Herbert Weisinger, theologian

"It takes faith to believe, and it takes courage not to, and who is to say which is the deeper and more truthful?" – Herbert Weisinger, theologian

This seems like an odd assertion, though perhaps the original context would make it less so. Whether it makes sense or not, it seems to me, depends on what is the object of the believing.  For example, I believe that my wife is faithful. Does it take faith to believe in this? Does it make any sense to say that it would take courage for me not to believe?

Given Weisinger's profession, however, one would suspect that the object of the belief in this case is God.  I think everyone would agree that it takes faith to believe in God. Certainly Christians believe that it does, and, further, that God has to supply the faith as a gift. But does it take courage not to believe in God? I would say that in general it doesn't. I think that most people who don't believe found it easier to go that way than to go the way of faith. For an action to require courage means that there is some kind of opposition to overcome, either internal or external. In our modern society there is very little opposition to the atheist or agnostic viewpoint. But on the other hand, if one is wrestling internally with the question of belief in God, refusing the path of belief is a sad choice. And I think a rare one.

Benjamin Franklin

Many a long dispute among divines may be thus abridged: It is so. It is not so. It is so. It is not so. -Benjamin Franklin, statesman, author, and inventor (1706-1790)

And not just among divines. Politicians debate in the same manner very often, as do children of all ages. When my children were growing up I often had to intervene in an argument, to save my sanity if for no other reason, and point out that they were disputing about a simple matter of fact. If it was possible to check on the fact, they should do so. If it wasn't, they should realize that further argument was a waste of energy. Yelling louder or pushing harder was not the way to prove that you were right.

Andrew Young, author, civil rights activist, US congressman, mayor, and UN ambassador

Nothing is illegal if one hundred businessmen decide to do it. -Andrew Young, author, civil rights activist, US congressman, mayor, and UN ambassador (b. 1932)

I think this is a slander against our society. It simply isn't true.

Taking a cue from Mr. Young, I propose this aphorism, which he wouldn't like, and also isn't true: Anything is racism if two activists say so. 

Lois McMaster Bujold, writer

If the truth doesn't save us, what does that say about us? -Lois McMaster Bujold, writer (1949- )

A very good question, or rather, two very good questions. Does the truth save us? No. Rather, it makes clear that we desperately need to be saved, which is the answer to the second question.

Peter F. Drucker

"There is nothing so useless as doing efficiently that which should not be done at all." -- Peter F. Drucker

Is it more useless to do it efficiently than to do it inefficiently?  Yes, because attaining efficiency in anything requires extra effort.

Denis Waitley, productivity consultant

"Don't dwell on what went wrong. Instead, focus on what to do next. Spend your energies on moving forward toward finding the answer." -- Denis Waitley

It is true that getting mired in the past is not good and that moving ahead is important, but it is also important to learn from your mistakes. It is necessary often to determine the root cause of the failure even before deciding what to do next.

Abraham H. Maslow, Psychologist

"If the only tool you have is a hammer, you tend to see every problem as a nail." -- Abraham H. Maslow

I see this demonstrated a lot in the workplace, and it is the reason multi-functional teams can be so valuable in problem-solving.