Friendship Quotes

Here are a few FRIENDSHIP QUOTES.

(1) In everyone’s life, at some time, our inner fire goes out.  It is then burst into flame by an encounter with another human being.  We should all be thankful for those people who rekindle the inner spirit.–Albert Schweitzer.

(2) Lots of people want to ide with you in the Limo, but what you want is someone who will take the bus with you when the Limo breaks down——Oprah Winfrey.

(3) Don’t walk behind me, I may not lead.  Don’t walk in front of me, I may not follow.  Just walk beside me and be my friend—–Albert Camus.

(4) When we honestly ask ourselves, which person in our lives means the most to us, we often find that it is those who instead of giving advice, solutions or cures have chosen to rather share our pain and touch our wounds with a warm and tender hand——Henri

(5)  One of the most beautiful qualities of true friendship is to understand and be understood.—-Lucius Seneca.

(6) I value the friend who for me finds time on his calendar, but I cherish the friend who for me does not consult his calendar.-Robert.

(7) A friend is one who knows you and loves you just the same—Elbert Hubbard.

(8) Think where man’s glory most begins and ends, and say my glory was I had such friends.——William Butler Yeats.

(9) A single rose can be my garden…………a single friend, my world——Oscar Wilde.

(10) Let us grateful to people who make us happy, they are the charming gardeners who make our souls blossom——Marcel Proust.

(11) Friendship is unnecessary, like philosophy, like art……it has no survival value ; rather it si one of those things that give value to survival——C.S.Lewis.

(12) Be courteous to all, but intimate with few, and let those few be well-tried before you give them your confidence.——George Washington.

(13) A friend should be one in whose understanding and virtue we can equally confide ; and whose opinion we can value at once for its justness and its sincerity.——Robert Hall.

(14) A friend is someone who gives you total freedom to be yourself.——Jim Morrison.

(15) It is one of the blessings of old friends, that you can be afford to be stupid with them—–Ralph Waldo Emerson.

(16) A true friend freely advises justly, assists readily, adventures boldly, takes all patiently, defends courageously and continues as a friend unchangeably.——William Penn.

(17) Walking with a friend in the dark is better than walking alone in the light.—-Helen Keller.

(18) A friend to all is a friend to none.——Aristotle.

(19) The friend who can be silent with us in a moment of despair or confusion, who can stay with us in an hour of grief and bereavement, who can tolerate not knowing…not healing…not curing that is a friend who cares.——Henri Nouwen.

(20) Friendship is a single soul dwelling in two bodies.——Aristotle.

Pranks with Proverbs

This article was sent by George N. Netto in the TOI of 25th of October, 2011.

Any proverb—-however trite—-can be made to sparkle with a suitable suffix.  Besides driving home the point forcefully, it provides a crisp ending lace with a light-hearted touch—-in fact, the SNAPPIER the ENDING, the BETTER the IMPACT of the proverb.  Highly quotable they may be, but proverbs usually convey truisms with which we are already familiar.  There’s nothing like a touch of humour to spice up a commonplace proverb.

(1) VARIETY is the SPICE OF LIFE———–ask any monogamous male.

(2) FAMLIARITY BREEDS CONTEMPT———usually after marriage.

(3) MARRIAGES ARE MADE IN HEAVEN——–unmade on earth.

(4) THE PROOF OF THE PUDDING IS IN THE EATING——–and the licking of one’s fingers.

(5) WEDLOCK IS A PADLOCK——–one of the keys to which is divorce.

(6) IT TAKES TWO TO TANGO——–and three to create an eternal triangle.

(7) TOO MANY COOKS SPOIL THE BROTH——–but speed up the meal.

(8) WHEN THE WINE IS IN, THE WIT IS OUT——–and also some zealously- guarded secrets.

(9) TO WIT, NO MAN CAN SERVE TO MASTERS——–unless both are generous paymasters.

(10) WHER THERE’S A WILL, THERE’S A WAY——–especially if it is the Boss’ will.

(11) NOTHING IS IMPOSSIBLE——–so long as you don’t have to do it yourself.

(12) BARKING DOGS SELDOM BITE——–others, you being the exception.

