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Quotes for inspiration

#1 · December 28, 2021, 11:36 pm

Quote from Kavalier on December 28, 2021, 11:36 pm
Hi guys!

Matthew Whitewood and I had this idea of starting a thread containing motivational quotes (anything that may resonate with you and provide inspiration - be it poetry, aphorisms, book/film quotations, proverbs, something you heard from someone important in your life... anything you'd like to share) the other day. As Matthew shared with us two phrases (here) that help him create (Matthew, it would be great if you posted them here too!), it got me thinking that it's a very good way for us to internalize useful mindsets and to acquire more culture in general.

So without further ado, I'd like to share with you a poem by Rudyard Kipling that is very dear to my heart:

If—

If you can keep your head when all about you

    Are losing theirs and blaming it on you,

If you can trust yourself when all men doubt you,

    But make allowance for their doubting too;

If you can wait and not be tired by waiting,

    Or being lied about, don’t deal in lies,

Or being hated, don’t give way to hating,

    And yet don’t look too good, nor talk too wise:

If you can dream—and not make dreams your master;

    If you can think—and not make thoughts your aim;

If you can meet with Triumph and Disaster

    And treat those two impostors just the same;

If you can bear to hear the truth you’ve spoken

    Twisted by knaves to make a trap for fools,

Or watch the things you gave your life to, broken,

    And stoop and build ’em up with worn-out tools:

If you can make one heap of all your winnings

    And risk it on one turn of pitch-and-toss,

And lose, and start again at your beginnings

    And never breathe a word about your loss;

If you can force your heart and nerve and sinew

    To serve your turn long after they are gone,

And so hold on when there is nothing in you

    Except the Will which says to them: ‘Hold on!’

If you can talk with crowds and keep your virtue,

    Or walk with Kings—nor lose the common touch,

If neither foes nor loving friends can hurt you,

    If all men count with you, but none too much;

If you can fill the unforgiving minute

    With sixty seconds’ worth of distance run,

Yours is the Earth and everything that’s in it,

    And—which is more—you’ll be a Man, my son!

Hi guys!

Matthew Whitewood and I had this idea of starting a thread containing motivational quotes (anything that may resonate with you and provide inspiration - be it poetry, aphorisms, book/film quotations, proverbs, something you heard from someone important in your life... anything you'd like to share) the other day. As Matthew shared with us two phrases (here) that help him create (Matthew, it would be great if you posted them here too!), it got me thinking that it's a very good way for us to internalize useful mindsets and to acquire more culture in general.

So without further ado, I'd like to share with you a poem by Rudyard Kipling that is very dear to my heart:

If—

If you can keep your head when all about you

Are losing theirs and blaming it on you,

If you can trust yourself when all men doubt you,

But make allowance for their doubting too;

If you can wait and not be tired by waiting,

Or being lied about, don’t deal in lies,

Or being hated, don’t give way to hating,

And yet don’t look too good, nor talk too wise:

If you can dream—and not make dreams your master;

If you can think—and not make thoughts your aim;

If you can meet with Triumph and Disaster

And treat those two impostors just the same;

If you can bear to hear the truth you’ve spoken

Twisted by knaves to make a trap for fools,

Or watch the things you gave your life to, broken,

And stoop and build ’em up with worn-out tools:

If you can make one heap of all your winnings

And risk it on one turn of pitch-and-toss,

And lose, and start again at your beginnings

And never breathe a word about your loss;

If you can force your heart and nerve and sinew

To serve your turn long after they are gone,

And so hold on when there is nothing in you

Except the Will which says to them: ‘Hold on!’

If you can talk with crowds and keep your virtue,

Or walk with Kings—nor lose the common touch,

If neither foes nor loving friends can hurt you,

If all men count with you, but none too much;

If you can fill the unforgiving minute

With sixty seconds’ worth of distance run,

Yours is the Earth and everything that’s in it,

And—which is more—you’ll be a Man, my son!

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#2 · December 29, 2021, 12:30 am

I love that poem quoted it the other day. My one s a bit trad but probably a good balance here amongst us hyper power sensitive trainee sharks.

"It's nice to be important but it's important to be nice".

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#3 · December 29, 2021, 12:33 am

"It's nice to be important but it's important to be nice".

So simple, so powerful!

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#4 · December 29, 2021, 5:57 am

One quote that motivated, pushed me, and invigorated me a lot when struggling the most was:

It's in your darkest hours that men are born and characters are forged

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#5 · December 29, 2021, 6:19 am

I love both quotes. They're both very relevant to the challenges we face. Theodore Roosebelt's Man in the Arena quote is my favorite:

"It is not the critic who counts; not the man who points out how the strong man stumbles, or where the doer of deeds could have done them better. The credit belongs to the man who is actually in the arena, whose face is marred by dust and sweat and blood; who strives valiantly; who errs, who comes short again and again, because there is no effort without error and shortcoming; but who does actually strive to do the deeds; who knows great enthusiasms, the great devotions; who spends himself in a worthy cause; who at the best knows in the end the triumph of high achievement, and who at the worst, if he fails, at least fails while daring greatly, so that his place shall never be with those cold and timid souls who neither know victory nor defeat."

