My Greek father, a professor of Russian History and Modern Greek Studies at the University of Minnesota, taught me that a life without principles is no life at all. Fortunately, my Greek forefathers, including some of the greatest philosophers, theologians and dramatists in history, gave me a lot of great stuff to choose from. Here are some of my favorites, a few that I relate and aspire to: “Regard your good name as the richest jewel you can possibly be possessed of - for credit is like fire; when once you have kindled it you may easily preserve it, but if you once extinguish it, you will find it an arduous task to rekindle it again. The way to gain a good reputation is to endeavor to be what you desire to appear.” “The unexamined life is not worth living.” “Be kind, for everyone you meet is fighting a hard battle.” “Necessity…is the mother of invention.” “All virtue is summed up in dealing justly.” “Dignity consists not in possessing honors, but in the consciousness that we deserve them.” “Pleasure in the job puts perfection in the work.” “Let each man exercise the art he knows.” "What you leave behind is not what is engraved in stone monuments, but what is woven into the lives of others." |