Life Lessons

Here are some of the lessons I've learned so far.

Marriage. The three factors most conducive to a good marriage are similar values, a sufficient income, and a good sense of humor.

Marital Love. What's thought to be love at the beginning of a relationship is usually a pale imitation of the real thing, which grows slowly over time.

Listening. Most people like to talk about themselves and need only a little encouragement to do so.

Advice. There are few who do not like to give it and even fewer who are prepared to take it.

Work. Extrinsic rewards, such as wealth and prestige, contribute less to professional or occupational satisfaction than does enjoyment of the work itself.

Humiliation. Next to murder, the greatest crime is deliberate humiliation of another. If murder kills the body, humiliation mutilates the soul.

Self-deception. We fail to see much when it is in our interest to be blind; we tend to convince ourselves that black is white when it is black that will benefit us.

Planning. It's more useful for giving the illusion of control than for managing the actual course of events. Chance plays an important role in life, for better and for worse.

Worry. We generally worry about the wrong things. Most of the potential calamities over which we lose sleep don't materialize, whereas the disasters that befall us are often unanticipated.

Behavior. The best single predictor of future behavior is past behavior. If a man is late for his first meeting with you, he is likely to be late for his second.

Dessert. A second helping is rarely as satisfying as the first.

Peanuts. It's easier to eat none than one.

"You haven't changed a bit!" The speaker is half-blind, forgetful, or lying.