A traveller at Sparta, standing long upon one leg, said to a Lacedaemonian, "I do not believe you can do as much." "True," said he, "but every goose can."
Interpretation
The quote highlights the difference between mere physical ability and the value of skill or effort.
In this quote, Plutarch contrasts the actions of a man trying to impress with his balance against the simplistic ability of a goose, which can stand on one leg without any deeper significance. It serves as a reminder that not all abilities are valuable or worthy of admiration, often pointing out that effort and understanding should take precedence over superficial accomplishments.
In practice
Use this quote to illustrate a point in a discussion about true talent versus superficial skills.
Sometimes small incidents, rather than glorious exploits, give us the best evidence of character. So, as portrait painters are more exact in doing the face, where the character is revealed, than the rest of the body, I must be allowed to give my more particular attention to the marks of the souls of men.
It were better to have no opinion of God at all than such a one as is unworthy of him; for the one is only belief - the other contempt.
Come back with your shield - or on it
The richest soil, if uncultivated, produces the rankest weeds.
For the correct analogy for the mind is not a vessel that needs filling, but wood that needs igniting.
Our senses through ignorance of Reality, falsely tell us that what appears to be, is. FEAR = False Evidence Appearing Real
You can attract more bees with a spoonful of sugar than a cupful of vinegar.
So, the tendency of our childish nature is to take small things too seriously and get easily offended, whereas when we are confronted with situations which have long-term consequences, we tend to take things less seriously
And these little things may not seem like much but after a while they take you off on a direction where you may be a long way off from what other people have been thinking about.
When you are fully present with everyone you meet, you relinquish the conceptual identity you made for them - your interpretation of who they are and what they did in the past - and are able to interact without the egoic movements of desire and fear. Attention, which is alert stillness, is the key.
Men are not prisoners of fate, but only prisoners of their own minds.
Since you alone are responsible for your thoughts, only you can change them. You will want to change them when you realize that each thought creates according to its own nature. Remember that the law works at all times and that you are always demonstrating according to the kind of thoughts you habitually entertain. Therefore, start now to think only those thoughts that will bring you health and happiness.
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