1
Life in Quotes"

• Interpreting and discussing quotes about life and
  developing your own life philosophy

Created for Student Support Services
participants Troy University Troy, AL 36082
2
Objectives

• To encourage students to think purposely and
  critically about life
• To introduce students to some well-known
  thinkers, ethicists, and philosophers
• To offer students points of reference to support
  impromptu writing and speech challenges
• To expand students general knowledge
• To encourage students to engage in thoughtful
  discussions

3
Terms

• Related Vocabulary

The Thinker Statue a man struggling internally
with intellectual concepts and surveying his
doctrinal beliefs. Such trepidation --
intellectual, ethical, and passionate
preoccupation -- characterizes the life of
persons involved in the process of critical
thought. Picture Source yahoo.com
4
What is Life? Different responses

• The period during which something is functional
  (as between birth and death)
• The instant in which one is conceived or the
  instant in which one realizes he is alive
  (debate)
• Energy or ability to move and be ones human self
• Can you think of some other words or ways to
  define life?
• Freedom (liberty to pursue success in life)
• Success (achievement of a great desire or power)
• Love (passion and compassion for life and ideals)
• Joy (a spirit of happiness or pleasure)
• Wisdom (accumulated knowledge of life)
• God (Creator of life or Model for living)

5
What is a Life Quote?

• Quote the exact words spoken or written by
  someone
• A Life Quote is the exact words that someone
  writes or speaks specifically on the subject of
  life.
• A Life Quote is also a philosophical statement
  that someone writes or speaks on the subject of
  life.

6
Why study life quotes?

• To help you develop your personal philosophy or
  value system so that you can consistently make
  ethical choices for yourself and understand the
  purpose for your life.
• So, what is philosophy
• and what is ethics ?

7
What is philosophy?

• Definitions of philosophy
• Philosophy is a Greek word, taken from phileîn,
  which means to love," and sophía, "wisdom"
• Philosophy is an Appreciation for WISDOM.
• Wisdom Truth Judgment Insight
• Source http//www.google.com/search?hlenrlz1T4
  GGIC_enUS225US225deflenqdefinephilosophysaX
  oiglossary_definitioncttitle

8
Many Branches of Philosophy
Philosophical study is the search for a Wise,
Logical Truth Upon Which to Base Ethical
Practices. Arguments and Disagreements are to be
expected as people will not agree on one Truth.
Image Yahoo.com
9
What is ethics?

• Ethics is the philosophical study of moral
  values and rules.
• Ethics is the process of assessing conduct.
• Ethics Standards
• Sources http ethicscoreboard.com and
  http//www.google.com/search?sourceidnavclientie
  UTFrlz1T4GGIC_enUS225US225qdefine3aethics

Virtually every field of study, discipline or
institution has its own formal set of ethics.
Most individuals have their own set of ethics or
values, though those values may be influenced by
other humans.
10
Analogies of Life

• Many philosophers make philosophical statements
  in the form of analogies.
• Analogies are comparisons.
• The purpose of such analogies is to give the
  hearer of the analogy an image or idea comparable
  to human life. The analogy may require the
  reader to think figuratively about life.

11
A Popular Life Analogy . . .
Life is like a what?!?
My mama always said, Life is like a box of
chocolate. You never know what youre gonna
get.
Image Forest Gump. 8 October 2008
ltwww.yahoo.comgt
12
Write your life analogy quote

• Try writing your own analogy
• 1. Life is as secure as ....
• 2. Life is about as funny as a...
• 3. Life is as good as ...
• 4. Human Life is as important to the earth as .
  . .

uncovered eyes in a bat cave.
an initiated knock-knock joke with no one to ask
whos there?
a piece of cake is to a colony of hungry ants.
healthy marrow is to the a bone.
13
Great thinkers?
Visions and Possibilities for Life . . .
Important thinkers . . . and their thoughts about
Life
Optimists or Pessimists? Male or
Female? Religious or Non-Religious?
14
Socrates (469 399 B.C.)

• Socrates is described as the first great moral
  philosopher of Western Civilization (3).
• a very controversial figure because of his strong
  political views and his influence on the young
  people of Athens.
• sentenced to death in 399 B. C. after being tried
  and accused of corrupting the youth and
  interfering with the religion of the city.
  (Source http//www.philosophypages.com)
• a masterful debater who could think quickly and
  logically.
• Had a student, Plato, who later recorded many of
  Socrates masterful dialogues with his students.
• Note about Socrates behavior
• Plato described Socrates as calm and
  reflective, even as Socrates stayed in prison
  awaiting execution.

15
Why so calm, Socrates?

• Socrates, like other great thinkers, died because
  his philosophies challenged status quo
  thinking.
• Status Quo thinking is thinking that has not
  changed for a long time and that is designed to
  keep old ways of life current.
• Socrates life is important . . . It shows that
  people become afraid of others who think
  differently or who want to change the status quo.
  (Can you think of a situation in which people
  have express such fear? )
• (Slave Trade Holocaust American Revolution
  Politics)
• Therefore, it takes great courage to try to
  change peoples minds or voice a new idea.

