Share a Maxim with us

What maxim do you remember and often use? How did you learn the maxim, from a parent, an uncle, a teacher? How often does the maxim make it's way into your conversations with friend, children, or students? Why do you use the maxim -- What purpose does it serve?

We invite you to share your maxims with us by filling out and submitting this form. As we receive your maxims stories, we will post them to this page.

Thank you for sharing your maxim(s) with us!

"A man is like a bit of Labrador spar, which has no lustre as you turn it in your hand until you come to a particular angle; then it shows deep and beautiful colors. There is no adaptation or universal applicability in men, but each has his special Talent, and the mastery of Successful men consists in adroitly keeping themselves where and when that turn shall be oftenest to be practiced." Ralph Waldo Emerson

Submitted by: Rob Kall
How did you learn the maxim? Reading Emerson
How do you use the Maxim? As a lecturer-- to remind people that each person has his or her best aspect whcih they must learn to put forward, and that even the greatest people only shine when they do that. BTW, I have close to 1000 more quotations at my website, Quotations Central, at www.futurehealth.org/quotatio.htm

Love is the only force capable of transforming an enemy into a friend. Martin Luther King, Jr.

Submitted by: Charles  McLafferty
How did you learn the maxim? Reading
How do you use the Maxim? For me, it provides a constructive substitute for anger.

"When all you have is a hammer, all problems start to look like nails." Mark Twain

Submitted by: Sharon Kass
How did you learn the maxim? Reading Mark Twain essays
How do you use the Maxim? When I am analyzing social issues and notice how often, in addressing problems, people start with their own self-concepts to decide (a) what the target person or people need, and (b) how to define the problem based on the solution already chosen. For example, sex education professionals attempt to prevent teen pregnancy through cognitive/intellectual means, whereas experience shows that what teens really need is moral/emotional/social motivation to build lives in which pregnancy is delayed until it can be prepared for.

Worse than a quitter is someone who completes something he never should have started in the first place

Submitted by: Richard Gijsbers
How did you learn the maxim? I heard Bishop Alf Stanway quote it one time during a question and answer session one Sunday when we were discussing plans for the future.
How do you use the Maxim? In project management when considering the need for changing a planned course of action and being flexible enough to realise the planned course is no longer appropriate and a new approach is required.

The best revenge is to live well.

Submitted by: Paul  Taubr
How did you learn the maxim? Not sure.
How do you use the Maxim? It challenges me to get beyond injuries, to let them go, to enjoy my life.

Your Attitude reflects on theJob, your Job reflects your Attitude

Submitted by: Raghavan Krishnan
How did you learn the maxim? Over the years watching people work on various assignments I often wondered why some people did a better job than others. Gently prodding them I oftendiscovered the quality of the work done was related to their attitude and enthusiasm with which they approached the work. I then formulated this maxim
How do you use the Maxim? I use it to motivate kids and adults everywhere including in speeches i give

Value and service - everything else is wood, hay, and stubble.

Submitted by: Robert Berry
How did you learn the maxim? I paraphrased 1Cor3 from the Bible. I woke up with the maxim in the middle of the night as part of the credo for my new clinic, PATMOS EmergiClinic.
How do you use the Maxim? In inspiring employees, friends, and vendors to do their best in serving others.

Measure twice and cut once.

Submitted by: Marv Axelrod
How did you learn the maxim? From my father
How do you use the Maxim? In the obvious ones such as cutting a piece of wood to the correct size. However, the maxim is very helpful when you are speaking to someone, planning a trip, or doing just about anything that requires some thought before acting.

The Early Bird gets the worm.

Submitted by: Crystal Gondek
How did you learn the maxim? I have always heard it said around me. By family and teachers.
How do you use the Maxim? In every day life. If you are late to something then you wont have a good chance of getting the good things you wanted. If you are the first one or close to first one there then you get what you wanted. Such as when concerts get sold out before you get there.

"Choose the difficult right, instead of the easy wrong."

Submitted by: Deron lEWIS
How did you learn the maxim? From a mentor
How do you use the Maxim? Dealing with my employees. Sometimes if there is a concern, it would be easy to just let it slide. However, the potential impact on the company and the individual often outweighs the difficulty in addressing the situation.

"What you plan well will turn out well."

Submitted by: John Templeton
How did you learn the maxim? I developed this maxim while serving for many years as a Scoutmaster.
How do you use the Maxim? I needed a simple way to get the boys to think forward to a larger extent than is their custom. I also used it to encourage them to think retrospectively as to what they might have done to mitigate or avoid the inconveniences or minor catastrophes that result from not planning or not planning thoroughly.

"The fact that everyone believes the same lie does not make it the truth."

Submitted by: John Templeton
How did you learn the maxim? I made it up myself.
How do you use the Maxim? I used to use it in Boy Scouting in the form of a question to encourage the boys to think about the meaning of Truth. That is, "If you tell a lie and everyone believes it, does that make it the truth?"

"In every woman/man, there is a Queen/King, speak to the Queen/King and the Queen/King will answer." Norwegian Origin

Submitted by: Evelyn  Platek
How did you learn the maxim? From a greeting Card.
How do you use the Maxim? When dealing with my employees, at executive meetings whensuggesting how everyone should be treated.

Helping people, Helps yourself

Submitted by: kevan thatcher
How did you learn the maxim? i just made it up while writing a paper on maxima
How do you use the Maxim? while helping people

People do not change until the pain of staying the same is greater than the pain of change.

Submitted by: Karen Harden
How did you learn the maxim? I heard it in a speech, and I do not remember who it was, but a very profound truth.
How do you use the Maxim? Whenever I am in or have a friend in a circumstance that seems to be getting no where because people are stuck in their circumstances or points of view.

Dont follow trends, set them

Submitted by: Rod White
How did you learn the maxim?
How do you use the Maxim? I use it when people say my ideas are rubbish!