(13) A BIRD IN THE HAND IS WORTH TWO IN THE BUSH——–provided it’s not a homing pigeon.

(14) BIRDS OF A FEATHER FLOCK TOGETHER——–specially if they have a common grouse.

(15) TRAVEL BROADENS THE MIND——–and lightens the purse.

(16) YOU’RE NEVER TOO OLD TO LEARN——–something stupid.

(17) TIME IS A GREAT HEALER——–as well as a speedster.

(18) CHEATERS NEVER PROSPER—–but they do get rich fast.

(19) DEAD MEN TELL NO TALES——–only their biographers do.

(20) EMPTY VESSELS MAKE THE MOST SOUND——–and are promptly heard.

(21) DEATH IS A GREAT LEVELLER——–though life is seldom a level playground.

(22) WHEN ALL YOU HAVE IS A HAMMER—–everything looks like a nail, especially your fingertips.

(23) HONESTY IS THE BEST POLICY——–where others are concerned.

(24) HELL HATH NO FURY LIKE A WOMAN SCORNED——–or a teenager denied a mobile phone.

(25) OLD HABITS DIE HARD——–when it comes to eavesdropping on your neighbour’s tiffs.

(26) NECESSITY IS THE MOTHER OF ALL INVENTIONS—-when you need a watertight alibi.

(27) OPPORTUNITY NEVER KNOCKS TWICE——–but temptation bangs on the door repeatedly.

(28) NECESSITY KNOWS NO LAW——–especially when you are being chased by a rabid dog.

(29) SEEING IS BELIEVING——–especially when you catch your girlfriend with your best friend.

(30) NEVER PUT OFF TILL TOMORROW WHAT YOU CAN DO TODAY———unless you’re contemplating murder.

(31) ALL GOOD THINGS MUST COME TO AN END——–while bad things seldom seem to come to an end.

(32) WHAT GOES UP MUST COME DOWN——–the exception being ever spiralling prices.

(33) SILENCE IS GOLDEN——–especially when you are holding forth.

(34) A ROLLING STONE GATHERS NO MOSS——–but it gets to see places.

(35) IMITATION IS THE SINCEREST FORM OF FLATTERY——–especially if you are being aped.

Jagjit Singh- The Ghazal king

Jagjit Singh was born on the 8th of February, 1941 and he passed away on the 10th of October,2011.  He was known as the GAZAL KING in the 1970s and 1980s.  His wife’s name is Chitra Singh. Their combination album, comprising music from films ARTH and SAATH is HMV’s largest selling combination album of all time.  SAJDA (an offering ) in 1991, was Jagjit Singh’s MAGNUM OPUS.  It was a double album with Lata Mangeshkar, and it holds the same record in the non-film category.  He was awarded the Padma Bhushan in 2003.  His style of composing and GAYAKI (singing ) is considered as Bol-pradhan, one that lays emphasis on words.  He highlighted this in PREM GEET (1981), ARTH and SAATH SAATH (1982)and T.V. serials MIRZA GHALIB (1988) and KAHKASHAN (1991).  His career spanned 5 decades, and he had a repertoire comprising over 80 albums.  He is the only composer and singer to have composed and recorded songs written by P.M. ATAL BIHARI VAJPAYEE—–in two albums—-NAYI DISHA (1999) and SAMVEDNA (2002).

His 1987 album–BEYOND TIME–was the first digitally-recorded release in India.  He voiced his concerns over politicisation of Arts and Culture in India and lack of support experienced by the practitioners of India’s traditional art forms.  He lent active support to several philanthropic endeavours, such as the Library at St. Mary’s school, Mumbai, Bombay Hospital, CRY, Save The Children and Alma.  The couple’s 1st L.P.—–BAAT NIKLEGI—–from the album—-THE UNFORGETTABLES—–achieved great popularity for the Singhs.He was determined to polish up the genre (ghazal), and make it more acceptable to modern tastes, so he chose simple poems and set them to simple tunes.  He also introduced Western Instumentation to make them livelier.  Google India honoured Jagjit Singh with a DOODLE on his 72nd birthday on 8th February, 2013.  There was a lot of pathos in his voice.  He passed away in 2011, but will always be remembered.

