Lucky Chess Players

The good player is always lucky.

- Jose Capablanca, World Chess Champion 1921 - 1927

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When to Write

Unprovided with original learning, unformed in the habits of thinking, unskilled in the arts of composition, I resolved to write a book.

- Edward Gibbon, author of one of the greatest books of all time.

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How Long Shall Public Men Boast of Conduct Which Would Disgrace a Private Individual?

Palmerston Addresses the House of Commons 1863

Public domain image from Wikipedia.

I see those pretended politicians who place all in their subtlety, and who think they serve their country best, in circumventing those with whom they treat, interpreting the conditions of a treaty in such a manner, that all the advantage results to their own country. Far from blushing at conduct so contrary to equity, to right, and to national honesty, they boast of their dexterity, and pretend that they deserve the name of great negotiators. How long shall public men boast of conduct which would disgrace a private individual?

- Lord Henry J.T. Palmerston, address to Parliament, July 16, 1832

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Rivers' Influence on Civilizations

My favorite historian, Douglas Southall Freeman (1886 – 1953),

c. 1916 as the new editor of the Richmond News Leader.

Public domain image from Wikipedia.

A nation's rivers are its first highways. Down them pass its first adventurers. From them radiate its first explorers. About them develop its traditions and its mysteries. There was mystery in the Nile, mystery in the Tigris, mystery in the Maeander, mystery in the Tiber. Why were they the first settlements of great states, and why had the sons of those streams a distinctive spirit? Why did they cradle each a civilization, and why was each different? These questions, asked of the ancient, we may apply to our rivers of mystery, our James, our Potomac, our Hudson, our Ohio, and our Mississippi. From the James grew Virginia; from the Potomac came the wonderful group of Westmoreland 5 statesmen; from the Hudson came that daring spirit of trade; from the Mississippi came daring voyagers and men with mind of a stamp; from the Ohio came Abraham Lincoln.

- Douglas Southall Freeman

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Knowing Everything

Isaac Asimov by Rowena Morrill

GNU image from Wikipedia.

Those people who claim to know everything are a great annoyance to those of us who do.

- Isaac Asimov

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Give the Bible as History the Benefit of the Doubt

In its outlines, and barring supernatural incidents, the story of the Jews as unfolded in the Old Testament has stood the test of criticism and archeology; every year adds corroboration from documents, monuments, or excavations... We must accept the Biblical account provisionally until it is disproved.

- Will Durant

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The Price of Greatness

The Big 3 of World War II.  Churchill is on the left.
Public domain image from Wikipedia.

The price of greatness is responsibility.

- Winston Churchill

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Leading and Following

Disraeli as Prime Minister
in 1878

Public domain image from Wikipedia.

I must follow the people. Am I not their leader?

- Benjamin Disraeli

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All Progress Depends on Who?

Shaw in 1900

Public domain image from Wikipedia.

“The reasonable man adapts himself to the world; the unreasonable one persists in trying to adapt the world to himself. Therefore, all progress depends on the unreasonable man."

- George Bernard Shaw

More on George Bernard Shaw.

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Tomorrow HUNDRED YEARS WAR, our next installment in the France's Wars series

What Rulers Need Most

Bust of Seneca
CC BY-SA 3.0 image by Calidius from Wikipedia.

It is impossible to imagine anything which better becomes a ruler than mercy.

- Seneca the Younger

More on Seneca.

Motivation for Success

“Bear in mind that your own resolution to succeed is more important than any other.”

- Abraham Lincoln

More on Abraham Lincoln.

Picture: public domain from Wikipedia

How Not to Build a Reputation

Ford in 1919.

“You can’t build a reputation on what you are going to do.”

- Henry Ford, founder, Ford Motor Company

More on Henry Ford.

Picture: public domain from Wikipedia

How to Test a Man’s Character

"Nearly all men can stand adversity, but if you want to test a man's character, give him power."

- Abraham Lincoln

More on Abraham Lincoln.

Picture public domain from Wikipedia

What’s the Difference Between a Leader and a Follower?

"Innovation distinguishes between a leader and a follower."

- Steve Jobs, co-founder and CEO of Apple

More on Steve Jobs.

When Society Stands Still

"In periods where there is no leadership, society stands still. Progress occurs when courageous, skillful leaders seize the opportunity to change things for the better."

- Harry Truman

More on Harry Truman.

Picture public domain from Wikipedia

Choose Their Own Leader

Princeton 1935

"The led must not be compelled. They must be able to choose their own leader

- Albert Einstein

More on Albert Einstein.

Picture public domain from Wikipedia

Assault Is Not Leadership

Official Portrait Photo, 1959

"You do not lead by hitting people over the head. That's assault, not leadership."

- Dwight D. Eisenhower

More on Dwight D. Eisenhower.

Picture public domain from Wikipedia

Patton on Leadership

"Never tell people how to do things. Tell them what to do, and they will surprise you with their ingenuity."

- General George S. Patton

More on General George S. Patton.

Picture public domain from Wikipedia

The Greatest Force in the Universe

I believe that prayer is our powerful contact with the greatest force in the universe.

- Loretta Young

More on Loretta Young.

Picture public domain from Wikipedia

Greatness Is Already There

As Governor General of Canada

"The task of leadership is not to put greatness into humanity, but to elicit it, for the greatness is already there."

- John Buchan

More on John Buchan.

Picture public domain from Wikipedia