Ernest Hemingway was a writer. He was famous for simple, but powerful, writing style. When he wrote a story, he knew how to get the most from the least. He once said:

"Never confuse movement with action."
—Ernest Hemingway

Confucius: Wikimedia CommonsConfucius (孔子) knew that it was important to be careful with language. He said:

“If language is not correct, then what is said is not what is meant; if what is said is not what is meant, then what must be done remains undone; ...Hence there must be no arbitrariness in what is said. This matters above everything.”
—Confucius

Diogenes by John William Waterhouse: Image: Wikimedia CommonsThis is probably not a great quote for a blog about quotes, but I like it!

"One original thought is worth a thousand mindless quotings."
—Diogenes

Portrait of William Morris by William Blake Richmond: Source: Wikimedia CommonsIt's important to get out and do things, but to make your experiences endure, you need language.

"It took me years to understand that words are often as important as experience, because words make experience last."
—William Morris

I like this quote. It reminds us of the importance of language. It tells us that just doing things is not enough. Experience has much greater value when we can tell others about it. They can learn from our experience as we can remember our own to them through stories of our adventures.

M.K. Gandhi: via Wikimedia CommonsThe world is full of hate and violence. This is driven by ignorance and intolerance. One man who positively changed the lives of millions of people was Mohandas "Mahatma" Gandhi, often known simply as "Gandhi". He had this to say about "intolerance":

Intolerance betrays want of faith in one's cause.
—Gandi

What does it mean? It's a little difficult, because it has two or three words you might not know, and two words you do know used in interesting ways. Let's check the words:

This time I have chosen a quote from a very famous Japanese man, Shinichi Suzuki (1898 - 1998):

Knowledge is not skill. Knowledge plus ten thousand times is skill.
—Shinichi Suzuki

Mr Suzuki is famous for his music teaching techniques: The Suzuki Method. Some of Suzuki's ideas are controversial. Many music teachers disagree with his methods. However, I think this quote is important for us to remember when we are learning a language.

DaodeTianzun: Source: Wikimedia CommonsIf we were to write a list of the wisest people ever, you might include Socrates, Eleanor Roosevelt, Gandhi, The Buddha or King Solomon. Certain to be on your list would be Laozi, writer of the Tao Te Ching. The quote we choose this time is this:

A good traveler has no fixed plans, and is not intent on arriving.
—Laozi

Money!: Photo: Tracy O

I spent a lot of money on booze, birds, and fast cars. The rest I just squandered.
—George Best

These are famous words of the world's first celebrity footballer. This may seem like an unlikely source for a 'quote of the week', but beneath the humor lies food for thought.

George Best was a Northern Irish footballer. He is most famous for having played for Manchester United from 1963 to 1974. Best was one of the first celebrity footballers (think David Beckham). He lead a rather extravagant life and was often the focus of the media, albeit not always for the right reasons. Best's lifestyle eventually led to his early death from alcohol-related causes.

Benjamin Franklin: Photo: Tony the Misfit

"All mankind is divided into three classes: those that are immovable, those that are movable, and those that move."
Benjamin Franklin

My colleague asked me who said this today. I had never heard it before. I like it.

Master YodaDo you remember this line from Star Wars Episode V: The Empire Strikes Back?

Do... or do not. There is no try.

Master Yoda! Yes!!! 
The wisdom of a jedi...

Socrates: Source: Wikimedia Commons

"Thou shouldst eat to live; not live to eat."
—Socrates

Socrates is one of the founders of western philosophy, but is a very mysterious figure. When Socrates says to us, "Thou shouldst eat to live; not live to eat," what does he mean? Let's put it in plain English:

You should eat to live; not live to eat.

Buzz Aldrin on the moon! Yes!That's one small step for a man, one giant leap for mankind.

These are the words that Neil Armstrong said as he stepped onto the surface of the moon in 1969. I love space, and I love astronauts and I love this quote. It is one of the most famous of the 20th Century and perhaps in all of history. It is that because of the event it marked, but it is also a powerful combination of but a few words.

Edison's Light Bulb PatentThis time, let's talk about attitude. What do you think about your job? How about study? Do you love what you do? Whatever it is you do, it has to be fun. If it isn't you have two choices:

1. Stop!
2. Make it fun.

Eleanor RooseveltThis week, I thought I would choose something that is related to learning. So, I picked this quote:

Mark Twain

This time our quote comes from the American writer, Mark Twain:

These are the last words of famous scientist, Richard Feynman: Feynman Lives!

What I cannot create, I do not understand.

It means that if you cannot create something, then you cannot understand it. I like this quote because it is elegant and so true. In fact, this quote is one of my all time favourites. It is that for three reasons: