Our Favorite Quotes

Good advice is something a man gives when he is too old to set a bad example."
- Francois de La Rochefoucauld .

 

"Most can suffer anthing but injustice".

 

I had a boss once who believed in the following maxim:

"A kick in the pants is worth more than a pat on the back."

Which I disdain entirely and condemn to the trash heap.

My backside was bruised enough, but I left with my integrity intact.

Eric

 

"It is easier to ask forgiveness than to get permission."
-Rear admiral Grace Hopper

Field supervisors and managers in my company used to think like that.

Of course, that was back in the days when those positions were filled from the ranks, and the men in them knew what they were doing. They tended to be a little rough around the edges, and paid more attention to getting the job done than they did to getting along with bean counters and upper management control freaks.

We don't have supervisors and managers like that anymore.... the ones we get now generally come from outside the company, instead of coming up through the ranks. They know more about paperwork, budgets, diplomacy and arse-kissing than they do about what we actually do in the field.

 

"They know more about paperwork, budgets, diplomacy and arse-kissing than they do about what we actually do in the field."....and therein lies the problem with many organisations today....but you will find they have a diploma in what they do.
You haven't, so how could you possibly know anything......makes me wonder every day at the stupidity that I see in many companies that once were very productive.

 

John Masefield Poem, Sea Fever

I must go down to the seas again, to the lonely sea and sky.
And all I ask is a tall ship and a star to steer her by.
And a grey mist on the sea's face, and a grey dawn breaking.
And the wheel's kick and the wind's song and the white sails shaking.

I must go down to the seas again, for the call of the running tide
Is a wild call and a clear call that may not be denied.
And all I ask is a windy day with the white clouds flying
And the flung spray and the blown spume and the sea gulls crying.

ps; you might recall the second line from an old StarTrek episode.

Cheers, DocWet

 

Amen; I'm speaking from personal knowledge. My Uncle Buck (Kermit Samons) went from having a 3d-grade education and running trap lines in Missouri, to becoming a legend in this California utility. He definitely looked and sounded the part - he was about 6'-4", with a voice that was a cross between a deep-throated fog horn and a load of gravel rattling out of a dump truck. He was renowned for knowing how to do any job better than the men working under him, and for having absolutely no tact. God help any of his guys who screwed up - and God help anyone from corporate who tried to go around him to stick it to them.

I've heard many stories where he landed on workers who blew it, including one where he left a crew member who was considered a major bad-*** with tears streaming down his cheeks. And I've heard just as many stories where he put his own job on the line, to protect one of his guys from arbitrary company policies or decisions.

He demanded the utmost in performance and loyalty from his crews - and in return he committed himself to being their advocate and protector, no matter whose feathers he ruffled along the way.

They don't make men like that any more. Or if they do, they don't get hired by this company. The supervisors we have today seem to be picked mostly for their ability to avoid friction with upper management.

Where I work now is where my Uncle Buck started his career mopping floors and loading or unloading compressors, more than fifty years ago. And sometimes in the middle of the night, I swear I can hear his pithy comments on how I'm doing my job...

 

Yeah Troy, we live in a world of nappies and nannies now, very few who care to shake the rattle anymore.

 

"Four score and seven years ago our fathers brought forth on this continent, a new nation, conceived in Liberty, and dedicated to the proposition that all men are created equal.

Now we are engaged in a great civil war, testing whether that nation, or any nation so conceived and so dedicated, can long endure. We are met on a great battle-field of that war. We have come to dedicate a portion of that field, as a final resting place for those who here gave their lives that that nation might live. It is altogether fitting and proper that we should do this.

But, in a larger sense, we can not dedicate -- we can not consecrate -- we can not hallow -- this ground. The brave men, living and dead, who struggled here, have consecrated it, far above our poor power to add or detract. The world will little note, nor long remember what we say here, but it can never forget what they did here. It is for us the living, rather, to be dedicated here to the unfinished work which they who fought here have thus far so nobly advanced. It is rather for us to be here dedicated to the great task remaining before us -- that from these honored dead we take increased devotion to that cause for which they gave the last full measure of devotion -- that we here highly resolve that these dead shall not have died in vain -- that this nation, under God, shall have a new birth of freedom -- and that government of the people, by the people, for the people, shall not perish from the earth."
Source: Collected Works of Abraham Lincoln, edited by Roy P. Basler

 

- reminds me of my first job. The company founder belonged to the the "management by walking around" school. He was renowned for his memory. One day he found some guy goofing off and told him to collect his cards as he was fired. About three months later he was in the same part of the works and sees the same guy at his station, still working.

"Didn't I tell you to collect your cards three months ago?" he said.
"Yes sir you did"
The big boss growled "Well good for you!" and moved on.

The big boss retired and his sons took over. Although young at the time I thought bad decisions were being made and got out. I think it lasted for about ten years then kind of evaporated.

