Core Thoughts from Philosophy
I am interested in knowing more about Philosophy. In that context, I would like to chat. I am not using your services as a search engine. So, please do not provide me links to any material. Those links distract me and make me lose my focus. In each successive paragraph/prompt, I will give you a philosophical thought. For each of these thoughts, give me a detailed explanation of that thought, and then tell me about related thoughts. Are you ready?
The Conversation
Wisdom can be expressed in only a few words; but more words are required for an elaborate explanation.
What is being said is far more important than who said it.
I know that I don't know much.
An unexamined life is not worth living.
Know Thyself.
Those who suffer need philosophy the most.
Pain is in the body, happiness is in the mind.
Our body experiences pleasure, our mind experiences happiness and joy.
We suffer more often in imagination than in reality.
It is not things that disturb us, but our judgments about things.
Life would not seem short if we didn't waste a lot of it.
Information about events can be expressed in infinitely many words, and almost all of those events are worthless.
What can you do with troubling news? Get wrapped up in fear, uncertainty and doubt.
Abandoning fear uncertainty and doubt is the first step to willingness, willingness is the first step to learning, learning is the first step to knowledge, knowledge is the first step to problem-solving, solving problems is a necessary step to wisdom, wisdom is the first step to happiness.
The worst way to spend your life is indulge just in pleasures and nothing more meaningful than that.
Pleasure is a poor substitute for happiness.
Nature does not take sides. It gives consequences; to actions and inactions.
Live in harmony with nature. Live in accordance with nature.
Recognize what is and is not under your control. Only your mind is somewhat under your control.
You are only human. You cannot be perfect. Achieving perfection is not a realistic goal. Be the best you can.
You are here. Do something good with it.
Life is good and long if you know how to live it.
Happiness is a path; not a destination.
Find your purpose and you will find yourself at the beginning of the happiness boulevard.
Finding one's true purpose takes time, experience and contemplation.
Till you find your true purpose, adopt the following as your default purpose: Do my duty towards myself, my family, my friends, my community, my society, and my world, in that priority order.
Purpose is to happiness what investment is to wealth. Wisdom is to purpose what hedging is to investment.
What is your duty? It is for you to decide; really.
Those who abandon their duty will be laughed at. Not good for the body; not good for the soul.
When you take appropriate efforts, for most worldly things, you will succeed. In attempting to do some things, you may not accomplish success. That is ok. Either your efforts were insufficient, or inappropriate, or you mistook effort for control.
You have the right to do your duty; not to its fruit.
Your efforts are under your control; the results of your efforts are not.
God helps those who helps themselves.
Those who can't help themselves, cannot truly help others.
Robbing Peter to help Paul does not make you the "helper".
Let all your activity be directed towards a goal - your purpose. Then live in the present.
True understanding comes from apply knowledge to solving problems. You learn from the success or failure of this effort.