Real Life Quotes to Live by - Follow Your Head and Your Heart

83

By Austinstar

Friends

Bob and Jim
See all 4 photos
Bob and Jim

In order to have friends, you must first be a friend.

"A friend in need is a friend indeed." author unknown

Complaining about not having friends is not the best way to go about getting and keeping new friends. If friends are what you want, you must first practice being a friend indeed.

You are a unique individual and you have many thoughts and skills to share. Find friends who are around you. When you are in school or at work or even just out and about, smile and be friendly to as many people as possible. They want to have friends too.

Offer to help others and contribute to the activities of your choice. Friends will respond to people who are caring and willing to be a good friend in return. Very soon, you will have more friends than you know what to do with!

Think about it...

You don't want to be here!
You don't want to be here!
Source: Morgue File

Never do anything that you don't want published on the first page of the newspapers.

Author unknown.

Your mother told you this one, correct? Did you stop to think about what it could mean to your life? Can you think of things you have done that you don't want on the front page?

How about that time you gossiped about your boss? Do you want that on the front page? If you got mad and hit your child too hard or in anger, would you want that on the front page?

Thinking this one through is an excellent guide for life. Whenever you have a decision to make, just remember - Do you want to see it plastered all over the news or not?

Of course there are times when you actually do want your photo and report on the front page and that's when you have done something good!

A Little bit goes a long way!

Super Highway of life
Super Highway of life

A journey of a thousand miles begins with a single step.

Lao-Tzu (Chinese philosopher)

I always thought it was Confucius that said this, but I looked it up. It doesn't literally mean making a trip, it actually means just about anything in life.

Everything needing to be done must be done one step at a time. From the construction of super highways to the changing of a diaper must be done in small steps. There is no good short cut from point A to point X. To do things right requires mastering all of the little details and actions to be taken.

Whenever one is faced with a seemingly giant task, remember that the first step will lead you to the last step and the task is accomplished one small step at a time.

Native American treaties

Bury the hatchet
Bury the hatchet

You must learn to bury the hatchet.

Native American treaty

When the chiefs of two warring tribes wanted to get together and make peace, they literally buried their hatchets. This was a binding agreement between the tribes to live together as neighbors instead of constantly being at war.

The saying has come to mean forgiving your trespassers or those that have wronged you. Without burying the hatchet, the mistrust lives on. The hatchet is a symbol of war. When you bury it either symbolically or literally, you make permanent peace.

Forgive and forget trials and tribulations. Learn from them and move on. Don't allow old hatchets to come back and harm you. Make an enemy into your friend. Life is too short to be constantly looking over your shoulder or wishing things were different. Just move on.

The Perfect Painting

The Mona Lisa
The Mona Lisa
Source: Leonardo DaVinci

If it's not broke, don't fix it.

T. Bert Lance believes he can save Uncle Sam billions if he can get the government to adopt a simple motto: "If it ain't broke, don't fix it." He explains: "That's the trouble with government: Fixing things that aren't broken and not fixing things that are broken."

Humans are such perfectionists. It's a fault, really. Things can never actually be perfect, we just want them to be. We also take little things and turn them in to big giant deals. Why?

If people would only live by this one quote, wouldn't life be so much better? This really refers to people to. If they are not "broke", don't try to fix them. If they have a problem that you can solve, then go ahead and help! Just two decisions to make. Surely we can do that.

Comments - Is there a quote or phrase that you live your life by?

WillStarr profile image

WillStarr Level 8 Commenter 12 months ago

Many old quotes are worth another, more thoughtful, visit, and you've brought up some fine examples.

Here's one of mine:

"You'll find out how many friends you have come moving day."

Austinstar profile image

Austinstar Hub Author 12 months ago

Hi will, I like that one and the one that used to be on my pick up truck - "Yes, this is my truck, and no I won't help you move!"

drbj profile image

drbj Level 8 Commenter 12 months ago

Thanks for reminding us, Lela, of the value of our friends and friendships. My favorite 'friends' quote is from Oscar Wilde: "True friends stab you in the front." :)

Austinstar profile image

Austinstar Hub Author 12 months ago

That's funny drbj. I guess we can't help hurting those close to us. Maybe that's why we should keep our friends close and our enemies closer.

