Quote of the Day: 25 September 2026 #QotD

“Everywhere he went now there were laws stacked on top of other laws until there was a mountain of laws ready to collapse in a giant avalanche of meddling.” -Earl Harbinger (thought), Monster Hunter Alpha
[The really terrifying thing about it is that that avalanche will bury you mercilessly, throw you in prison or levy a fine against you for something you didn't even realize was illegal.]

Quote of the Day: 24 September 2026 #QotD

“Don't go into debt trying to buy a symbol of a great marriage. Build one instead.” -Dave Ramsey
[Or any symbol, really. If you want something great, make that thing great. Don't try to make something else represent it, and don't take on unnecessary risk through debt to get it.]

Quote of the Day: 23 September 2026 #QotD

“Top performers understand their field at a higher level than average performers do, and thus have a superior structure for remembering information about it.” -Geoff Colvin
[This phenomenon does a bit to help explain the Dunning-Kruger effect. Those who are intimately familiar with a topic not only know how much they still don't know, they have forgotten what the average person doesn't know.]

Quote of the Day: 22 September 2026 #QotD

“[N]ext time you’re tempted not to tell me something ‘for my own good,’ will you take a chance that I’m not wedded to my own ignorance?” -Clifford “Kip” Russell, Have Space Suit – Will Travel
[When we decide for another what they should or should not know we are taking on a role that is reserved for parents or the individual himself.]

Quote of the Day: 21 September 2026 #QotD

“I tell you, mister, he can’t write for shucks and his spelling’s something terrible. And it’s a downright pity. For he’s got a book to write.” -Larry Higgins, They Walked Like Men
[Almost everyone has a story to tell. Almost everyone is terrible at it as well, though.]

Quote of the Day: 20 September 2026 #QotD

“If we have a sincere desire, being meek and lowly in heart, we can come to know the true God the Father and gain eternal life through His Son, Jesus Christ, for the power is in us—in choosing to believe and deciding to act accordingly.” -Wan-Liang Wu

Quote of the Day: 19 September 2026 #QotD

“In the Gospels Jesus has to explain to the apostles that he is speaking in a metaphor, not literally, because they are dumb as stumps, and, boy, people have not gotten smarter in the intervening two millenia.” -Tucker Saglio
[Sometimes it is simply that they would prefer literal statements rather than metaphor because it makes it easier to deny what he obviously meant.]

Quote of the Day: 18 September 2026 #QotD

“Young bahss, you ’ave always been my friend.” -Timothy, The Cay
[The way we see others is not always how they see us. And sometimes they have a better idea of who we are than we do.]

Quote of the Day: 17 September 2026 #QotD

“It’s in the nature of humans to want to belong to a group, to want to be accepted, appreciated, and needed. What is most frightening about their kind are the sacrifices they are prepared to make in order to become part of such a tribe, clique, sect, sewing circle, cult, or book club. Reason and morality are often at the top of the list of what must be surrendered as part of the club fees. Truth becomes a collective property, an adaptable shield used to shelter the in-group from those outside. Dogs, on the other hand, are great.” -Barbara Timberhut, The Book That Wouldn’t Burn
[We are social beings. We are willing to put up with a whole ton of dreck just to belong, whether that belonging is to something useful and worthwhile or not.]

Quote of the Day: 16 September 2026 #QotD

“It’s sad when fraud is the less harmful option.” -Pig, Pearls Before Swine
[Realizations like this can be quite dispiriting. Then you can realize how much opportunity there is for someone who cares even a little bit.]

Quote of the Day: 15 September 2026 #QotD

“[S]cientific research was much like prospecting: you went out and you hunted, armed with your maps and your instruments, but in the end your preparations did not matter, or even your intuition. You needed your luck, and whatever benefits accrued to the diligent, through sheer, grinding hard work.” -Jeremy Stone, The Andromeda Strain
[Life has a way of rewarding those who give themselves more opportunities to have luck turn out well for them. The more chances you take, the better your odds of receiving something great. True of scientists and just about everyone else, too.]

