Majicman Notes

There is a tide in the affairs of men Which, taken at the flood, leads on to fortune; Omitted, all the voyage of their life Is bound in shallows and in miseries. On such a… Read more

We must always take sides. Neutrality helps the oppressor, never the victim. Silence encourages the tormentor, never the tormented. Sometimes we must interfere. When human lives are endangered, when human dignity is in jeopardy, national… Read more

The goal, therefore, isn’t to be the best; it’s to do your best. And don’t think this lets you off the hook. To become a better version of yourself is quite demanding enough.  The 18th-century… Read more

How do you recognise a good teacher? John B. Goodenough: First, if they are clear and understand what they are talking about but they also have to know how to challenge you. Not in a… Read more

Oubaitori (桜梅桃李) The ancient Japanese idiom, Oubaitori, comes from the kanji for the four trees that bloom in spring: cherry blossoms, plum, peach, and apricot. Each flower blooms in its own time, and the meaning… Read more

Most people don’t fail because they’re incapable. They fail because they’re casual.  Casual with their time.  Casual with their goals.  Casual with the way they speak about what they want. And when you’re casual with… Read more

For it’s always that way with the sacred value of life. We forget it as long as it belongs to us, and give it as little attention during the unconcerned hours of our life as… Read more

I saw myself sitting in the crotch of this fig tree, starving to death, just because I couldn’t make up my mind which of the figs I would choose. I wanted each and every one… Read more

It’s not hard to ima­gine future gen­er­a­tions one day ask­ing, ‘When there was so much at stake for our coun­try, what did you do?’” she often repeated. “The only accept­able answer is: ‘Everything we could.’”… Read more

To hold our tongues when everyone is gossiping, to smile without hostility at people and institutions, to compensate for the shortage of love in the world with more love in small, private matters; to be… Read more