Most people seem to giving a lot of rules of thumb, or even imperatives, instead of what I’d call maxims.
My rule of thumb: write down your maxims, and review them often.
Maxims that cheer you, maxims that motivate you, maxims that kick you out of bad habits, maxims that encourage good habits.
The most important are the maxims that touch you and move you. The best in that regard are quotes from a character in a movie or a book—that quote becomes a touchstone for a full context of meaning.
Two of my new favorites:
Sucker Punch (Sweet Pea)
Who honors those we love for the very life we live? Who sends monsters to kill us, and at the same time sings that we will never die? Who teaches us what’s real and how to laugh at lies? Who decides why we live and what we’ll die to defend? Who chains us? And Who holds the key that can set us free… It’s You. You have all the weapons you need. Now Fight!
HPMOR (Harry)
And someday when the descendants of humanity have spread from star to star, they won’t tell the children about the history of Ancient Earth until they’re old enough to bear it; and when they learn they’ll weep to hear that such a thing as Death had ever once existed!
Most people seem to giving a lot of rules of thumb, or even imperatives, instead of what I’d call maxims.
My rule of thumb: write down your maxims, and review them often.
Maxims that cheer you, maxims that motivate you, maxims that kick you out of bad habits, maxims that encourage good habits.
The most important are the maxims that touch you and move you. The best in that regard are quotes from a character in a movie or a book—that quote becomes a touchstone for a full context of meaning.
Two of my new favorites:
Sucker Punch (Sweet Pea)
HPMOR (Harry)