Aphorisms

Thursday. August 01, 2024 - 2 mins

Over the years, I’ve developed a bit of a fascination with short, thought-provoking nuggets of wisdom — aphorisms, quotes, proverbs, maxims, adages, apothegms — whatever you call them. There’s something captivating about how a few words can distill deep truths, sparking reflection or offering direction when life feels a bit unclear.

I often find myself revisiting these collected bits of wisdom when I need perspective, clarity, or even a little inspiration. Somehow, they transcend time and act like little beacons, showing up exactly when you need them most — whether you’re lost in thought or just lost in general.

So, I’ve decided to curate them here, publicly. Think of this as a living document that I’ll update whenever I stumble upon something new that speaks to me. A perpetual work-in-progress, much like life itself.

You might find some of these vague, and lacking context - that’s intentional. I prefer to leave them as they are — short, mysterious, and open to interpretation. There’s a certain magic in their brevity. I like that, depending on where you are in life or what you’re going through, the same phrase can take on entirely different meanings.

So, here they are, in no specific order — take from them what you will. They’ve helped guide me, and I hope, in some small way, they can do the same for you.

• “Fail often, but fail forward”
• “What you don’t know can’t hurt you”
• “Control the controllables”
• “The dose makes the poison”
• “Don’t count other people’s money”
• “Being busy creates opportunities”
• “Success is on the other side of your ego”
• “There are no right answers to wrong questions”
• “A rising tide lifts all boats”
• “The things you run from are inside you”
• “The best way out is always through”
• “Never trust a man who earns a salary”​
• “The squeaky wheel gets the grease”
• “The map is not the territory”
• “The road to hell is paved with good intentions”
• “Perfect is the enemy of good”
• “There is no cure for curiosity”
• “Adjust your sails to the wind”
• “Ask, or remain a fool”
• “The teacher appears when you’re ready”
• “The tree is known by its fruit”
• “What you resist, persists”
• “We suffer more in imagination than in reality”
• “No one ever steps in the same river twice”

📬 Found this interesting? Boring? Send me an email with your thoughts!

Sandeep Raju Prabhakar

Writes about technology, software engineering and other things that interests him.

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