Restraint

Intelligence is knowing what to do. Wisdom is knowing what not to do.

To be Young, Gifted and Black

What do we learn from the death of Chadwick Boseman? At least this: That Stoics are sometimes confused with super heroes; that it is not important to live a long life; that living well is dying well; and that Einstein was undoubtedly right when he wrote, “The only rational way to educate is by example.”

Tango time

Right action has both a negative and a positive dimension—as, indeed, does all of life. In its Buddhistic dimension, it’s what we refrain from doing. In its mystic-Christian dimension, it’s what is done through us. These are not contradictory positions. They’re tango partners.

Secrets

Keep 10 percent to your self. There’s no need to disclose everything, especially when you’ve expressed a good or conferred a benevolence.

No question, no answer

We bridle our anger when we stop answering questions we haven’t been asked.