My last company still had many of its first team of management when I joined. They mostly had fearsome reputations, although I found them reasonably easy to get along with. They had built it up from a of a place to an internationally famous high-tec business. Over the next few years they retired. It became the fashion to bring in new guys from outside for the top jobs. same thing happened: what's left of it is a little workshop again.

Starting up a company requires an opportunity, the ability to recognize and the balls to grasp it. Running a company in good times is just a maintenance job, needed competent but uninspired management. So the grey-faced men become established and bring in their own kind. Sooner or later one of two things seems to happen: either an outside challenge arises to which nobody has the answer or the grey-faces get delusions of adequacy and decide to restructure and change direction. I've seen it happen too many times.

 

God vs. Science
"Let me explain the problem science has with religion."The atheist professor of philosophy pauses before his class and then asks one of his new students to stand.

'You're a Christian, aren't you, son?'

'Yes sir,' the student says.

'So you believe in God?'

'Absolutely '

'Is God good?'

'Sure! God's good.'

'Is God all-powerful? Can God do anything?'

'Yes'

'Are you good or evil?'

'The Bible says I'm evil.'

The professor grins knowingly. 'Aha! The Bible! He considers for a moment. 'Here's one for you. Let's say there's a sick person over here and you can cure him. You can do it. Would you help him? Would you try?'

'Yes sir, I would.'

'So you're good...!'

'I wouldn't say that.'

'But why not say that? You'd help a sick and maimed person if you could. Most of us would if we could. But God doesn't.'

The student does not answer, so the professor continues. 'He doesn't, does he? My brother was a Christian who died of cancer, even though he prayed to Jesus to heal him. How is this Jesus good? Can you answer that one?'

The student remains silent. 'No, you can't, can you?' the professor says. He takes a sip of water from a glass on his desk to give the student time to relax. 'Let's start again, young fella. Is God good?'

'Er..yes,' the student says.

'Is Satan good?'

The student doesn't hesitate on this one.. 'No.'

'Then where does Satan come from?'

The student falters. 'From God'

'That's right. God made Satan, didn't he? Tell me, son. Is there evil in this world?'

'Yes, sir.'

'Evil's everywhere, isn't it? And God did make everything, correct?'

'Yes'

'So who created evil?' The professor continued, 'If God created everything,then God created evil, since evil exists, and according to the principle that our works define who we are, then God is evil.'

Again, the student has no answer. 'Is there sickness? Immorality? Hatred? Ugliness? All these terrible things, do they exist in this world?'

The student squirms on his feet. 'Yes.'

'So who created them ?'

The student does not answer again, so the professor repeats his question. 'Who created them?' There is still no answer. Suddenly the lecturer breaks away to pace in front of the classroom. The class is mesmerized. 'Tell me,' he continues onto another student. 'Do you believe in Jesus Christ, son?'

The student's voice betrays him and cracks. 'Yes, professor, I do.'

The old man stops pacing. 'Science says you have five senses you use to identify and observe the world around you. Have you ever seen Jesus?'

'No sir. I've never seen Him.'

'Then tell us if you've ever heard your Jesus?'

'No, sir, I have not.'

'Have you ever felt your Jesus, tasted your Jesus or smelt your Jesus? Have you ever had any sensory perception of Jesus Christ, or God for that matter?'

'No, sir, I'm afraid I haven't.'

'Yet you still believe in him?'

'Yes'

'According to the rules of empirical, testable, demonstrable protocol, science says your God doesn't exist... What do you say to that, son?'

'Nothing,' the student replies.. 'I only have my faith.'

'Yes, faith,' the professor repeats. 'And that is the problem science has with God. There is no evidence, only faith.'

The student stands quietly for a moment, before asking a question of His own. 'Professor, is there such thing as heat? '

' Yes.

'And is there such a thing as cold?'

'Yes, son, there's cold too.'

'No sir, there isn't.'

The professor turns to face the student, obviously interested. The room suddenly becomes very quiet. The student begins to explain. 'You can have lots of heat, even more heat, super-heat, mega-heat, unlimited heat, white heat, a little heat or no heat, but we don't have anything called 'cold'. We can hit down to 458 degrees below zero, which is no heat, but we can't go any further after that. There is no such thing as cold; otherwise we would be able to go colder than the lowest -458 degrees. Everybody or object is susceptible to study when it has or transmits energy, and heat is what makes a body or matter have or transmit energy. Absolute zero (-458 F) is the total absence of heat. You see, sir, cold is only a word we use to describe the absence of heat. We cannot measure cold. Heat we can measure in thermal units because heat is energy. Cold is not the opposite of heat, sir, just the absence of it.'

Silence across the room. A pen drops somewhere in the classroom, sounding like a hammer.

'What about darkness, professor. Is there such a thing as darkness?'

'Yes,' the professor replies without hesitation. 'What is night if it isn't darkness?'

