Please Share Your Positive Mottos :)

Hey guys, for fun, I'm interested in knowing what positive mottos people have heard, made up or been told .

YESTERDAY YOU SAID TOMMORROW, JUST DO IT!!!!

Thanks, smile and be nice.

Comments

  • +10

    “When I was a child my mother said to me, 'If you become a soldier, you'll be a general. If you become a monk, you'll be the pope.' Instead I became a painter and wound up as Picasso.”

    -Pablo Picasso

  • +11

    If you think about it, this is true for 90% of things:

    "People only complain about things they can do something about."

    (We don't complain about the things we have no power over. Have you ever heard anyone complain about gravity? No, never. And the reason is because gravity just exists. There is nothing anyone can do about gravity, so we just accept it. We know that complaining will not change it, so we don't complain about it. The circumstances you complain about are, by their very nature, situations you can change but you have chosen not to.)

    -Success Principles

    • +1

      Like I complained about my wife…can I change that?

      • Well, ultimately, you can choose to leave her (not that I'm saying you should). But you have that option along with idk going to marriage counseling, talking to her about what's bothering you and trying to fix it or whatever. It still constitutes as something you can change.

    • +1

      Then let's change the government!

      • +3

        There should be a pill you can take that gives you an instant election.

        • +5

          I take a pill for an instant election sometimes

        • There is a pill, but you don't have the prescription for it (double dissolution)

        • +1

          @OldBugger: What I read " I take a pill for an instant erection sometimes" o.0

        • +1

          @johnnybravoo0: so i am not the only one :D

    • +3

      I have complained about gravity… Gravity and sagging boobs

      • Without gravity, men might have permanent elections.

  • +10

    "No ones dying words were I wish I had worked more."

    Its made up. And it relates to getting a good work/life balance. Its so easy for people to rack up the hours at work and not pay attention to the true cost its having on them.

    • +4

      I think people are more comfortable being unhappy and conforming to what their peers expect of them. It's socially unacceptable to not be "rushed off your feet" even if the activity you are engaged in is pointless.

      • Our society currently is focused on pressure and stress and if we dont have it in our live, we create it* for ourselves.

        *life and death cakes in Masterchef and end of the world deadlines on renovation shows.

        My motto by the way - "Where there is life there is hope"

  • +20

    "If you tell the truth you don't have to remember anything" - Mark Twain

    • One obviously still has to remember a multitude of things, Abraham Lincoln put that sentiment better:

      "No man has a good enough memory to be a successful liar."

  • +6

    "All men are created equal, some work harder in pre-season."
    - Emitt Smith

  • +7

    "Be who you are and say what you feel, because those who mind don't matter and those who matter don't mind." - Dr. Seuss

    • Terrible advice unless you have nothing to do with other people.

      • +11

        2 things, this isn't a thread to criticise people's mottos and please don't turn it into one. Everything has flaws and there can't be a one size fits all motto but this works for me. And second "those who mind don't matter" :)

      • Also. Dont worry about all your downvotes. Because:

        Those that mind don't matter…

        P.S. I didnt downvote you… I generally agree with your comment. Not here to criticize other peoples mottos but I have always felt that this one can be used to rationalise your behaviour regardless of whether it is good or bad. A serial killer could walk along with a smile in his heart and a whistle on his lips just repeating this mantra in his head.

        • +2

          Firstly, I really don't think there are any mottos or sayings (or anything for that matter) that will justify murder, let alone one by Dr Seuss. In that vein you could argue that telling children they can be anything they want to be when they grow up is encouraging them to be serial killers. Also regarding "A serial killer could walk along with a smile in his heart and a whistle on his lips just repeating this mantra in his head." They likely have other sociopathic issues that are unrelated to Dr Seuss.

          Second, I really think the phrase is just about not letting other people's opinions stop you from being yourself, as long as what you do isn't harming anyone and what you're saying isn't malicious. People that put you down for being who you are shouldn't be the people whose opinions you should worry about. I really thought that this goes without saying but it's not meant to be interpreted literally or used as reasoning to disregard other people's feelings in pursuit of your own endeavours.

        • @yessum: I like your saying better. I.e. Including "as long as what you do isnt harming anyone and what you're saying is malicious".

          Without it the saying is just a feelgood thing that validates anything a person wants.

          I.e.

