Quotations Weblog

As usual, the US celebrates Independence Day on July 4th. Here are some quotations for the occasion:

More 4th of July quotations:

• Quotes by Subject: Freedom
• Quotes by Subject: America
• Quotes by Subject: Patriotism

Hugh Macleod draws comics on the back of business cards. It’s a creative outlet that works well for him and now, it is finally paying off. Back in August of 2004, he wrote a 31-item list entitled “How To Be Creative.”

• gapingvoid: “cartoons drawn on the back of business cards”: how to be creative

This list is a treasure chest of good advice. Some of my favorite quotations are here:

See all the Hugh Macleod Quotations Here:

• Hugh Macleod Quotes – The Quotations Page

While on our way to California, Mike and I met this handsome couple. The two of them are riding their bikes across the world.

You can read their inspirational story here:

• Starling Travel » Perth 2 Perth 2 Perth

They are doing this for charity and you can support them on their website here:

• Perth2Perth.org – Rhona and Gavin cycle 18000 miles around the world

• British Heart Foundation – Sponsorship Page

Next time you’re feeling a little down, remember that you can go a long way with bad legs and a good head.

When Carl Durrenburger read the USA Today interview with Bill Swanson about his “Unwritten Rules” of business, he recognized something. He recognized some of the rules from a book he had read long ago called, The Unwritten Laws of Engineering. Unfortunately, Bill had claimed those rules as his own instead of giving credit to the original author, W. J. King.

Carl immediately wrote a letter to USA Today, informing them of the error:

• Incidents and Accidents, Hints and Allegations

“Mr. Swanson has plagiarized from the little-known book “The Unwritten Laws of Engineering” by W.J. King, trying to pass off others’ work as his own. Perhaps there is a new rule he needs to swallow about taking credit for other people’s work. Or perhaps this sort of thing has been his recipe for success in corporate America and, for him, stepping on the genius of others is business as usual.”

So many of us have personal credos that we read in a book or heard in a movie. After years of repeating the phrases to ourselves, we forget where they came from originally and they become one with us. That’s why The Quotations Page is here. We help you remember where you got those wonderful little quotations in the first place. We keep you honest.

Making W. J. King’s laws part of your life is admirable. Forgetting where you got them is forgiveable. Claiming them as your own is just sloppy.

Update 05-04-06: CNN finally caught on to this story. See it here:

• Raytheon board throws the book at CEO; may cost him $1M – May. 4, 2006

More than he knew, Gandhi had it right. We must be doing something to be happy. There is pleasure, like eating, sex or even “relaxation”, but when we are truly at peace and joyful, we are busy doing something we love.

Tune in tomorrow when I will do a more in depth talk about happiness and doing what we truly love.