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#6 · December 30, 2021, 12:37 am

Quote from Ali Scarlett on December 30, 2021, 12:37 am
Awesome thread here, thanks for starting it, Kavalier.

My favorite poem is Desiderata by Max Ehrmann (1927):

GO PLACIDLY amid the noise and the haste, and remember what peace there may be in silence. As far as possible, without surrender, be on good terms with all persons.

Speak your truth quietly and clearly; and listen to others, even to the dull and the ignorant; they too have their story.

Avoid loud and aggressive persons; they are vexatious to the spirit. If you compare yourself with others, you may become vain or bitter, for always there will be greater and lesser persons than yourself.

Enjoy your achievements as well as your plans. Keep interested in your own career, however humble; it is a real possession in the changing fortunes of time.

Exercise caution in your business affairs, for the world is full of trickery. But let this not blind you to what virtue there is; many persons strive for high ideals, and everywhere life is full of heroism.

Be yourself. Especially do not feign affection. Neither be cynical about love; for in the face of all aridity and disenchantment, it is as perennial as the grass.

Take kindly the counsel of the years, gracefully surrendering the things of youth.

Nurture strength of spirit to shield you in sudden misfortune. But do not distress yourself with dark imaginings. Many fears are born of fatigue and loneliness.

Beyond a wholesome discipline, be gentle with yourself. You are a child of the universe no less than the trees and the stars; you have a right to be here.

And whether or not it is clear to you, no doubt the universe is unfolding as it should. Therefore be at peace with God, whatever you conceive Him to be. And whatever your labors and aspirations, in the noisy confusion of life, keep peace in your soul. With all its sham, drudgery and broken dreams, it is still a beautiful world. Be cheerful. Strive to be happy.

For me, reading this feels like reading a blueprint for life satisfaction and happiness.

I enjoy reading this poem from time to time.

Awesome thread here, thanks for starting it, Kavalier.

My favorite poem is Desiderata by Max Ehrmann (1927):

GO PLACIDLY amid the noise and the haste, and remember what peace there may be in silence. As far as possible, without surrender, be on good terms with all persons.

Speak your truth quietly and clearly; and listen to others, even to the dull and the ignorant; they too have their story.

Avoid loud and aggressive persons; they are vexatious to the spirit. If you compare yourself with others, you may become vain or bitter, for always there will be greater and lesser persons than yourself.

Enjoy your achievements as well as your plans. Keep interested in your own career, however humble; it is a real possession in the changing fortunes of time.

Exercise caution in your business affairs, for the world is full of trickery. But let this not blind you to what virtue there is; many persons strive for high ideals, and everywhere life is full of heroism.

Be yourself. Especially do not feign affection. Neither be cynical about love; for in the face of all aridity and disenchantment, it is as perennial as the grass.

Take kindly the counsel of the years, gracefully surrendering the things of youth.

Nurture strength of spirit to shield you in sudden misfortune. But do not distress yourself with dark imaginings. Many fears are born of fatigue and loneliness.

Beyond a wholesome discipline, be gentle with yourself. You are a child of the universe no less than the trees and the stars; you have a right to be here.

And whether or not it is clear to you, no doubt the universe is unfolding as it should. Therefore be at peace with God, whatever you conceive Him to be. And whatever your labors and aspirations, in the noisy confusion of life, keep peace in your soul. With all its sham, drudgery and broken dreams, it is still a beautiful world. Be cheerful. Strive to be happy.

For me, reading this feels like reading a blueprint for life satisfaction and happiness.

I enjoy reading this poem from time to time.

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#7 · December 30, 2021, 9:55 am

Thanks Kavelier for starting this thread.
This thread is so awesome.
And the great quotes by Kevin, Lucio, Ali and Kellvo too!

There are 2 phrases that help me to create:

Real artists ship - dealing with the fear of things not working out
Don't cry because it's over; smile because it happened - dealing with the grief/heartbreak of things not working out

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#8 · December 30, 2021, 3:30 pm

Thank you so much for contributing, guys! Lots of awesome quotes here from everyone!

This is one I came across when I started training martial arts for the first time:

The Warrior Creed

Wherever I go,
everyone is a little bit safer because I am there.
Wherever I am,
anyone in need has a friend.
When I return home,
everyone is happy I am there.
“It’s a better life!”

Jack E. Hoban

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#9 · July 7, 2022, 3:29 pm

New quote just entered PU:

The foundation of self-defense is self-respect

A good reminder you don't just enforce boundaries for social status, to win, and to get what you deserve.

You also do it as an act out of self-love.

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#10 · July 7, 2022, 4:03 pm

Yes, it's a good one. That is my main motivation: I deserve (self-)respect. We are responsible of how we allow other people to treat us.

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