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Kindle Notes & Highlights
In times past, manliness was a worthy and distinct characteristic, like intelligence, bravery and humor. It was a quality that boys strived to attain and men wished to have attached to their name.
“This is the final test of a gentleman: his respect for those who can be of no possible service to him.”
By even allowing your cell phone to ring, never mind speaking into it, you announce to the world that your conversation is more important than the ruminations of everyone else in the room. It is the height of arrogance.
“My father always used to say that when you die, if you’ve got five real friends, you’ve had a great life.” —LEE IACOCCA
Men were free to have affectionate friendships with each other without fear of being called a queer because the modern concept of homosexuality and the strict straight/gay dichotomy did not yet exist.
It wasn’t until the turn of the twentieth century that psychologists started analyzing homosexuality.
Increased mobility during the twentieth century also contributed to the decline in male friendships.
the number of friends and confidantes a man has has been steadily dropping for decades, leading to greater isolation and loneliness.
You can sadly live in a neighborhood for ten years and not know the people who live next door to you.
“Friendship is the only thing in the world concerning the usefulness of which all mankind are agreed.” —CICERO
Through ritual we can learn important truths, explore the mysteries of the universe and quiet our busy minds.
After you hear your friend’s problem, ask him very nonchalantly, “So what do you think you can do to fix your situation?”
Everyone loves to hear of such heroic acts not only because they are inspiring but because they are rarer in an increasingly anonymous and isolated society,
Yet sacrifice is one of the key qualities of true men.
Every man must be ready to put aside thoughts of his own welfare or pressing schedule and be willing to come to the aid of those in need.
“The unforgivable crime is soft hitting. Do not hit at all if it can be avoided; but never hit softly.” —THEODORE ROOSEVELT
“A boy doesn’t have to go to war to be a hero; he can say he doesn’t like pie when he sees there isn’t enough to go around.” —EDGAR WATSON HOWE
“The motto of chivalry is also the motto of wisdom; to serve all, but love only one.” —HONORE DE BALZAC
old Swedish proverb that says, “Shared joy is double joy. Shared sorrow is half sorrow.” Truer words have seldom been spoken. Marriage basically
Theodore Roosevelt said about his father: “My father was the best man I ever knew. He combined strength and courage with gentleness, tenderness, and great unselfishness. He would not tolerate in us children selfishness or cruelty, idleness, cowardice, or untruthfulness.”
Babies cry when they need something. It’s their only form of communication for a year and a half.
“It is easier to build strong children than to repair broken men.” —FREDERICK DOUGLASS
while sticking kids in a protective bubble may keep them safe in the short term, it leaves them more vulnerable down the road.
You must periodically tear yourself away from civilization and interact with things in their natural state. Touch real dirt, sit by a real fire, sharpen real wood and listen to the pure sounds of running streams and the wind in the trees.
Keep most of your camping stuff in one big storage tub.
True leadership is not about superiority, position or prestige. It’s about revealing and releasing the potential of those around you. Leadership is not about the power of one, but facilitating the greatness of many.
“In any moment of decision, the best thing you can do is the right thing, the next best thing is the wrong thing, and the worst thing you can do is nothing.” —THEODORE ROOSEVELT
Set a course for yourself, and when trials come and you are sorely tested, you will not panic, you will not waver, you will simply remember your plan and follow it through.
Great leaders focus on the things they can change and influence, and the past is not one of those things.
If you fail, learn from it but cease to dwell on it. When you succeed, celebrate with your followers and move on.
The truest mark of a charismatic man is his ability to make another feel as though they are the most important person in the room.
“You have enemies? Good. That means you’ve stood up for something, sometime in your life.” —WINSTON CHURCHILL
TEN GREAT SPEECHES TO STUDY
“Nearly all men can stand adversity, but if you want to test a man’s character, give him power.” —ABRAHAM LINCOLN
if a person doesn’t know what they can do to improve, knowing their mistakes won’t help them one bit.
“Criticism may not be agreeable, but it is necessary. It fulfills the same function as pain in the human body. It calls attention to an unhealthy state of things.”
Franklin’s quest should be the mission of every man: to become the best man he can possibly be and thus be of greatest service to his country, community and family.
The key to Franklin’s success was his drive to constantly improve himself.
“Tho’ I never arrived at the perfection I had been so ambitious of obtaining, but fell far short of it, yet I was, by the endeavour, a better and a happier man than I otherwise should have been if I had not attempted it.”
Don’t fear the silence.
Your grandfather lived by the mantra: “Use it up, wear it out, make it do, or do without.”
He worked harder, longer and more efficiently than the next guy.
ONE HUNDRED BOOKS EVERY MAN SHOULD READ
