"I am a biography nut myself, and I think when you're trying to teach the great concepts that work, it helps to tie them into the lives and personalities of the people who developed them. I think you learn better economics if you make Adam Smith your friend. That sounds funny, making friends among the eminent dead, but if you go through life making friends with the eminent dead who had the right ideas, I think it will work better in life and work better in education." - Charlie Munger (pg. 136 of Damn Right)
On June 4th, 2010, John Wooden passed away. While I am happy that he will be reunited with Nellie, his childhood sweetheart of 60 years, I am also sad and a touch scared.
In some ways its like building a bridge. Upon completion, you remove the support beams to see if it can stand on its own. My life was built on the collective wisdom of a few role models, and when they pass, as they will in time, I must stand on my own, in living and practicing their life lessons.
Below are a few of my favorite quotes or writings of John Wooden:
"I am just a common man who is true to his beliefs."
"I am happy my teams at UCLA and elsewhere did well and we earned a measure of recognition. But all of this is nothing compared to my family: Nellie, our two children, our seven grandchildren, and all ten of our great-grand children. All that love is immeasurable."
"True success is attained only through the satisfaction of knowing you did everything within the limits of your ability to become the very best that you are capable of being."
Remember this your lifetime through -
Tomorrow, there will be more to do
And failure waits for all who stay
With some success made yesterday.
Tomorrow, you must try once more
And even harder than before.
How much more pleasant this world would be if we magnified our blessings the way we magnify our disappointments - Unknown
No written word
nor spoken plea
Can teach our youth
what they should be.
Nor all the books
on all the shelves.
It's what the teachers
are themselves. - Unknown
"I have prepared for death all my life by the life I lived" - Socrates
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1 comment:
I saw this from the Times's obituary and thought you'd appreciate it:
"He always carried a piece of paper with a message from his father that read: 'Be true to yourself. Make each day a masterpiece. Help others. Drink deeply from good books. Make friendship a fine art. Build a shelter against a rainy day.'"
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