Website owner: James Miller
Activities that have given me the greatest pleasure
What activities have given me the greatest pleasure? In doing what kind of thing have I found the greatest pleasure? I would say that I in general have been happiest when doing something that I think is worthwhile. I find pleasure in work. I would give as an example the Mathematics, Physics, and Chemistry Notes that are found on this website. They were a lot of work and took me several years. It was a big project. But if they were work, they were also a source of sense of accomplishment and pleasure. Writing one of the articles on this website also gives me pleasure. It takes time and is work but also gives pleasure. Doing a thing that I think is worthwhile gives me pleasure. People do all kinds of things for pleasure. They travel, go to beaches, eat out at restaurants, drink, take drugs, play cards, ride horses, ski, play golf, etc. I have done some traveling, especially in my younger years, just after I got married. My wife is from Ecuador and she and I did a bit of traveling in Latin America in the early years of our marriage. We took a number of trips around Ecuador and visited Mexico and several of the Andean countries in South America (Colombia, Peru, and Bolivia). We also took a six week trip to Europe and visited some countries there (the Netherlands, France, Spain, Italy, and Switzerland). My wife’s family is from Spain and she had an uncle in Madrid who showed us around Spain when we were there. The opinion that I finally came to on traveling was that it cost a lot of money and wasn’t worth the money. If I am in another country and am not busy I am bored. If I am idle I am bored. In fact I think one can learn a lot more about a foreign country by watching YouTube videos than by traveling. In watching YouTube you can get into peoples homes, see how they live, watch them cook and tend their livestock, learn how they think. You can see drone views that you wouldn’t see if traveling. And watching YouTube doesn’t cost a penny.
One doesn’t need to spend money to find happiness.
I have now reigned above fifty years in victory or peace,
beloved by my subjects, dreaded by my enemies, and respected
by my allies. Riches and honors, power and pleasure, have
waited on my call, nor does any earthly blessing appear to have
been wanting to my felicity. In this situation, I have
diligently numbered the days of pure and genuine happiness
which have fallen to my lot; they amount to fourteen. O man,
place not thy confidence in the present world!
The Caliph Abdalrahman
If I may speak of myself, my happy hours have far exceeded, and
far exceed, the scanty numbers of the Caliph of Spain; and I
shall not scruple to add, that many of them are due to the
pleasing labor of composing my history.
Gibbon
31 Mar 2023
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