Virtues

Benjamin Franklin wrote about a few virtues that develop what he called MORAL PERFECTION.  He had a check-list in a notebook, to measure each day how he lived up to his virtues.  Here is a peep into his autobiography:

(1)  TEMPERANCE :  Eat not to dullness ; drink not to elevation.

(2)  SILENCE :  Speak not, but what may benefit others or yourself.  Avoid trifling conversation.

(3)  ORDER :  Let all your things have their places.  Let each part of your business have its time.

(4)  RESOLUTION :  Resolve to perform what you ought.  Perform without fail what you resolve.

(5)  FRUGALITY :  Waste nothing.

(6)  INDUSTRY Lose no time.  Cut off all unnecessary actions.

(7)  SINCERITY :  Use no hurtful deceit.  Think innocently and justly, and if you speak, speak accordingly.

(8)  JUSTICE :  Wrong none, by doing injuries or omitting the benefits that are duty.

(9)  MODERATION :  Avoid extremes.  Forbear resenting injuries so much as you think they deserve.

(10)  CLEANLINESS : Tolerate no uncleanness in body, clothes or habitation.

(11)  TRANQUILITY :  Be not disturbed at trifles.

(12)  CHASTITY :  Rarely use venery, but for health or offspring.

(13)  HUMILITY :  Imitate Jesus and Socrates.

According to two leading researchers in positive psychology, Christopher Peterson and Martin Seligman, there are six categories of virtues :—courage, justice, humanity, temperance, transcendence and wisdom.  The word VIRTUS in Latin and ARETE in Greek is MORAL EXCELLENCE.  In Hinduism : SANATANA DHARMA is moral duty. In Buddhism ; Right view, right mindfulness, right concentration.  In Christianity : faith, hope, love.

Emily Elizabeth Dickinson

Emily Elizabeth Dickinson, an American Poetess, was born on the 10th of December, 1830.  She passed away on the 15th of May, 1886.

She has about 1800 poems to her credit.  Fewer than a dozen were published during her lifetime.  This one really touched my inner soul.  It is titled : YESTERDAY IS HISTORY.

Yesterday is history

‘Tis so far away

Yesterday is poetry

‘Tis philosophy

Yesterday is mystery

Where it is today

While we shrewdly speculate

Flutter both  away

You cannot make remembrance grow

When it has lost its root

The tightening the soil around

And setting it upright

Deceives perhaps the Universe

But not retrieves the plant

Real memory, like Cedar Feet,

is shot with Adamant

Nor can you cut remembrance down

When it shall once have grown

Its iron buds will sprout anew

However overthrown.

Here is another one :

Your riches taught me poverty

Myself a millionaire

In little wealth, as girls could boast

Till broad as Buenos Aires

You drifted your Dominions

A different Peru

And I esteemed all poverty

For life’s estate for you

Of Mines, I little know myself

But just the names of Gems

The colours of the commonest

And scarce of Diadems

So much, that did meet the Queen

Her glory, I should know

But this, must be a different wealth

To miss it—beggars so

I’m sure ’tis India–all day

To those who look on you

Without a stint —without a blame

Might I–but be the Jew

I’m sure it is Golconda

Beyond my power to deem

To have a smile for mine each day

Hoe better than a Gem

At least, it solaces to know

That there exists—-a Gold

Although I prove it, just in time

Its distance—to behold

It’s far–Far treasure to surmise

And estimate the Pearl

That slipped my simple fingers through

While just a girl at school…

A Persian fable…

A Persian fable says:

One day

wanderer found a lump of clay

So redolent of sweet perfume

Its odours scented all the room

‘What art thou ?’ was his quick demand

‘Art thou some gem from Samarcand,

Or spikenard in this sweet disguise,

Or other costly merchandise ?’

‘Nay : I am but a lump of clay.’

“Thence whence this wondrous perfume—say!’

‘Friend, if the secret I disclose

I have been dwelling with the rose’

Sweet parable ! and will not those

Who love to dwell with Sharon’s rose

Distill sweet odours all around

Though low and mean themselves are found ?

Dear Lord, abide with us that we

may draw our perfume fresh from Thee.”

Some of the spices like ALOE, which is quite bitter, tells of the sweetness of bitter things,

the bitter-sweet., which has its own application that only those can understand who have felt it.

