"Alea iacta est"
Commonly translated as "The die is cast," my high school Latin teacher preferred the phrase "Let the dice fly." I agree that her preferred translation has a more romantic or dramatic flair.
I also find this excerpt from the Wikipedia page to be interesting, I had forgotten that he supposedly said this line in Greek, making the Latin translation that much sillier for us to recite.
According to Plutarch, Caesar originally said the line in Greek rather than Latin, as ἀνερρίφθω κύβος anerrhī́phthō kýbos, literally "let a die be cast", metaphorically "let the game be played". This is a quote from a play by Menander, and Suetonius's Latin translation is slightly misleading, being merely a statement about the inevitability of what is to come, while the Greek original contains a self-encouragement to venture forward. The Latin version is now most commonly cited with the word order changed (Alea iacta est), and it is used both in this form, and in translation in many languages. The same event inspired another related idiom, "crossing the Rubicon".
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Wisdom from an old friend
Brian David-Marshall and I have known each other for twenty years. He played a small but pivotal role in me starting the podcast that led to me working for Wizards. And I just loved this post from him for how true it is.
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"Expectations are shortcuts to disappointment."
A YouTube comment I came across today. I am far more optimistic and so that quote is more negative than I usually think, but there is some truth which rings in it.
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This guy's walking down a street when he falls in a hole. The walls are so steep, he can't get out. A doctor passes by, and the guy shouts up, "Hey you, can you help me out?" The doctor writes a prescription, throws it down in the hole and moves on. Then a priest comes along, and the guy shouts up "Father, I'm down in this hole, can you help me out?" The priest writes out a prayer, throws it down in the hole and moves on. Then a friend walks by. "Hey Joe, it's me, can you help me out?" And the friend jumps in the hole. Our guy says, "Are you stupid? Now we're both down here." The friend says, "Yeah, but I've been down here before, and I know the way out."
John Spencer as Leo McGarry on The West Wing
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My favorite quote about chess comes from Mikhail Tal:
You must take your opponent into a deep dark forest where 2+2=5, and the path leading out is only wide enough for one.
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Organizing is to the community what spiritual practice is to the individual. – Adrienne Maree Brown
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The origins of the quote "The arc of the universe is long, but it curves towards justice."
The arc of the moral universe is long, but it bends toward justice.
The quote came up in conversation at Thanksgiving with some friends. I correctly attributed it's usage to Martin Luther King Jr., however, upon arriving home I hopped on Google to confirm my recollection and found the linked article which shares the history of the quote and attributes it to Theodore Parker.
The article cites the following excerpt from Theodore Parker in 1853 as the origin of the quote:
Look at the facts of the world. You see a continual and progressive triumph of the right. I do not pretend to understand the moral universe, the arc is a long one, my eye reaches but little ways. I cannot calculate the curve and complete the figure by the experience of sight; I can divine it by conscience. But from what I see I am sure it bends towards justice.
Things refuse to be mismanaged long. Jefferson trembled when he thought of slavery and remembered that God is just. Ere long all America will tremble.
It goes on to recount numerous usages over the years from 1853 all the way up to Dr. King's usage in his speech.
Quite an interesting read.
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Saw this on Bluesky today and I loved it. I watched the movie once but this quote resonated with me then and still resonates now.
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Be a Kermit
Be a Kermit the Frog. Have a creative vision and no ego. Recognize the unique talents of those around you. Attract weirdos. Manage chaos. Show kindness. Be sincere.
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Delight vs. Joy
Delight is more occasional; joy is more ever-present and waiting. - Ross Gay
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There are many spiritual practices centered on choosing love, like lovingkindness meditation. But I think on the day-to-day level, choosing love is about resisting the spirit of panic and fear. -- Kai Cheng Thom
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"Out of all the unimportant things, football is the most important"
Pope John Paul II
A perfectly true quote heard on Welcome to Wrexham in an exchange between Ryan Reynolds and John Green
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Bob Marley on Perfection
"Who cares about perfection? Even the moon is not perfect. The sea is incredibly beautiful but salty and dark. The sky is infinite, but often cloudy. Everything that is beautiful isn't perfect, it's special. Every woman can be special to someone."
As you'll note, this link goes to Snopes who investigated if Marley ever said this. They couldn't find its source but also couldn't disprove it. For me, I'll believe he said it until proven otherwise.
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An important reminder
The rule is perfect: in all matters of opinion our adversaries are insane. - Mark Twain
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Two quotes I came across today, largely unrelated but wanted to capture both on the blog
"Those who dream by night in the dusty recesses of their minds wake in the day to find that all was vanity; but the dreamers of the day are dangerous people, for they may act their dream with open eyes, and make it possible." - T. E. Lawrence
"One of the dumbest things you can do is sit in one place_and let the world pass you by" - Robert Propst
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