Quotes

One of the fondest memories of my Granddad Nelson was trading quotes regularly over email. Sadly I lost the email archive when I went on my mission, but it has continued to be an interest of mine. I hope you enjoy my collection of quotes. A bit of everything from religion to politics to leadership.

The adversary rejoices in labels because they divide us and restrict the way we think about ourselves and each other. How sad it is when we honor labels more than we honor each other.

Labels can lead to judging and animosity. Any abuse or prejudice toward another because of nationality, race, sexual orientation, gender, educational degrees, culture, or other significant identifiers is offensive to our Maker!

Good government never depends upon laws, but upon the personal qualities of those who govern. The machinery of government is always subordinate to the will of those who administer that machinery. The most important element of government, therefore, is the method of choosing leaders.

short-term expediency always fails in the long term

Among the responsibilities of command is the necessity to punish . . . but only when the victim demands it.

If you want to make a lot of money in this life, you have to do three things. Find the thing that you like to do, the thing that people are willing to pay you for, and the thing that you are good at. If you find those three things, you will end up making a lot of money.

Too much knowledge never makes for simple decisions.

Control your anger. If you hold anger toward others, they have control over you.

When you stumble you may regain your balance by jumping beyond the thing that tripped you.

The convoluted wording of legalisms grew up around the necessity to hide from ourselves the violence we intend toward each other. Between depriving a man of one hour from his life and depriving him of his life there exists only a difference of degree. You have done violence to him, consumed his energy. Elaborate euphemisms may conceal your intent to kill, but behind any use of power over another the ultimate assumption remains: “I feed on your energy.”

My life got better when I realized I didn't have to be nice. Nice got me ran over, stressed out and disrespected.

I'm not nice. I'm a good person. There's a difference.