The MYRRH was used to embalm the dead, and it tells of death to something.  It is the sweetness which comes to the heart after it has died to its self-will and pride and sin.  Oh, the inexpressible charm that hovers about some people, simply because they have died to something, maybe pride, ego, greed.  It is the charm of a contrite heart, the music that springs from the minor key, the sweetness that comes from the touch of the frost upon the ripened fruit.

Another spice–FRANKINCENSE was a fragrance that came from the touh of the fire.  It was the burning powder that rose in clouds of sweetness from the bosom of the flames.  It tells of the heart whose sweetness has been called forth, perhaps by the flames of affliction or rejection , until that empty place in the soul is filled with clouds of prayer and praise.  Are we giving out the SPICES, the PERFUMES, the SWEET ODOURS OF THE HEART ?

Life

Life is like a big bicycle race, whose goal is to fulfil one’s personal legend—-that which according to the ancient alchemists is our true mission on earth.

At the start, we are together, full of camaraderie, and enthusiasm. But as the race progresses, the initial joy gives way to the real challenges : TIREDNESS, MONOTONY and DOUBTS.

Father Allan Jones, says that for our soul to be able to overcome these obstacles, we need the forces : LOVE, DEATH, POWER and TIME.  We must LOVE because we are loved by God.  We must be aware of DEATH to understand life.  We must fight to grow—but do not be fooled by the POWER that comes with growth.

Finally, we must accept that our soul—-though everlasting—-is now caught in the web of TIME, with its opportunities and limitations.  IN THE SOUL OF MAN IS THE SOUL OF THE WORLD, THE SILENCE OF WISDOM.  It is good to ask, “WHAT IS BEAUTIFUL ABOUT TODAY ?”  The sun may be shining, but if the rain is falling, it is important to remember that this also means that the BLACK CLOUDS WILL SOON BE DISSOLVED.—————-CLOUDS COME AND GO, BUT THE SUN REMAINS THE SAME, AND NEVER FAILS.——-Paulo Coelho.

Easy immune boosters

Here are a few IMMUNE BOOSTERS.

(1) Call a friend and chat, and you may trigger positive emotions.

(2) Cook some LIVER and ONIONS.  LIVER brims with IMMUNE-BOOSTING SELENIUM, Zn, Mg, Fe, Cu, FOLIC ACID and VITAMINS—-B6, B12.

(3) Relax with a crossword puzzle—stimulating brain-parts that handle MEMORY, JUDGEMENT and ABSTRACT THOUGHT—-may elevate levels of T-cells.

(4) Get lots of SHUT-EYE (7 or 8 hours a night)

(5) BALANCE YOUR BELLY——Stress, Alcohol and Poor Diet weaken bug-fighting ability.  Good bacteria in curds or in powder-form (Brewer’s yeast)–you get tablets at health-food stores.

(6) Do you need IRON ?—Not more than 45mg a day.

(7) Choose WATER, not soft drinks.

(8) Munch on WHEAT BRAN daily.

(9) WATCH A FUNNY MOVIE—-Laughing strengthens immunity.

(10) HOLD THE COCKTAILS.  Red wine offers HEART-HEALTHY IMMUNE-ENHANCING ANTI-OXIDANTS.

(11) SWING YOUR HIPS.  Walking at a good clip, 45mins a day, 5days a week, rouses the IMMUNE-SYSTEM and SLASHES RISK OF ILLNESS by almost half.

(12) UPDATE YOUR WORK-SKILLS—-they increase job-satisfaction and reduce stress.

(13) SEEK THE SHADE.  Sun’s UVA and UVB rays can reduce immunity by depleting T-cells.

(14) SAMPLE SEA-FOOD.  It contains Zn, Fe, Cu, Mg and Selenium.

(15) GET A MASSAGE–it feels good—GO FOR IT.

(16) PRAY or MEDITATE.  It can reduce stress, but make it a meaningful part of your routine.

(17) SING WITH FAMILY or JOIN A CHOIR.  It increases salivary levels of IMMUNO-GLOBIN–A.

Graphology

GRAPHOLOGY (handwriting analysis)—-grapho=writing; logos=word.