RealHousewife profile image

RealHousewife Level 8 Commenter 12 months ago

Very good advice. I do always try to keep this in mind. I also know that people don't forget things either - so sometimes you can't always control what makes page 1. I also try to tell my friends up front that I am not perfect - in fact, I am horrible! Then they have low expectations from me and its harder to disappoint them.

I am going to be a friend....and share:)!! Great hub that provokes some serious reflection.

Just Ask Susan 12 months ago

Wonderful Hub! Your newspaper picture really caught my eye as that is where I live Orillia and that is The Packet and Times. It's a small world after all :)

Just Ask Susan 12 months ago

Sorry forgot to add it really isn't that bad of a place usually.

christopheranton profile image

christopheranton Level 7 Commenter 12 months ago

Some good quotes to be reminded of.

Here's one of mine, from myself.

"People who strive after perfection will always be doomed to disappointment".

Another one from my grandmother. "Clean as you go along".

I rarely bother with the second one.

Cheers!

Rod Marsden profile image

Rod Marsden Level 4 Commenter 12 months ago

Yes, Austinstar, 'if it ain't broke, don't fix it' is the correct quote. Not correct English I grant you but I prefer the original to the correct English version. You gave us both so I suppose it is up to the reader to decide.

I have still to learn to bury the hatchet.

A journey of a thousand miles begins with one step is important to reflect on when you are writing a novel. If you think about all those steps you will never get anywhere but if you go for one step at a time you'll be home and hosed before you know it.

Funny but the perfect painting is perfect because of the imperfections of its subject as much as anything else.

Voted up.

Austinstar profile image

Austinstar Hub Author 12 months ago

@RealHousewife - You are about as horrible as a kitten playing with yarn! Silly girl.

@Susan - I just picked that headline photo out of a free photo file. I don't have any idea where Orillia is! Where is it?

@Christopher - Men seen to have a "cleaning" problem. Perhaps it's genetic. But I can definitely relate to the first quote.

@Rod - Burying hatchets is not for the weak. You must be a very strong person to forgive and forget. Try forgiving one step at a time! Leonardo really knew how to paint and pick just the right subjects.

Motown2Chitown profile image

Motown2Chitown Level 5 Commenter 12 months ago

Austin, love this. I think it's worthy of being voted up, as well as useful and awesome! I live by two quotes for myself...

"I'd rather be (or be with) an honest sinner than a phony saint any day of the week."

"Always take the advice you'd give someone else. You're as worthy of love, forgiveness, and gentleness as everyone else."

Loved it. :-)

Rod Marsden profile image

Rod Marsden Level 4 Commenter 12 months ago

Yep, Leonardo was a great painter though I believe he was commissioned to paint the Mona Lisa (There was another name he had for this painting but I forget what it was.) Anyway, there are some people who feel that the woman portrayed in the painting had had a stroke hence the strange, haunting smile or half smile. The background wilderness was not a conventional approach. He would of picked that for sure. Modern viewers like yours truly reckon it adds gusto to the painting. People in his day no doubt felt it was a bit scary. Towns after all were safe or relatively safe where wilderness areas were not. Fairy tales that have come down to us work off this logic or lack thereof. Anything can happen away from civilization and in tales often did. The perfection of the work in my view has as much to do with challenging his audience and working off at least one imperfection of his subject to create what many consider to be a perfect painting.

Just Ask Susan profile image

Just Ask Susan Level 8 Commenter 12 months ago

It is in Ontario Canada.

RealHousewife profile image

RealHousewife Level 8 Commenter 12 months ago

Austinstar - this kitty has claws:) haha!

MO - thank goodness you like the sinners! I'm safe!

Motown2Chitown profile image

Motown2Chitown Level 5 Commenter 12 months ago

Of course you are, Real. You fit right in with my lot - we're all lots of both. :-)

Austinstar profile image

Austinstar Hub Author 12 months ago

La Giaconda - This was the original name for the Mona Lisa. She once hung in the bedroom of Napoleon. Perhaps she was the first porn star?

Ontario, Canada, eh? Well I'll be horn swaggled. (Don't ask)

Oh girls, I don't believe in sin! It's all good.

