Sometimes not having any idea where we’re going works out better than we could possibly have imagined.
Ann Patchett on writing and life
advice
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You will best acquire these by frequenting the companies of people of fashion; but then you must resolve to acquire them, in those companies, by proper care and observation. When you go into good company — by good company is meant the people of the first fashion of the place — observe carefully their turn, their manners, their address; and conform your own to them.
Lord Chesterfield on the Art of Pleasing, in a letter of advice to his teenage son, 1748.
A modern take on Sister Corita Kent’s timeless rules for learning and life, hand-lettered by artist Lisa Congdon.
You may often be seen to smile, but never heard to laugh while you live.
Lord Chesterfield on the At of Pleasing – questionable fatherly advice circa 1748
Coming back is the thing that enables you to see how all the dots in your life are connected, how one decision leads you to another, how one twist of fate, good or bad, brings you to a door that later takes you to another door, which aided by several detours — long hallways and unforeseen stairwells — eventually puts you in the place you are now.
Advice on writing and life from Ann Patchett
They rarely make them like Ray Bradbury anymore… A fine addition to our ongoing archive of sage advice.
1 Dont rape
2 Dont be prejudice
3 Dont be sexist
4 Love your children
5 Love your neighbor
6 Love yourself
Dont let your opinions obstruct the aforementioned list.
Life advice from Kurt Cobain, born on this day in 1967, from his journals
Be curious. Read widely. Try new things. What people call intelligence just boils down to curiosity.
Open-access champion Aaron Swartz, who took his own life last month, adds to the ongoing case for the usefulness of useless knowledge.
Use a thesaurus, use your imagination, scratch your head until it comes to you, but find the right word.
Advice on writing from celebrated novelist Isabel Allende.
You do something all day long, don’t you? Every one does. If you get up at seven o’clock and go to bed at eleven, you have put in sixteen good hours, and it is certain with most men, that they have been doing something all the time. They have been either walking, or reading, or writing, or thinking. The only trouble is that they do it about a great many things and I do it about one. If they took the time in question and applied it in one direction, to one object, they would succeed. Success is sure to follow such application. The trouble lies in the fact that people do not have an object, one thing, to which they stick, letting all else go. Success is the product of the severest kind of mental and physical application.
Thomas Edison, born on this day in 1847, on the secrets of success
3. No opposition must be taken to heart. Our enemies often help us more than our friends.
9 rules for success from 1901.
1. Men and women succeed because they take pains to succeed. Industry and patience are almost genius; and successful people are often more distinguished for resolution and perseverance than for unusual gifts. They make determination and unity of purpose supply the place of ability.
9 rules for success by British novelist Amelia E. Barr, 1901
Advice from Charles Dickens, born on this day in 1812, to his youngest and favorite son.
Never take a mean advantage of anyone in any transaction, and never be hard upon people who are in your power.
Advice from Charles Dickens, born 201 years ago today, to his favorite son.