'You're wrong again, sir. Darkness is not something; it is the absence of something. You can have low light, normal light, bright light, flashing light, but if you have no light constantly you have nothing and it's called darkness, isn't it? That's the meaning we use to define the word. In reality, darkness isn't. If it were, you would be able to make darkness darker, wouldn't you?'

The professor begins to smile at the student in front of him. This will be a good semester. 'So what point are you making, young man?'

'Yes, professor. My point is, your philosophical premise is flawed to start with, and so your conclusion must also be flawed.'

The professor's face cannot hide his surprise this time. 'Flawed? Can you explain how?'

'You are working on the premise of duality,' the student explains. 'You argue that there is life and then there's death; a good God and a bad God. You are viewing the concept of God as something finite, something we can measure. Sir, science can't even explain a thought.' 'It uses electricity and magnetism, but has never seen, much less fully understood either one. To view death as the opposite of life is to be ignorant of the fact that death cannot exist as a substantive thing. Death is not the opposite of life, just the absence of it.' 'Now tell me, professor. Do you teach your students that they evolved from a monkey?'

'If you are referring to the natural evolutionary process, young man, yes, of course I do.'

'Have you ever observed evolution with your own eyes, sir?'

The professor begins to shake his head, still smiling, as he realizes where the argument is going. A very good semester, indeed.

'Since no one has ever observed the process of evolution at work and cannot even prove that this process is an on-going endeavor, are you not teaching your opinion, sir? Are you now not a scientist, but a preacher?'

The class is in uproar. The student remains silent until the commotion has subsided. 'To continue the point you were making earlier to the other student, let me give you an example of what I mean.' The student looks around the room. 'Is there anyone in the class who has ever seen the professor's brain?' The class breaks out into laughter. 'Is there anyone here who has ever heard the professor's brain, felt the professor's brain, touched or smelt the professor's brain? No one appears to have done so... So, according to the established rules of empirical, stable, demonstrable protocol, science says that you have no brain, with all due respect, sir.' 'So if science says you have no brain, how can we trust your lectures, sir?'

Now the room is silent. The professor just stares at the student, his face unreadable. Finally, after what seems an eternity, the old man answers. 'I Guess you'll have to take them on faith.'

'Now, you accept that there is faith, and, in fact, faith exists with life,' the student continues. 'Now, sir, is there such a thing as evil?' Now uncertain, the professor responds, 'Of course, there is. We see it Everyday. It is in the daily example of man's inhumanity to man. It is in The multitude of crime and violence everywhere in the world. These manifestations are nothing else but evil.'

To this the student replied, 'Evil does not exist sir, or at least it does not exist unto itself. Evil is simply the absence of God. It is just like darkness and cold, a word that man has created to describe the absence of God. God did not create evil. Evil is the result of what happens when man does not have God's love present in his heart. It's like the cold that comes when there is no heat or the darkness that comes when there is no light.'

The professor sat down.

PS: The student was Albert Einstein.

Albert Einstein wrote a book titled 'God vs. Science' in 1921...

 

Einstein was Jewish although not a devout one. Nonetheless the parts involving Jesus sound unlikely. There's no reputable record of such a book. Anti-semitism was prevalent during his entire time in Germany; he was educated at a catholic school and attended university in Zurich the whole thing sounds unlikely. However, it's rather fun and nice to see the atheists take a hit now and then . . .

 

Actually, Einstein's parents were non-practicing Jews and Albert attended Catholic school as a youth. Christianity is by choice, not birth, but who knows what he believed at the end?

I do, from time to time, fall for something like this, which at first rings so true. I still like the story.

See http://www.snopes.com/religion/einstein.asp

 

Me too, fun story. One thing we are sure of, Albert Einstein famously did not believe in the uncertainty principle or quantum theory.

 

"'If you are referring to the natural evolutionary process, young man, yes, of course I do.'

'Have you ever observed evolution with your own eyes, sir?'

The professor begins to shake his head, still smiling, as he realizes where the argument is going. A very good semester, indeed.

'Since no one has ever observed the process of evolution at work and cannot even prove that this process is an on-going endeavor,'"


This wouldn't stand up in science class today.

With the understanding of genetics, evolution has not only been widely observed, it is the subject of intense ongoing study, especially amongst humans.

eg

Evolution in humans is commonly thought to have essentially stopped in recent times. But there are plenty of examples that the human race is still evolving, including our brains, and there are even signs that our evolution may be accelerating.

Shrinking brains

Comprehensive scans of the human genome reveal that hundreds of our genes show evidence of changes during the past 10,000 years of human evolution.

"We know the brain has been evolving in human populations quite recently," said paleoanthropologist John Hawks at the University of Wisconsin at Madison.

Surprisingly, based on skull measurements, the human brain appears to have been shrinking over the last 5,000 or so years. "

http://www.livescience.com/7971-humans-evolving-brains-shrink.html