16
Why so calm, Socrates?

• Socrates, as wise as he was, expected people to
  look hard at him, question him, and even fear
  him. He probably wanted them to scrutinize him.
• Therefore, this famous Socratic
• quote should not surprise anyone.
• The unexamined life is not worth living.
• Note Socrates spoke these words at this trial,
  which ended in his receiving the death penalty.
  Socrates had the option of choosing life in
  prison, but chose to die instead of live
  confined.
• Why do you think Socrates chose to die?
• Possibly he preferred death over living life
  with others telling him how to think.

17
Fear of change . . .

• Question Can you think of ways that some
  people have behaved when they heard a new
  philosophy or ethical theory that challenged
  their existing thoughts or the status quo?
• Anxiety/Depression/hypersensitivity
• Preoccupation (obsessive thoughts of the deceased
  or of the past) -- Sentimental/Nostalgic ideals
  (The good ole days)
• Stagnation (inactivity)
• Disobedience to the Law (anarchy)
• Threats or Cries for Violence
• Violence (aggression) / Mob violence

18
Philosophers know . . .

• Many philosophers are so wise that they are
  prophetic.
• Many know so much about human tendencies because
  they have observed human behavior / psychology.
• Many philosophers have become martyrs, for they
  risked their own lives in order to help change
  the lives of others.
• Question Other than Socrates, can you think of
  a person who risked his or her life in order to
  publicize his or her philosophies about life?
  Explain.

19
Life Quote -- Revolutionary Spirit
Ideally, revolution yields profound change.
Quote 1 These are the times that try men's
souls. Quote 2 The World is my country, all
mankind are my brethren, and to do good is my
religion.
Images yahoo.com
20
Life Quotes Patriotism/Liberty
Quote I know not the course others may take,
but give me liberty or give me death.- Patrick
Henry (March 1775)
Images yahoo.com
21
Life Quote Unity, Democracy Emancipation

• As I would not be a slave, so I would not be a
  master.
• Abraham Lincoln, 16th U. S. president,
  assassinated April 15, 1865.

Images yahoo.com
22
Life Quotes Martyr / Equality

• I have a dream today. Martin Luther King
  (August 1963)

American Civil Rights icon, assassinated April 4,
1968
Images yahoo.com
23
Life Quotes Religion/Race
Malcolm X (Malik Shabazz) Nation of Islam
leader, Icon, and black nationalist,
assassinated in a mosque meeting February 21, 1965
Images yahoo.com
24
Life Quote Spiritual Life
Jesus Christ, whose ethnicity remains a mystery
to many, crucified 26 to 36 B.C. after being
betrayed by one of his disciples.
Images yahoo.com
25
Life Quote Civil Disobedience
Gandhi became a leader in a complex struggle
known as the Indian Campaign for Home Rule. He
launched his movement of  non-violent resistance
to Great Britain.A demonstration against the
Rowlatt Acts resulted in a massacre of Indians at
Amritsar by British soldiers. In 1920, when
the British government failed to make amends,
Gandhi proclaimed an organized campaign of
non-cooperation. Indians in public office
resigned, government agencies such as courts of
law were boycotted, and Indian children were
withdrawn from government schools. Throughout
India, streets were blocked by squatting Indians
who refused to rise even when beaten by police.
Gandhi was arrested, but the British were soon
forced to release him. Gandhis teachings of
passive resistance and civil disobedience
inspired the world and leaders such as Martin
Luther King, Jr. Gandhi was shot to death in a
public forum. You should be the change you wish
to see in the world. Source
http//www.megaessays.com/essay_search/indian_camp
aign_home.html
Images yahoo.com
26
Life Quote Secular Proverb

• Speak softly and carry a big stick.
• A proverb advising the tactic of caution and
  non-aggression, backed up by the ability to do
  violence if required. Senator John McCain
  alluded to this quote during a recent, televised
  presidential debate.
• Quote Origin
• The widespread use of this proverb began with
  American president Theodore Roosevelt. In a
  speech in Chicago in April 1903, he said
• There is a homely old adage which runs 'Speak
  softly and carry and big stick you will go far.'
  If the American nation will speak softly, and yet
  build and keep at a pitch of the highest training
  a thoroughly efficient navy, the Munroe Doctrine
  will go far.
• The proverb is sometimes cited as being of
  African origin . . . If it truly was an 'old
  adage' in 1903 it ought to be easy to find
  earlier citations of it, but I can find none. It
  is certainly possible that Roosevelt coined the
  phrase himself.

Teddy Roosevelt
Images yahoo.com
27
Life quotes Women as Activist
Activism working to make change occur
Alice Walker, author of the acclaimed novel, The
Color Purpose
Images yahoo.com
28
Life Quote Activist Women

• Do not wait for leaders do it alone, person to
  person. Mother Teresa of Calcutta

Mother Teresa established the Missionaries of
Charity- which was to be the centre of all her
activities with its branches spread in many parts
of the country . . . Mother Teresa's efforts and
her dedication were recognized all over the world
and she was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize in
1979.
Images yahoo.com
29
Life Quotes Contemporary
If you're walking down the right path and you're
willing to keep walking, eventually you'll make
progress. Senator Barack Obama
We cannot forever hide the truth about
ourselves, from ourselves. Senator John McCain
Images yahoo.com
30
Final Quote . . . All Life
Can't We All Just Get Along? -- Rodney King,
1991
Images yahoo.com
31
The End . . .

• Remember to complete your seminar evaluation form
  and submit it after viewing this presentation.
• Make suggestions on the form for future workshops
  you desire presented.
• Enjoy your learning experience here at Troy
  University.