Quote of the Day: 13 September 2026 #QotD

“You cannot share what you no longer possess.

“You cannot welcome the world when your own house is on fire.” -@japan_nobunaga

[This is true at every level. A person must be in a good state before being able to render assistance to others, a community before it can provide refuge, and a country before it can accept immigrants. Even then the state of things must be carefully guarded so as not to be lost.]

Quote of the Day: 13 September 2026 #QotD

“We must ensure that our discipleship reflects the Savior’s patience, His gentleness, and His perfect love.” -Taniela B. Wakolo

Quote of the Day: 12 September 2026 #QotD

“[P]roximity functions as a kind of connective drug. Get close, and our tendency to connect lights up.” -Daniel Coyle
[We tend to love or loathe those we spend time in close contact with. Largely dependent upon how we choose to view them.]

Quote of the Day: 11 September 2026 #QotD

“When you understand your own emotions and can respond to them the way you choose to, you have the power to take control of difficult situations, react nimbly to change, and take the initiative needed to achieve your goals.” -Travis Bradberry & Jean Greaves
[Anything that empowers you or helps you take agency in your life will give you a better chance of finding success in your life. However it is that you define that success.]

Quote of the Day: 10 September 2026 #QotD

“We are like Russian nesting dolls of mental conversations.” -Ethan Kross
[There are so many conversations going on each of our heads. How can we function with all this chatter going on?]

Quote of the Day: 9 September 2026 #QotD

“Not everybody hates you, kid. There are entire countries full of people who haven’t met you yet.” -Ferius Parfax, Charmcaster
[Sometimes it feels like that's all they're waiting for before deciding to hate me. Then I realize that there are plenty of people who don't hate me. Some of them even like having me around.]

Quote of the Day: 8 September 2026 #QotD

“You can’t inspire people with facts. They need a cause. They need a symbol.” -Simony, Small Gods
[You may be able to inspire an individual or two with facts, but a cause is far better at moving a people.]

Quote of the Day: 7 September 2026 #QotD

“The family is a microcosm of society. It includes individual and group rights, responsibilities and rules. It’s a system of multiple interpersonal relationships that need to be carefully managed.” -Kate Kelly and Peggy Ramundo
[While this is true, it is not true that the forms of society writ large are directly applicable to the family. In fact, if we try, we will find that measures that are necessary for society cause problems within the family. But it is a good way to begin to learn about societies.]

Quote of the Day: 6 September 2026 #QotD

“[W]hen we strive to follow the Savior, He will use us to bless others. Through our example and service to others, they will feel the Savior’s love for them.” -John U. Teh

Quote of the Day: 5 September 2026 #QotD

“It's disrespectful and dehumanizing to demand control of my tongue so you can force me to say things that aren't true. You will never guilt or bully me into that, no matter how hard you try.” -Seth Dillon
[My thoughts are my own, and my tongue ought to be as well.]

Quote of the Day: 4 September 2026 #QotD

“If all human beings understood history, they might cease making the same stupid mistakes over and over.” -Dors Venabili, Prelude to Foundation
[Sadly, those who do get to watch those same stupid mistakes made over and over again while being powerless to stop it.]

Quote of the Day: 3 September 2026 #QotD

“Isn’t it sad how some people’s grip on their lives is so precarious that they’ll embrace any preposterous delusion rather than face an occasional bleak truth?” -Calvin, Calvin and Hobbes
[Apropos of absolutely nothing topical at all. Just a funny observation from one who exhibited the same tendency.]

Quote of the Day: 2 September 2026 #QotD

“The desire to be lucky is universal. It was just as strong in the breasts of men four thousand years ago in ancient Babylon as it is in the hearts of men today. We all hope to be favored by the whimsical Goddess of Good Luck.” -George S. Clason
[Luck. Everyone wishes for good luck and to avoid bad luck. But it seems that luck favors those who are prepared to work once an opportunity presents itself.]

