you'll never guess where i got these

these nuggets of wisdom are just too good to keep to myself. here goes:

on self-confidence

don't underrate yourself. humility deserves honor and respect, but a low opinion of yourself leads to sin.

do not let others have their way at your expense; do not bring on your own ruin by giving up your rights. (think: bradford of The Apprentice, Season 2)

don't hide your wisdom. your wisdom and education can be known only by what you say. do not, however, go against the truth, and remember that you do not know everything.

don't allow yourself to be dominated by someone who is stupid or show partiality to influential people.

stand up for what is right, even if it costs you your life.

on sincerity and self-control

be certain about what you believe and consistent in what you say.

don't try to please everyone or agree with everything people say.

if you don't know what to say, keep quiet. speaking can bring you either honor or disgrace; what you say can ruin you.

on friendship

some people will be your friends only when it is convenient for them, but won't stand by you in trouble.

a loyal friend is like a safe shelter; find one and you have found a treasure. nothing else is as valuable; there is no way of putting a price on it.

never abandon old friends; you will never find a new one who can take their place. friendship is like wine; it gets better as it grows older.

on relations with others

don't betray a friend for money. don't betray a real friend for all the gold in the world.

if you have sons, educate them. teach them self-discipline while they are young.

if you have daughters, keep them virtuous, and don't be too indulgent with them. when you give your daughter in marriage, you have finished a great task, but give her to a sensible man. (so self-discipline for boys, virtue for girls...hmmm...kinda makes sense to me, if you know what i mean)

do not trust yourself to someone you don't love. true true true...

on appearances

do not look down on someone who is unattractive. compared to most flying things, a bee is very small, but the honey it makes is the sweetest of foods.

on being cautious

don't get into an argument over something that is none of your business.

when things are going well, people don't think about hard times; and when things are going badly, they forget about prosperity. all our happiness can be erased in one moment of misery.

on cheerfulness and sadness

don't deliberately torture yourself by giving in to depression.

don't worry all the time. worry never did anybody any good.

jealousy and anger will shorten your life. (thank goodness i don't get angry nor am i the jealous type)

on behavior at dinner parties

when you sit down at a fancy banquet, don't let you mouth hang open, and don't say, "Look at all that food!" (uh-oh) It is impolite to have a greedy eye; remember that. nothing in creation is greedier than the eye; that is why it sheds tears so often.

when you get your food, eat it like a human being. (so aptly put!)

don't smack and slurp; nobody can stand that.

don't try to prove your manhood by how much you can drink. that has been the ruin of many.

on being independent

as long as you have breath in your body, don't let anyone lead your life for you.

keep control over all that you do; don't let anything stain your reputation.

on taking advice

don't ask advice of anyone who doesn't trust you, and don't give advice to anyone who is jealous of you.

don't ask a woman for advice about a rival of hers, a coward about war, a merchant about a bargain (masarap ba tong tinda mo?haha), a buyer about selling, a stingy person about gratitude, a cruel person about kindness, a lazy person about work.

trust your own judgment; no one's advice is more reliable.

on fathers and daughters

although he will not let his daughter know it, a father will lie awake at night worrying about her. if she is young, he worries that she might not get married. if she is already married, he worries about her happiness. if she is a virgin, he worries that she might be seduced and become pregnant while living in his house.

keep a close watch over your daughter if she is determined to have her own way. (umm....Pa?)

don't let her show off her beauty in front of men (so pagmomongha ba ito?) or spend her time talking with the women. women hurt other women just as moths damage clothing. nnnngggaaarrrrrrrrr!!!

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i got all that from the bible (book of sirach, to be exact). oh shush it! insomniacs can do anything they want to do to while away the time. so don't ask me, "Mecks, aaaaahhh...bakit ka nagbabasa ng bible?"