          • Even though you are morbidly obese don't worry about it… Because those that mind dont matter and those that matter dont mind.
          • Just because you are an alcoholic, no worries… Because those that mind dont matter and those that matter dont mind.

          I guess my feelings stem from someone I knew at work having it up on the wall at their desk and they were just a terrible person all around. But they obviously liked looking at that statement because it absolved them from everything that they did.

    • +3

      In other words, it means "I don't give a f**k what people think of me"

  • +17

    "I’ve missed more than 9000 shots in my career. I’ve lost almost 300 games. 26 times I’ve been trusted to take the game winning shot and missed. I’ve failed over and over and over again in my life. And that is why I succeed." –Michael Jordan

    • +1

      Over 9000??

    • +5

      I find it strange that people hold this kind of advice from the most successful individuals in such high esteem and neglect to consider all the unsuccessful people who may have followed the same methodology.

      I'm pretty sure that it takes extremely rare talent to be a top basketballer not just persistence.

      Oh and height too.

  • +1

    Just do your best and let the sparrows twitter.

  • +10

    YEAHHHH!!!

    • lil jon
    • +5

      "Turn down for what?"
      - lil' jon

  • "What are you going to do about it?"

  • Life's a bitch'n then ya die.

    • +1

      I prefer 'Shit Happens'. It seems to cover most of my life.

  • +8

    Our house rules are:
    1) Be Happy
    2) Be Awesome
    3) Help others with the above

    • What happens if you aren't happy or awesome or does no one there face such inconveniences?

      • +15

        As a single dad raising three young kids by myself, it is aspirational…

      • +2

        Semantics. I don't think you understand what motivational or aspirational sayings are. They are meant to motivate or give you some ideal to aspire to not necessarily hard and fast rules for life. I'm pretty sure @kingsville didn't strictly mean they are rules more 'ideals to live by' which is an aspirational term not legal. I'm pretty sure parents (reasonable ones at least) don't punish their children for failing to Be Happy, Be Awesome although there may be repercussions for not helping out around the house.

    • +1

      A smile costs nothing, but gives much.
      It enriches those who receive,
      without making poorer those who give.
      It takes but a moment,
      but the memory of it sometimes lasts forever.

      None is so rich or mighty that he can get along without it.
      and none is so poor but that he can be made rich by it.
      A smile creates happiness in the home,
      fosters good will in business,
      and is the countersign of friendship.
      It brings rest to the weary,
      cheer to the discouraged,
      sunshine to the sad,
      and is nature’s best antidote for trouble.

      Yet it cannot be bought, begged, borrowed, or stolen,
      for it is something that is of no value to anyone
      until it is given away.
      some people are too tired to give you a smile.
      Give them one of yours,
      as none needs a smile so much as he who has no more to give.

      —Unknown.

      • A smile costs nothing, but gives much.

        No need to tell this to the quokkas. Google image search smiling or happy quokka. Joy ensues.

  • +3

    Have the first one hanging on our wall.

    1)“Work as if you don’t need the money, love as if you’ve never been hurt, dance as if no one’s watching.”

    2)“Though my soul may set in darkness, It will rise in perfect light, I have loved the stars too fondly To be fearful of the night”

    3)"Apparently I'm not happy enough. Well happy can go get stuffed- I'm calm, cool, and collected just the way I like it"

    4"Sometimes its the things you don't do, that define the real you"

    5) Maybe I see forgiveness in the sunrise, maybe i see release in the sunset, and maybe i see hope in the moonlight

    • +2

      “Work as if you don’t need the money, love as if you’ve never been hurt, dance as if no one’s watching.”

      I like that.

      • +1

        If I worked as though I didn't need the money I'd be home by now - I don't think my boss would like that.

  • LLST

  • +3

    We make a living by what we get, we make a life by what we give.
    — Winston Churchill

  • Make friends first, make sales second, make love third.In no particular order.
    -M.Scott

  • +1

    "Life is what you make it"

  • +4

    A genius learns from other people's mistakes
    A smart person learns from his own mistakes
    An idiot doesn't learn from his own mistakes

  • "Act first, apologise later."

  • 'Do what is right let the consequence follow' is my personal motto but I also like 'No good deed goes unpunished'.

  • +12

    Retail is for suckers.

  • aspire to inspire before i expire

  • +2

    'Doing beats stewing'

    My motto for year 12.

