Wisdom For the Ages
by Mark Olson

What the world needs now are people and businesses that know how to live well in this fascinating, exasperating world. Eugene Peterson described it as living in robust sanity. Anyone for robust sanity these days?

The road to living well in robust sanity is paved with wisdom. Wisdom is the ability to discern inner qualities and relationships using practical knowledge and experience. I believe the high wisdom is always accompanied by heavy doses of empathy and humility. Through the centuries, wisdom is associated with attributes such as justice and compassion and virtues such as integrity and benevolence.

What follows is a collection of 20 paraphrased wise sayings that originated thousands of years ago and have stood the test of time.

• When you grab all you can get, the more you get, the less you are.

• Set your heart on a life of understanding.

• Find all the good trails.

• Keep your feet on the tried and true paths.

• Don’t lose your grip on love and loyalty.

• Wisdom is better than all the trappings of wealth.

• A thick bankroll is no help when life falls apart.

• Good character is the best insurance.

• The world of the generous gets larger and larger.

• A life devoted to things is a dead stump.

• The more wise counsel you follow, the better your chances.

The diligent find freedom in

their work.

• The thinking of principled people

makes for justice.

• Truth lasts.

• A plain and simple life is a full life.

• The mark of a good leader is loyal followers.

• Never walk away from anyone who deserves help.

• Sell everything and buy wisdom.

• The ways of right-living people glow with light.

• Never take love for granted.

My personal favorite is “find all the good trails” because it reminds me that every day, we each have the opportunity to learn and grow from all who have come before us. My hope is that each one of these wise sayings spurs you on to do and be more.

See you along the way.