Life

Pizza

Pizza always confuses me. It comes in a square box. Yet, when you open it – it’s round. And yet, when you start eating it – it’s a triangle. Life and people are like pizza. Look different, appear different, and of course behave absolutely different.

Why Did You Spill The Coffee?

You are holding a cup of coffee when someone comes along and bumps into you or shakes your arm, making you spill your coffee everywhere. Why did you spill the coffee? “Because someone bumped into me!!!” Wrong answer. You spilled the coffee because there was coffee in your cup. Had there been tea in the … Read more

The Mind

Once upon a time, a traveler sat to rest under a tree. He didn’t know that this tree was special, it was a “wish-fulfilling” tree. When the traveler woke up, he felt very hungry. All of a sudden, a tasty dish appeared before him. After he ate the food and felt full, another thought came … Read more

Always Different

There was a man who lived by the sea. Every morning, he left his house, enjoying the beautiful pine tree which grew on the mountain nearby. He loved drawing this beauty over and over again, and was generally happy. But one day, there was a storm. The pine cracked, the mountain collapsed, and his house … Read more

The Stonemason

Once upon a time there lived a stonemason, who went to the mountains every day to dig out and break stones. He enjoyed his work, so he was constantly singing, satisfied with what he had, bothered by nothing. One time, he was invited to work in a mansion. Upon seeing the luxurious palace, the stonemason … Read more

A Soldier of Fortune

A man once decided to go and find Fate. On his way, he met a wolf, who told him that his teeth hurt and wondered if he could ask Fate for a remedy. Then he chanced upon a large crowd of hungry people. They told him that they didn’t have anything to eat, because each … Read more

Two Stones

Once upon a time there was a king who had a very beautiful daughter. The king did not want to give her in marriage, because he was told that, somewhere on the planet, there is a man much smarter than him, who is destined to first take his daughter as his bride, and then take … Read more

Clay

After God formed the first man from clay, he noticed that he still had a small piece of clay left. – What else do you want me to create for you, man? The man thought a bit and said: – Create me happiness! But God, did not know what happiness the man wants. So, he … Read more

Whatever Happens, Happens for the Best

A peasant owned a beautiful purebred horse. One day, he ran away from the stables and disappeared for some time. The neighbors in the village sympathized with the peasant, but he remained calm. A week later, his horse returned and brought with himself a wonderful female horse. The villagers talked about the event for a … Read more

Useful Knowledge – A Motivational Story

In ancient times, there lived a man called Zhu. He heard that there was an old hunter called Ma Tan who knew how to kill dragons. So, Zhu went to him and asked to teach him how to kill dragons. – It’s a difficult art – replied Ma Tan. – Are you ready to study … Read more

The Emperor and the Crane

A certain sage brought a glass of living water to an emperor and said: – “If you drink this water – you will become immortal. If you don’t – you will eventually end up in the country of the dead. Just like everybody else.” The emperor thought a while about the offer, but couldn’t decide … Read more

The Royal Caravan

One day, a poor man appeared at the door of a royal palace. No one dared to stop him when he headed straight for the throne on which a king was seated. – What do you need? – asked the king. – A place in the caravan, to spend the night. – This is not … Read more

Greed Is an Expensive Thing

Before the judge stood a man convicted of bribes. The judge offered the accused to choose between one of three possible punishments: either to pay 100 gold coins, to be hit 50 times with a stick, or to eat 3 pounds of raw onions. Being greedy, so he decided that the best punishment is also … Read more

If—

by Rudyard Kipling If you can keep your head when all about you Are losing theirs and blaming it on you; If you can trust yourself when all men doubt you, But make allowance for their doubting too; If you can wait and not be tired by waiting, Or, being lied about, don’t deal in … Read more

The Broken Jug – A Story About Helpers

A small clay water jug stood on the stove. And in the corner of the room, a sick man lay on the bed. He was tormented by extreme thirst. “Just a sip, just a sip,” he groaned. But there was no one in the room. His pleas were so heartbreaking that the jug could not … Read more

Desiderata

Go placidly amid the noise and the haste, and remember what peace there may be in silence. As far as possible, without surrender, be on good terms with all persons. Speak your truth quietly and clearly; and listen to others, even to the dull and the ignorant; they too have their story. Avoid loud and … Read more

Worth While

An Inspirational Poem For Hard Times   by Elia Wheeler Wilcox   It is easy enough to be pleasant When life flows by like a song, But the man worthwhile is the one who will smile When everything goes dead wrong. For the test of the heart is trouble, And it always comes with the … Read more

Invictus

An Inspirational Poem In the Face of Adversity   by William Ernest Henley   Out of the night that covers me, Black as the pit from pole to pole, I thank whatever gods may be For my unconquerable soul.   In the fell clutch of circumstance I have not winced nor cried aloud. Under the … Read more

Thinking

An Inspirational Poem About Never Giving Up   by Walter D. Wintle   If you think you are beaten, you are, If you think you dare not, you don’t, If you’d like to win, but you think you can’t, It’s almost certain you won’t.   If you think you’ll lose, you’ve lost, For out in … Read more

My Creed

by Edgar Albert Guest To live as gently as I can; To be, no matter where, a man; To take what comes of good or ill And cling to faith and honor still; To do my best, and let that stand The record of my brain and hand; And then, should failure come to me, … Read more

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