curiosity is the wick in the candle of learning

Now isn't this a lovely little quote? It reminds me of the famous Einstein saying, 'genius and children share one attribute, curiosity. Always be asking is my motto. This is the sad thing about growing up. People stop being curious. They don't like asking questions. Why? Because they think that it's below their dignity. Because it's going to make them feel small. Because it might diminish them. Utter rubbish. Total bollocks. 

Asking and being curious makes you grow. Makes you stretch. Makes you happy. See people who are unhappy. One thing you'll notice about them is that they aren't curious. They aren't interested in what's going on in and around them. Weird people. But they are worthy of curiosity :) 

Happy questioning children. Today I'm off to see the Greenwich international maritime museum. It's been on my bucket list for years. A place so awesomely filled with history of people who were curious. 

Love

Baba

18 Quotes By The Dowager Countess That You Need To Start Using In Your Life

hese were very funny indeed Kannu. Some of them you can use to get into your conversations. The last one I liked. I'm reminded of what one of my bosses told me when I was trying to cut costs. He told me, BD, don't be a middle class with cost cutting. Basically meaning penny wise and pound foolish. But this quote from the dowager did make me think. Why is being defeatist a middle class problem? I'm not one and I guess I could be the archetypical middle class man. In terms of thinking anyway. Money wise we are way off. 

Makes one think as to why the middle classes are so worried and bring defeatist. Is it because of their insecurity? 

Love

Baba

18 Quotes By The Dowager Countess That You Need To Start Using In Your Life
http://www.huffingtonpost.co.uk/2015/03/08/downton-abbey-dowager-countess-quotes_n_6827466.html
(via Instapaper)

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To paraphrase another great wit: rumours of her leaving appear to have been greatly exaggerated.

Which is a relief. Because 'Downton Abbey' without its marvellous matriarch - Dame Maggie Smith's Dowager Countess - would be a duller place indeed.

From quick-witted observations to sharp-tongued ripostes, here are some of the finest, funniest bon mots ever uttered by Violet Crawley, Dowager Countess of Grantham.

Whether you're dealing with foreigners, friends or whining women, we highly recommend using them when the social occasion arises...

• 1 'At my age, one must ration one's excitement.'

Putin is learning what Churchill knew

Kannu 

This was a great quote 

read what Winston Churchill had to say about going to war in My Early Life: “Let us learn our lessons. Never, never, never believe any war will be smooth and easy, or that anyone who embarks on that strange voyage can measure the tides and hurricanes he will encounter. The statesman who yields to war fever must realise that once the signal is given, he is no longer the master of policy but the slave of unforeseeable and uncontrollable events. 

“Antiquated War Offices, weak, incompetent or arrogant commanders, untrustworthy allies, hostile neutrals, malignant fortune, ugly surprises, awful miscalculations – all take their seats at the Council Board on the morrow of a declaration of war. Always remember, however sure you are that you can easily win, that there would not be a war if the other man did not think he also had a chance.”
As they say, wars never survive contact with the enemy. 

This is the problem, people simply dont understand the issues that you will face after going to war. Every time, without fail, the costs of going to war are much higher than what you expected or anticipated or even planned for. Even now, every of the little wars or big wars have unexpected and unanticipated costs all over the place. Jaw Jaw is better than war war as the other quote goes. 

And to a much lesser extent, son, same thing happens in business as well. Your resources may not be the best ever. Your support may not be good. Your competitor may do something else. Your customers may not buy into your proposition. The trick is to be flexible and be willing to move smoothly and react to unforeseen circumstances :) 

Love 

baba 



I saw this article when using the Financial Times app and thought you might be interested:

Financial Times,
Putin is learning what Churchill knew
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From Mr Charles Lucas. Sir, Vladimir Putin should read what Winston Churchill had to say about going to war in My Early Life

Read the full article at: http://on.ft.com/1txdWix 

Gibbon on Athenians

there’s a huge amount of context to this quote, but be that as it may, whenever a society starts sucking on the hind tit of society and not taking up individual responsibility, then its destined to be kicked in the proverbials…History is a vast early warning system and it sure does repeat itself…and will keep on doing it…