Motown2Chitown profile image

Motown2Chitown Level 5 Commenter 12 months ago

You're one of the honest ones, Austin. That's what I love about you! Be who you are and accept that person. I think the majority of the messed upedness in the world comes from trying desperately to be someone or something you're just not...you know, like Stan said, don't make recliners if it's not easy for you. :-)

RealHousewife profile image

RealHousewife Level 8 Commenter 12 months ago

MO - I was protecting your reputation! I knew that! Haha!

Austinstar - one of my all time fav songs .....you have to guess ..... I'll give you a clue...

"I'd rather laugh with the sinners than cry with the saints....,cause sinners are much more fun..."

Austinstar profile image

Austinstar Hub Author 12 months ago

Billy Joel - Only the good die young! In that case, I hope we are all very very bad girls...

RealHousewife profile image

RealHousewife Level 8 Commenter 12 months ago

I knew you'd get it right away!

Yes - I have been a very bad girl - so far it's working!

Merlin Fraser profile image

Merlin Fraser 12 months ago

"Sex is like Oxygen... You don't realise you miss it until you're not getting any !"

Merlin Fraser profile image

Merlin Fraser 12 months ago

Hey Just noticed you hit 100....

CONGRATULATIONS !

Austinstar profile image

Austinstar Hub Author 12 months ago

With men, it's always sex. With women, it's always money. Tell me again, why is prostitution illegal?

Motown2Chitown profile image

Motown2Chitown Level 5 Commenter 12 months ago

Right, Austin?? Betcha thought I'd disagree on that point. Hell no! I say make it legal. The jobless rate would go down in the US for sure! And, if they tax it at the same rate as regular employment, hell, our budget problems would be solved in seconds! ;-)

Merlin, that's pretty funny...is that original? :-)

Loveslove profile image

Loveslove 12 months ago

You die if you worry

You die if you dont worry

So why worry ?

Austinstar profile image

Austinstar Hub Author 12 months ago

Screwed if you do, screwed if you don't. Whatever!

Merlin Fraser profile image

Merlin Fraser 12 months ago

In response to Motown's question... Yes and true !

Motown2Chitown profile image

Motown2Chitown Level 5 Commenter 12 months ago

Merlin - LOVE it. Funny as all get out. And, yes, true too.

Sharyn's Slant profile image

Sharyn's Slant Level 7 Commenter 12 months ago

Fun read Austin and great reminders. I have some hatchets that are popping back out of the ground. Got to bury them deeper :)

Rod Marsden profile image

Rod Marsden Level 4 Commenter 12 months ago

Well, Mona might have tickled Napoleon's fancy. He did have a thing for older women. What's more, he might have been born an Italian rather than French. It was by luck of the draw that where he was born was taken by the French just before he was born. So would he fancy an older, Italian type woman? I would say most definitely yes. Do I envy Napoleon's conquests in that arena...Sometimes...I have always wanted to say "Not to night, Josephine" and really mean it. The problem is I will probably never ever mean it once I find my Josephine. Ha!

Austinstar profile image

Austinstar Hub Author 12 months ago

Oh, I hope your queen arrives soon. Keep looking.

Nellieanna profile image

Nellieanna Level 8 Commenter 12 months ago

How about a slight update: "Never do anything that you don't want published on FaceBook (or Hubpages)." ? hehe

Austinstar profile image

Austinstar Hub Author 12 months ago

Oh, Nellie, you are so thoroughly modern! You are quite right...

mrpopo profile image

mrpopo 12 months ago

Love these quotes. "A journey of a thousand miles begins with a single step" stands out for me. It hints that the grandest developments all start off with small, gradual changes. It reminds me not to get overwhelmed by daunting tasks by taking them one step at a time. I find that's true for a lot of things in life.

RealHousewife profile image

RealHousewife Level 8 Commenter 11 months ago

Austin - ha! This is the one - I did my serious reflection and I thought burying the hatchet like a good Indian would was perfect advice:) this actually made me realize that I should forgive someone close to me and mean it!

THANK YOU!

kittythedreamer profile image

kittythedreamer Level 7 Commenter 11 months ago

Great outlook, AustinStar! Voted up and awesome. It looks like we do have a lot in common and I wish I could take you on vacation with me! You seem to know how to be a very good friend. Can't wait to read more.

Austinstar profile image

Austinstar Hub Author 11 months ago

Good, bring back some vacation stories!

RealHousewife profile image

RealHousewife Level 8 Commenter 11 months ago

See everyone wants to go on one of your vacations!

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