Website owner: James Miller
Ninety five percent of the problems that most people have come from personal foolishness
I am convinced that 95% of the problems that most people have come from personal foolishness — lack of judgment, lack of prudence, bad habits, poor character, wrong attitudes, wrong outlooks, wrong values, wrong behavior, etc. In other words, 95% of the problems that most people have are due to themselves and are not caused by simple bad luck. The good or bad luck that people have is mostly made by them. People act by impulse rather than reason, do whatever they wish, make all the wrong choices, and then live with their choices. They follow appetite and desire and feeling and then pay the consequences. One person understands the value of good health, pays attention to his diet, walks every day, takes matters of health seriously, and enjoys good health all his life. Another person follows impulse and appetite, eats and drinks whatever he wishes, gives no thought to matters of health, becomes obese, develops health problems at an early age, and spends his later years plagued by health problems. People under the influence of romantic infatuation, lust, greed, hatred, pride, arrogance, envy, anger, fear, etc. do foolish things and then live with the consequences. A person in anger or high arrogance ignores the voice of sense and reason, acts foolishly, and then lives with the consequences. One person develops habits of hard work and diligence and life compensates him for it. Another person develops habits of laziness and idleness and life gives him just compensation for that. One person is frugal, saves his money, invests it, and ends up wealthy. Another person squanders all his money and faces old age destitute. One person is honest, treats other people right, and goes through life with a good conscience, liking himself. Another person is a dishonest trickster and goes through life detesting himself. One can say that life tends to give people what they deserve.
There is the saying, “He is his own worst enemy.” For a great many people this is true. In a great many cases people are their own worst enemy. When a person is a child his parents have the authority to instruct him, correct him, and discipline him. They have a responsibility to raise him up in a way that is for his own good. But once he is an adult this part of his life is passed. He no longer has a teacher. He is now on his own. He can now do whatever he wishes no matter how foolish it may be. Only life itself will now discipline him. Few people will attempt to correct another adult. Not unless they are very close to him, know him well, and think they can do it. In general people don’t like to be criticized and an attempt to help will be received as criticism. No one likes criticism. An attempt to help is likely to be repelled.
June 2014
Jesus Christ and His Teachings
Way of enlightenment, wisdom, and understanding
America, a corrupt, depraved, shameless country
On integrity and the lack of it
The test of a person's Christianity is what he is
Ninety five percent of the problems that most people have come from personal foolishness
Liberalism, socialism and the modern welfare state
The desire to harm, a motivation for conduct
On Self-sufficient Country Living, Homesteading
Topically Arranged Proverbs, Precepts, Quotations. Common Sayings. Poor Richard's Almanac.
Theory on the Formation of Character
People are like radio tuners --- they pick out and listen to one wavelength and ignore the rest
Cause of Character Traits --- According to Aristotle
We are what we eat --- living under the discipline of a diet
Avoiding problems and trouble in life
Role of habit in formation of character
Personal attributes of the true Christian
What determines a person's character?
Love of God and love of virtue are closely united
Intellectual disparities among people and the power in good habits
Tools of Satan. Tactics and Tricks used by the Devil.
The Natural Way -- The Unnatural Way
Wisdom, Reason and Virtue are closely related
Knowledge is one thing, wisdom is another
My views on Christianity in America
The most important thing in life is understanding
We are all examples --- for good or for bad
Television --- spiritual poison
The Prime Mover that decides "What We Are"
Where do our outlooks, attitudes and values come from?
Sin is serious business. The punishment for it is real. Hell is real.
Self-imposed discipline and regimentation
Achieving happiness in life --- a matter of the right strategies
Self-control, self-restraint, self-discipline basic to so much in life