Naked in the Bamboo
Updated 20030316
My Rules of Life
Being a collection of thoughts gleaned from Mom, Pop, assorted friends, relatives, strangers, and the school of hard-knocks.
Some of these thoughts are my own, some were given to me, and some I've flat out stolen. Where I can attribute the originator, I have done so. A lack of attribution doesn't necessarily mean the thought is mine, only that my dubious memory has failed to provide a reference.
If you have any rules you think should be added to this list just e-mail them to :
richlee@pcshome.net
Rules marked with an asterisk * are listed in two or more subject areas.
So Scroll on down, or just snick on down to the various subject areas.
General Rules of Life
The Rules of Love
Morality
The Rules of Business & Finance
General Rules of Life
These are the rules that fit more than one category, or don't fit any of the other categories. For instance the No free lunch rule could justifiably be placed in all of the other categories, praise and punishment could be placed in the rules of love, and of business.
Start Slow...Then Taper Off
The easy way seldom is
Allow twice the estimated time for any project.*
Junk expands to fill the available space
Work expands to fill the available time*
Anything that can go wrong will
(the famous Murphy's Law)
Locks are to keep honest people honest.
Learn something new every day.
Never assume that someone else will do it*
You cannot delegate responsibility, only authority*
Just because everyone else is jumping off the bridge, doesn't mean that you have to.
(the most famous of 'Mothers" rules)
THIMK!
In all matters affecting your well-being get a second opinion. If the second opinion conflicts with the first, get a third.
When you receive conflicting opinions, do your own research
Praise in public, punish in private*
In any shoot-out keep your ass down, and your head lower than your ass*
Habit is but the result of long practice..
Aristotle
The Rules of Love
To paraphrase a supreme court justice;
I don't know what love is, but I know it when I feel it. Unless it's just indigestion!
Love does not permit the intentional infliction of pain
Love forgives the unintentional injury
Love that requires proof is not love
Love does not demand
Love is not sex
Sex is not love
Sex that causes guilt is not love
If your joy requires injury to another it is a false joy
Marriage is a labor of love
A successful marriage is the product of continuous work.
Praise in public, punish in private*
Morality
Morality defines right and wrong for us. The basic rule of my morality is ... Do unto others as you would have them do unto you.
I believe that what seperates man from beast is that man can think about the consequences of his actions BEFORE he acts, and can think without acting. It seems that psychology and modern religions have encouraged the abandonment of the concept of personal responsibility. To wit ... If you confess your transgressions you will be forgiven, 'The devil made me do it' ... 'He killed because of his environment', etc, etc.
Trust everyone, once
Trust no one, even once
Show respect for everyone, until they show they don't deserve it.
Do unto others as you would have them do unto you.
Help if you can
Anger begets anger; anger begets violence; violence begets violence, violence begets anger.
Contrary to some religious teachings, you CAN think something without doing it.
You are responsible for your behavior
The Devil DIDN'T make you do it!
Never claim anothers' thoughts as your own
Never claim anothers' work as your own.
Business & Finance
These are the rules for doing business, and handling your money. They are intended to make you think. There will be times when breaking a rule will work to your favor, but that should be considered the exception. Think hard before breaking the rule. Sometimes a gamble pays off...more often it doesn't. That's why it is called 'taking a gamble'.
Any offer too good to be true...IS
Do no business with anyone who comes unannounced to your door.
Do no business over the telephone unless you initiated the call.
The sales person is NOT your friend
Take a pass on any offer that requires an IMMEDIATE answer
There is no such thing as a free lunch
Work expands to fill the available time*
If you leave a loop-hole, it willl be discovered by the last person you want to know about it.
Allow twice the estimated time for any project.*
Allow twice the estimated budget for any project
Never assume that someone else will do it*
You may delegate your authority, but never your responsibility*
Praise in public, punish in private*
In any shoot-out keep your ass down, and your head lower than your ass*
Any supervisor can be screwed by simply doing exactly as he/she says