  • +14

    ain't nobody got time for dat

    • +6

      It's gonna give me da bronchitis

  • +1

    Be the ball

  • It's not illegal if you don't get caught

    • +5

      lol. reminded me of:

      "It's not a lie…. if you believe it." - George Costanza

  • +5

    WAR IS PEACE
    FREEDOM IS SLAVERY
    IGNORANCE IS STRENGTH

  • +50

    Any Bargains ?

    -jv

  • +2

    Anything Alec Baldwin said in Glengarry Glen Ross.

  • +3

    "People live as though they will live forever. If they wake up every day feeling grateful for being alive and understand that from the day they were born, they are walking towards their grave,then they shall not waste time doing petty things but dedicate their time seeking higher and doing meaningful things in their lives" -SJV

    • SJV = Sir JV?

      • Any bargains?

  • +2

    "If It Is To Be, It Is Up To Me"
    - Ron Barassi.

  • +20

    “If you love a flower, don’t pick it up.
    Because if you pick it up it dies and it ceases to be what you love.
    So if you love a flower, let it be.
    Love is not about possession.
    Love is about appreciation.”
    ― Osho

    • Because if you pick it up it dies and it ceases to be what you love.

      Not if you take a cutting of it to grow a new plant.

  • +27

    I have saved some good ones from reddit.

    If you keep telling the same sad small story, you will keep living the same sad small life.

    Don't hate the Monday, make the Monday hate you.

    It's not the future that you're afraid of but it's repeating the past that makes you anxious.

    Stars can't shine without the darkness.

    A river cuts through rocks not because of the power but because of persistence.

    You don't have to be great to start but you have to start to be great.

    I ask not for lighter burden but for broader shoulders.

    The master has failed more time the beginner has even tried.

    The world is against me, it wouldn't be fair otherwise.

    Hope this helps someone be positive.

  • +10

    "Holding on to anger is like grasping a hot coal with the intent of throwing it at someone else; you are the one who gets burned."
    -Buddha

    • +3

      My ex wife was still being very bitter about me revealing her extramarital affairs to her parents. I needed to pick up some expensive sporting equipment from her place but she was being obstructive and hostile. Saw this quote and sent it to her yesterday. That same night, she organized for my things to be returned to me. Cheers anonymous1!

      • Glad it worked out for you and your ex-wife :).

  • +8

    "In this country, you gotta make the money first. Then when you get the money, you get the power. Then when you get the power, then you get the women."
    - Tony Montana

    • Also know what kind of women and friends money might attract, they might not be the ones you really need.

  • Go big or go home.
    -Paul Walker

    • +1

      No point otherwise. Yes i love this personally.

  • +3

    Love your work, and you will never have to work a day in your life.

    Or something like that.

  • +33

    Get richer and a good paying job
    - Joe Hockey.

    • Lol poor people don't drive. Get richer and a good driving car

  • +16

    "if it ain't on special, don't buy it"

    -ozbargain

    • Guarantee if you do buy it, it will be on special the very next day!

    • "A fool and his money are soon parted."

  • +5

    Don't make tomorrow's problems today's problems

  • +3

    "Failure is not falling down, but the refusal to get back up"

  • -2

    Y O L O

  • +8

    A Ship in Harbor Is Safe, But that Is Not What Ships Are For.

    • +2

      LOL! Bank ads. So inspirational.

      • fortunately it wasn't a bank that made it up, but its credited to an American author and professor - John Augustus Shedd.

        • I wonder where SpaceNinja heard it? Doesn't matter of course. It's quaint either way.

  • +1

    Tomorrow's Work today,
    Today's work NOW!

    • Ghandhi

    I follow it religiously.

  • "Early to bed and early to rise, makes a man healthy, wealthy and wise" - Benjamin Franklin.

  • +4

    "A smooth sea never made a skillful sailor."

  • dont be the horse of race be the lion so no one can bet on u.

  • +1

    Sorry my life is so much more bitchin' than yours. I planned it this way. Charlie Sheen

  • "I'll do it" - Nicholas Cage

    • "OH, NO! NOT THE BEES! NOT THE BEES! AAAAAHHHHH! OH, THEY'RE IN MY EYES! MY EYES! AAAAHHHHH! AAAAAGGHHH!" - Nic Cage

  • At least i ain't dead.

    — Me

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