BASIC TENETS :–When we write,the EGOis ACTIVE, but is not always active to the same degree.  Its activity WAXES and WANES, being at its HIGHEST LEVEL when an effort has to be made by the writer and at its LOWEST LEVEL when the motion of the writing organ has gained momentum and is driven by it.  The written strokes reflect both TRANSITORY and LONG-TERM CHANGES in the central nervous system such as Parkinson’s disease or alcohol usage.  EMOYION, MENTAL STATE and BIOCHEMICAL FACTORS ( muscle stiffness and elasticity ) are reflected in a person’s handwriting.

There are three approaches to Graphology :–INTEGRATIVE, HOLISTIC, SYMBOLIC.

(1) This approach holds that specific strokes relate to PERSONALITY TRAITS.

(2) A profile is constructed on the basis of FORM, MOVEMENT and SPACE.  Individual traits such as LEGIBILITY, are not assigned specific meanings, but can take on different meanings depending on the overall context.

(3) One looks for SYMBOLS seen in the handwriting——MAJOR or MINOR SYMBOLISM.  MAJOR meaning ascribed to the stroke, as it is related to the page.  MINOR, ascribed a meaning to the stroke, depending upon the picture that the stroke draws.  John Wayne’s signature shows a blackened-out portion, that represents his LUNG CANCER.

The eeriness of prophetic plots

Liaquat Ahamad started researching the GREAT DEPRESSION for his book—THE LORDS OF FINANCE, and he could not have imagined that US investment bank–LEHMAN BROTHERS– would fall just a week after he handed in the manuscript.

He started his research in 2003, and in the five years it took to write the book, he confesses to being sure we were gonna get a financial crisis.  But he rejects any notion that his views were profound.  Lots of people were sure.  We are getting financial crises every few years——1982, ’87, ’90, ’94, ’98, ’99.  What’s different now is the MAGNITUDE.

Some books have been astonishingly prophetic.

(1) FUTILITY by Morgan Robertson. isabout the sinking of an ocean-liner in the North Atlantic after hitting an iceberg.  It was published in 1898, 14 years before the TITANIC sank (1912) after hitting an iceberg.  The eeriest note here—the ocean liner in Robertson’s book was called the TITAN.

In recent times, Stephen Leather’s thriller SOFT TARGET detailed a plot by 4 British-born Muslims to explode bombs on the Underground.  It was published 5 months before the July,7,2005 terrorist attacks on the London Tube.  On the horrific day itself, Chris Cleave’s novel INCENDIARY (of malicious setting of fire of property with a bomb filled with inflammatory substance)–of about a terrorist attack in a London stadium —–was released.  Other PRESCIENT (prescience–foreknowledge) books include—–Tom Clancy’s–DEBT OF HONOUR (1992) which had a vengeful man planning to fly a plane into CAPITOL HILL.  Frederick Forsythe’s–THE NEGOTIATOR, publishe 2 years before the invasion of Kuwait, had renegade element of American business and the Russian military team up to de-stabilan oil-rich West Asian nation.  Clancy had been analysing security for years, when he wrote DEBT OF HONOUR.  He figured out the same loopholes in the air-defence system the 9/11 guys did.  It’s not about being prescient, merely being up-to-date and well-researched, as were the terrorists.  Even so, there can be some amazing indicators.

(1) In 1929, the Americans started work on the tallest building—THE EMPIRE STATE BUILDING in New York, and it coincides with the GREAT DEPRESSION.

(2) In 1997, the PETRONAS TOWERS in Malaysia was built and there was an EAST ASIAN FINANCIAL CRISIS.

(3) In 2009, there was BURJ DUBAI, and the DUBAI CRISIS happened.

The upsides for such books is that READER INTEREST revives AFTER THE EVENT COMES TRUE, even if the resemblance between the real-life episode and the event in the book is FAR-FETCHED, says Warrier.  Do PRESCIENT AUTHORS suffer from feelings of GUILT or POWER ?  NOT AT ALL, says Banker, even the most orthodox religion differentiates between THINKING SOMETHING, SAYING IT and DOING IT.  And therein lies the difference between a WISE MAN, a FOOL and a CRIMINAL