Quote of the Day: 1 September 2026 #QotD

“Very little worth knowing is taught by fear.” -Burrich, Assassin’s Apprentice
[There are a few things. Usually, things that aren't taught as a formal part of the instruction.]

Quote of the Day: 31 August 2026 #QotD

“His life had been about momentum. Problem was, it was all too easy to gather momentum in the wrong direction, and it became harder and harder to change course.” -Dalinar Kholin (thought), Wind and Truth
[How do you make sure you're headed in the right direction? It takes a lot of effort to change things the more momentum you get. So, you really ought to be checking as you go along so you don't have to expend too much effort making corrections after it's too late.]

Quote of the Day: 30 August 2026 #QotD

“Truly, Jesus Christ is the way to peace in this world and eternal life in the world to come. He knows and loves each of us perfectly and invites us to walk with Him, abide in Him, and follow His example of ministering to others one by one in charity and love.” -Dallin H. Oaks

Quote of the Day: 29 August 2026 #QotD

“Some of what now exists is already gone. Change and flux constantly remake the world, just as the incessant progression of time remakes eternity.” -Marcus Aurelius
[Change is inevitable. We cannot escape it, nor would it make sense if we could.]

Quote of the Day: 28 August 2026 #QotD

“Do not pity the dead, Harry. Pity the living, and, above all, those who live without love.” -Albus Dumbledore, Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows
[And live your life in such a way that you are giving love to those around you. Love is something that doesn't diminish as you give it away. It is instead multiplied.]

Quote of the Day: 26 April 2026 #QotD

“Hence the futility of many schemes for education. None can give to another what he does not possess himself.” -C. S. Lewis
[You can inspire someone to pursue knowledge you yourself do not possess. But that is not the same thing as Mr. Lewis is describing here.]

Quote of the Day: 26 August 2026 #QotD

“Freedom, Sancho, is one of the most precious gifts heaven gave to men; the treasures under the earth and beneath the sea cannot compare to it; for freedom, as well as for honor, one can and should risk one’s life, while captivity, on the other hand, is the greatest evil that can befall men.” -Don Quixote, Don Quixote
[There are things worth fighting for. It's good to have some principles to determine which things those are.]

Quote of the Day: 25 August 2026 #QotD

“A man who has faith must be prepared not only to be a martyr, but to be a fool.” -G. K. Chesterton
[This is true regardless of the thing he has faith in. If it be in Christ, the world will be against him. If not, there are still those who will be against him, regardless.]

Quote of the Day: 24 August 2026 #QotD

“[L]ooking forward to things is half the pleasure of them. You mayn’t get the things themselves; but nothing can prevent you from having the fun of looking forward to them.” -Anne Shirley, Anne of Green Gables
[There is a cost to anticipation, though. Particularly when the anticipated event doesn't occur. You incur a debt of enjoyment as you experience the anticipation, but if that isn't repaid in an actualized event you have to pay it back with interest as disappointment.]

Quote of the Day: 23 August 2026 #QotD

“As we witness and remember Jesus each week, we abide and walk with Him.” -Gerrit W. Gong

Quote of the Day: 22 August 2026 #QotD

“That someone is educated does not mitigate their ideological commitments.” -Gad Saad
[Education may inform ideology, but it doesn't necessarily lead to a particular ideology. It may just as well be put to use in destroying as to creation.]

Quote of the Day: 21 August 2026 #QotD

“Unintentional puns are the best.” -Corin Cadence, Sufficiently Advanced Magic
[They are, and I'm tired of pretending they aren't.]

Quote of the Day: 20 August 2026 #QotD

“It’s almost always best to go with honest. It means you never have to worry about getting your story straight.” -Harry Dresden, Cold Days
[It is easier to remember what happened rather than what happened and what you told any particular individual.]

