Time To Choose Words To Live By

Have you ever considered developing a philosophy for you life? A philosophy which guides the decisions you make in your life? You probably are living by one, but have never put it into words.

Philosophy:

"a set of ideas about how to do something or how to live".

merriam-webster dictionary

This Hub explores 6 quotes from fictional characters and writers that suggest a philosophy for living. I hope you enjoy my selections and thoughts about these amazing quotes!

“All we have to decide is what to do with the time that is given to us.” ~ Gandalf to Frodo at the river after Borimeer dies in Moria (J. R. R. Tolkien)

Frodo tells Gandalf that he wishes the Ring had not come to him. So Gandalf proceeds to encourage him.

Gandalf implies that each of us has a destiny and our part is to decide how to live in the time that is given to us. We need to choose our paths, consciously and willfully, no matter what the cost.

“Even the smallest person can change the course of the future.”

These are the prophetic, encouraging words of Galadriel to Frodo, as he prepared to travel from Lothlórien to Mordor to destroy the One Ring. (J. R. R. Tolkien)

(Galadriel was the co-ruler and Lady of Lothlórien along with her husband, Lord Celeborn.)

We can take heart from these words and realize that, no matter how small we feel or how little our contribution, we can affect the course of our lives. And even affect the course of history!

“It’s too bad she won't live! But then again, who does?” Detective Gaff (James Olmos) from the movie, Blade Runner (1982)

The movie Blade Runner is based on a science fiction novel by Philip K. Dick called (1968) .Do Androids Dream of Electric Sheep?

In the movie Blade Runner, Harrison Ford's character, Rick Deckard is in love with a replicant ( a fictional biorobotic android) whose life expectancy is just a few short years. Detective Gaff's comment to end the film is saturated with the ironic truth that, in the end we all die, so why not enjoy life to the fullest with the one we love, no matter how long that life is!

Aesop (620 BC-560 BC) was an ancient Greek slave and author of a collection of fables known as Aesop's Fables. Each of his stories had a moral or a basic truth.

Aesop's stories end with a moral that we are supposed to identify with and act upon.“When all is said and done, more is said than done.” is from the fable “The Tortoise and the Hare”.

We say many things, make plans about doing various activities, or talk about them but rarely follow though. Too often, more time is spent saying things than doing things.

Action. There is a time for Words, but there is also a time for Action. I think the wisdom lies in knowing when to talk and when to act.

“Beauty appears when something is completely and absolutely and openly itself.” From Writing For Your Life by Deena Metzger p. 23

Too often emphasis is made on the outward appearance in relationship to beauty. At one point I copied this quote from this book, but can't recall when. the power of it struck me then as it does now. When someone or something is "completely and absolutely and openly itself" this is true beauty. Being or becoming what one was created to be is the essence of beauty! We need to embrace the truth of this statement each and every moment!

“We sow a thought and reap an act.
We sow an act and reap a habit;
We sow a habit and reap a character;
We sow a character and reap a destiny.”

Apparently this was a common saying in 19th century. It has been attributed to Charles Reade, Ralph Waldo Emerson, William Makepeace Thackeray, George Dana Boardman, Frances Elizabeth Caroline Willard, James Allen, Marcus Fabius Quintilianus, William James, and an “old Chinese proverb”.

Some postulate that it was written to expand upon the idea expressed in Proverbs 23.7:

"For as he thinketh in his heart, so is he".

The point is that rarely do we act on impulse alone. Actions often start as thoughts or as ideas pondered. Then actions began to establish a pattern and become a habit. These habits add up to a lifestyle. The actions, then leads to what is called "character". Character that defines who we are, character that decides a destiny. A destiny that begins with thoughts, ideas.

The 6 Quotes For A Philosophy Of Life have been added to get you thinking. So, once you have thought over a motto, a philosophy, a set of ideas to live by, you can act. Once you act on your philosophy, you begin to define your life, you character.

Your philosophy of life decides your destiny!