on the pic and copy it in your p.c. and then copy the name and rules (if there are any ----) after that its completely yours. you can share it with your friends or just display.

    wish you the very best.

    ReplyDelete
  75. Doing nothing is doing something.

    ReplyDelete
  76. I have a small gift for you, a tribute to your golden words, will you accept it?

    http://window2mysoul.wordpress.com/2010/06/13/golden-pen-award/

    have a beautiful week ahead.

    ReplyDelete
  77. This one is really nice ... "If the light's not in you, you're in the dark.".. so true like all others! But, I specially liked this one.

    ReplyDelete
  78. Love these

    The flea that doubts doesn't jump nearly as high.
    Water flows because it's willing.

    Very well said, at the end of it every thing depends on what we think we can....

    liked this one too
    If it's work you're trying too hard. :-)

    ReplyDelete
  79. NP--I just love these. You are so talented--I remember reading on BC how people want you to do a book of aphorisms--I honestly think you should. They are so delightful and thought provoking.

    Of course, I always have my favorites. Those that spoke to me *most* (although I liked them all) are:

    Water flows because it's willing. = Willingness brought me a second opportunity in life.

    If it's work you're trying too hard. = and also, if you love what you do--then it's never work.

    To hate everything is to be wounded by everything. = So true!

    The old philosophers knew so little; that's why they were so wise. = hahahahahaha!

    If the light's not in you, you're in the dark.

    Thanks for bringing us this lovely new batch!

    Melinda

    ReplyDelete
  80. "Somebody told me the world is round...." The best so far!

    ReplyDelete
  81. Phenomenal stuff!

    The more I do nothing, the better I feel too. Too much doing in our world, and not enough being.

    And the last line says it all - we need to seek for ourselves to truly know the truth within.

    ReplyDelete
  82. "The old philosophers knew so little; that's why they were so wise." - probably the best i have come across. Wonderful!!

    ReplyDelete
  83. Geez Marty, these are magnificent. I LOVE LOVE LOVE this one: "Whenever I do nothing I feel I've accomplished a lot." I literally feel this when I do nothing. I feel I have accomplished something grand in my day. Or whenever I do what my heart is calling me to do, be that nothing sitting under a tree on the high desert or walking up a mountain or staring out a window at the trees. I always feel I've done something soooooo important that has made my day meaningful and richer.

    I also LOVE LOVE LOVE (lol!) the last one. That one is SO ME!!! I seem to thrive on finding things out for myself, knowing with my whole being, not merely being told that it is so. For me the last one speaks of great freedom!

    Thank you for the beautiful gifts you share. I am always grateful for...you! Hugs, Robin. :)

    ReplyDelete
  84. This comment has been removed by the author.

    ReplyDelete
  85. Marty,
    You have a keen sense of phrasing, and paint a magnificent portrait of words. You are quite gifted!!!

    Thanks for sharing

    Regards,
    Mark
    http://freshworks-mediamarketing.blogspot.com/

    ReplyDelete
  86. Keep up the appearance and the truth will follow it; but these aphorisms are good enough to stand for truth in their own right.

    ReplyDelete
  87. Why no headers? Of course, it immediately draws my attention to your site, but you must be having something on your mind to start on any piece on a given day, right?? Great blog, great philosophy of life, very true, and something I don't read a lot in 21st century blogging.. !
    Thanks!
    Rachana.

    ReplyDelete
  88. Life is not that easy to be ourself..even to be someone else we admired required a great afford.

    ReplyDelete
  89. believe it for yourself, discover the way I see it, let my eyes do the walking, listen don't force the naming of it, allow it too emerge. thanks so much Annx

    ReplyDelete
  90. nice job! please if you have some time to read this, I gonna appreaciate it, "sometimes when I hear the wind, I can feel the call of the night, a call to turn into the being that everybody fear, a being made with darkness and the winter cold, the being inside me...now is free to make anything it want...just watch me."

    ReplyDelete