Quote of the Day: 19 August 2026 #QotD

“[H]ow you act in your daily life defines you far more than your politics.” -Chris Freiman
[There is more to life than politics. But it can be pretty important.]

Quote of the Day: 18 August 2026 #QotD

“The single best way to stop a mass killer is with an immediate, violent response.” -Larry Correia
[That response doesn't have to be with a firearm, but it will be more effective if it is.]

Quote of the Day: 17 August 2026 #QotD

“You aren’t failing your kids because you can’t give them everything.” -Dave Ramsey
[In fact, you would be doing more damage to give them everything. They need to struggle, just as we all do. You can't develop into the person you have the potential to be without striving for something.]

Quote of the Day: 16 August 2026 #QotD

“It is in emulating the character of Christ that we become the ‘manner of persons’ we ought to be. Acquiring the character of Christ is one of the most important ways we take His name upon us.” -D. Todd Christofferson

Quote of the Day: 15 August 2026 #QotD

“We know that great performance comes from deliberate practice, but deliberate practice is hard. It’s so hard that no one can do it without the benefit of passion, a truly extraordinary drive.” -Geoff Colvin
[It is hard. It has to be, or top tier performance cannot be achieved. Otherwise, everyone would do it and it wouldn't be extraordinary anymore.]

Quote of the Day: 14 August 2026 #QotD

“I should have stuck to advanced finger-painting and never let Dad lure me into trying for an education. There isn’t any end—the more you learn, the more you need to learn.” -Clifford “Kip” Russell, Have Space Suit – Will Travel
[We all have regrets that aren't actually regrets, just frustration that we actually have to put in some effort.]

Quote of the Day: 13 August 2026 #QotD

“[E]ven then I didn’t know what I was going to do, but before I did anything I had to get my clothes on.” -Parker Graves, They Walked Like Men
[Priorities are important to get in order.]

Quote of the Day: 12 August 2026 #QotD

“It's an insidious form of pride.

Of specks and planks and double standards.

My hobbies and my interests? Well of course, they are good and worthy and important and wise.

But others? Well of course that is wasteful or indulgent or a bit silly, don't you know?” -John Moody

[For something to be an insidious form of pride it must be an especially insidious thing. Pride is insidious by its nature, and to compound that makes it doubly insidious. It's another thing to be on guard against.]

Quote of the Day: 11 August 2026 #QotD

“An extraordinary life is made up of ordinary days. Of a summer breeze, and small hands, of cold cheeks you kiss in the autumn afternoons, of a steady hand that holds yours, of the wonderful miracle that is having everyone you love, all with you under the same roof.” -@tanyaelisabethh
[It is so hard to remember in the moment, though. And not all the moments are entirely pleasant. The pup is being particularly surly as I type this, thinking he is so put upon to have to accept his mother's and my decisions about certain things. But there are other moments that make up for (and more) all of that.]

Quote of the Day: 10 August 2026 #QotD

“[T]he past has never cared about regrets.” -Mark Lawrence
[The past is done and gone. It doesn't care what you think of it now. You, on the other hand, care a great deal.]

Quote of the Day: 9 August 2026 #QotD

“My brothers and sisters, as followers of Christ, let us follow Him by forgoing contention and by using the language and methods of peacemakers. In our families and other personal relationships, let us avoid what is harsh and hateful.” -Dallin H. Oaks

Quote of the Day: 8 August 2026 #QotD

“Never hesitate when someone asks if you’re a crazed lunatic.” -Rat, Pearls Before Swine
[Either answer with an immediate and emphatic 'no' or ignore them entirely. There can be no middle ground.]

Quote of the Day: 7 August 2026 #QotD

“To enter a truly natural world was exotic, beyond the experience of most mankind, who lived from birth to death in entirely man-made circumstances.” -Michael Crichton
[It is good to have some connection to the natural world. Better to understand the tenuous position civilization stands in. We are on a knife's edge, and a push to either side would send us to unbearable to us conditions we barely recognize.]