Ricochet is the best place on the internet to discuss the issues of the day, either through commenting on posts or writing your own for our active and dynamic community in a fully moderated environment. In addition, the Ricochet Audio Network offers over 50 original podcasts with new episodes released every day.
Wisdom Is Where You Find It … Mostly
I am always fascinated by sayings, quips, quotes, and even song lyrics and assessing their truth and/or embedded wisdom. You know sometimes you hear something and think to yourself “ain’t that the truth!” And other times you say “huh?” Below are some of my favorites and some thoughts on each.
“Never jump off anything you cannot jump back on!” CW4 R. Rod. This sign was behind his desk. He was a small unassuming man that the NVA put a price on when he was in Vietnam because he was so effective. Having jumped outta a few planes in my time and based on his rep I believe him.
“Many times I’ve wondered how much there is to know.” Over the Hills and Far Away Led Zeppelin. Noodle on this – it is absolutely true. And of course, as I get older, the seemingly less I know.
“Don’t play with knives!” There is a story here that is not mine to tell but suffice it to say I have carried a fair amount of knives in my life and playing with them inevitably results in bloodletting or worse @bossmongo.
“Don’t confuse the issue with pertinent facts.” Longtime favorite. As we “discuss” issues with our left-leaning brethren such as immigration, deregulation, the economy, investigations, the media, global warming, abortion, etc. Bringing facts to bare usually results in an emotional response designed to make you feel bad and inferior and them to feel good and superior.
When I was in my military training we’d always hear “mind over matter” men. Usually followed by “I don’t mind and you don’t matter!” Mind over matter works but only if you know your “why” otherwise all the mind in the world (or muscles for that matter) aren’t going to help when the going gets rough.
“And he answering said, Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy strength, and with all thy mind; and thy neighbour as thyself.” Luke 10:27. As with many true statements or wisdom, this is simple in principle and difficult in execution.
Never travel without a swimsuit and a sweatshirt. This is my own after much travel. I spent 3 months in SE Asia that by the third month I needed a sweatshirt at night due to the temperature variance despite being in the jungle. And you never know when you might find a pool or a hot tub no matter where you are or how cold it is.
“You never know who you are talking to.” My dad in reference to being respectful to and careful of people.
Feel free to add to and/or share your thoughts Ricochet.
Published in General
Are you saying @bossmongo resulted from someone’s playing with a knife and it really went wrong?
This conversation is part of our Group Writing Series under this month’s theme of The Course of Wisdom. If you have tales to tell of how you gained wisdom, proof that you still need more, or would just like to share some nuggets of golden wisdom, why not sign up for one of the days we still have open?
Thanks for the moto, @dajoho! HooWah! OohRah and S/F!
Nice post!
One of my favourites is from a CIA-genre movie called ‘The Killer Elite’ featuring Robert Duval and James Caan.
Duval’s character, explaining his failure at something, quips:
“I failed to observe ‘The Six P’s’ … Proper planning prevents piss-poor performance.”
A close second is from Ancient Greek, Archilochus:
“We do not rise to the level of our expectations. We fall to the level of our training.”
‘Time spent in reconnaissance is seldom wasted.’
*First heard at USMC Infantry Officers Course. Repeated too many times to count afterwards.
“Leeerooooyy Jenkins!”
Had to ask Mr. Google.
Language warning.
You know you are on to something deep and insightful when the same idea shows up in radically different venues. My son is a skateboarder and footwear designer who has worked in the skateboard industry. He has seen some spectacular crashes.
There is a basic skate trick called an Ollie. It’s a jumping technique:
He has a motto that he uses in lots of situations and it’s remarkably similar to the one you reference…
”If you can’t Ollie up it, don’t Ollie off it.”
Leeroy was not ‘down’ with that whole recon thing?
Or planning, either.
He was strictly a ‘hey diddle diddle straight up the middle‘ kind of guy then?
The hey diddle diddle is at 2:47 – 2:51 but the rest of the clip (“Epic Rap Battle: Special Forces vs. MARSOC) is pretty funny. It goes about 5 minutes but there is nothing worth looking at after 4:23/24. NSFW
Have someone hold your wallet while patronizing a brothel.
Knowing Boss you might have something there. This story is recent and he should share because sharing is caring.
Was a common saying throughout my military career and always proved true.
Absolutely agree – throughout my tactical career predominantly pre-9/11 it was standard to put “eyes-on” the objective 24 hours prior to going in and it always was enlightening.
Just followed the entire thread through the Rap Battle and will laugh at least the rest of the night.
That would be a great study find ideas that show up across different venues.
Major Roxy reporting for duty sir!
Always know where your towel is.
I should have remembered that one – without a doubt true.
One of my all time faves. From GySgt Hernandez: “Sir, nothing is impossible for the guy who ain’t got to do it.”
Classic SNCO wisdom!
P.S. Gunny Hernandez was a Weapons Platoon Sergeant and did back to back tours in Iraq when it was still Plenty Scary. He volunteered to assume the billet when the unit that arrived to ‘relieve in place (AKA: Rip)’ his platoon arrived without a Wpns Plt Sgt.
Never ascribe to malice that which is more easily explained by incompetence.
I was discussing that with my wife recently. She’s on a local board of directors for a larger organization. They are looking for another executive director, since the current one is retiring. They have contacted the parent organization for advice on the process, and…crickets. At one point, one of the board members was calling the parent organization for three days in a row, and nobody answered the phone. On the fourth day, they got through. They asked and were told, “The switchboard operator had been ill and out for a few days.” Now, this is a non-profit, but can you imagine running your business that way? Oh, someone is sick, so we just won’t answer the phones for a few days. But, my wife was thinking the lack of response might be because the local executive director has made some waves. And that was when I brought up this old bit of wisdom.
We had a customer hit 70 days on an invoice this week. No response all this time to emails, calls, etc. Finally heard back this week: their AP lady had been out following surgery. Our response: so you are saying nobody there could even answer the phone? Or pay bills? Sucks to be one of your employees is you were the only one who could run payroll.
Yep. Like that.
I second that. Will post it up as soon as I can type again.
The Ancient Rules of Engineering
A day’s worth of moto-vation can last a week, if delivered by the dudes here gathered, just sayin’…
FIFY