Anthony Paterson

There are various quotes from many sources some mine, some not- why differentiate? If they cause you to think then they have completed the task!

 "My religion consists of a humble admiration of the illimitable superior spirit who reveals himself in the slight details we are able to perceive with our frail and feeble mind." AE

Philosophically Speaking

I think what is amazing is "life is what happens when you make other plans". So expect the unexpected! (Thanks Mum- always remembered always cherished)

You cannot love if you don't trust- (To my loving wife for trusting me and loving me.)

What ever happens is for the best, even if at the time it is not clear to you. (Thanks T.H.)

The best way to have friends is to be a friend. (Thanks David and David)

In my 50 plus years in this dimension, I have come to find passion is the key ingredient to life. You must have passion, courage and faith, along with a knowledge of self to take the necessary steps in life.

First impressions are not always correct. Remember when you point the finger at someone there are three pointing back at you.

You must have faith in people and most importantly, you must always have faith in yourself.

When you know yourself then you can know others. The "Unexamined Life" is not worth living (Thanks Oliver Wendell Holmes)

Love is what you "Give" not what you "Take". (Thanks to all who have loved me and especially my wife for teaching me how to truly love and  who once asked 'where have you been all my life?'- I replied 'in training!'.)

You can achieve "any" dream you wish, just remember to take reality with you. (Thanks Digby)

In life we face many challenges but the greatest challenge is to hold fast to the ideal that all is for the best. That it is persistence and perspiration that will cause success - Great leaders make decisions (right or wrong) and live with the consequence of actions. And if beaten they get up, dust themselves off and try again (Thanks Ed N. I will always remember our chat)

Remember be at peace with God, whatever you conceive Him to be. My God seems to have a strange sense of humour. In a nutshell- with all the tragic events of today it is still a beautiful world. Be cheerful. Strive to be happy.

If you know me, or even if you don’t and you would like to chat, email me. I will always find time to talk a little, smile a little and laugh a lot:

☺Smile! it’s contagious! ☺

Another year and still looking for that day of boring.

As each day passes, the more I realize the impact of attitude and acceptance on life. 

Attitude, to me, is more important than facts, than the past, than education, than money, than circumstances, than failures, than successes, than what other people think or say or do.  It is more important than appearance, giftedness or skill.  It will make or break a company...a group...a home.  Remarkably, we have a choice regarding the attitude we will embrace for that day.  We cannot change our past... We cannot change the inevitable, We must accept what has happened. The only thing we can do is play on the one string we have, and that is our attitude. I am convinced that life is 10% what happens to me and 90% how I react to it.  And so it is with us all...We are in charge of our Attitudes and must Accept life on life's terms.

'This I read each day to help me centre  'myself'

Go placidly amid the noise and the haste, and remember what peace there may be in silence.

As far as possible, without surrender, be on good terms with all persons.

Speak your truth quietly and clearly; and listen to the dull and ignorant; they too have their story.

Avoid loud and aggressive persons; they are vexatious to the spirit.

If you compare yourself with others, you may become vain or bitter, for always there will be greater and lesser persons than yourself.

Enjoy your achievements as well as your plans.

Keep interested in your career, however humble; it is a real possession in the changing fortunes of time.

Exercise caution in your business affairs, for the world is full of trickery.

But let this not blind you to what virtue there is; many persons strive for high ideals and everywhere life is full of heroism.

Be yourself. Especially do not feign affection.

Neither be cynical about love; for in the face of all aridity and disenchantment, it is as perennial as the grass.

Take kindly the counsel of the years, gracefully surrendering the things of youth.

Nurture strength of spirit to shield you in sudden misfortune.

But do not distress yourself with imaginings.

Many fears are born of fatigue and loneliness.

Beyond a wholesome discipline be gentle to yourself.

You are a child of the universe, no less than the trees and the stars and you have a right to be here.

And whether or not it is clear to you, no doubt the universe is unfolding as it should.

Therefore, be at peace with God, whatever you conceive Him to be.

And whatever your labours and aspirations,

in the noisy confusion of life, keep peace with your soul.

With all its sham, drudgery and broken dreams, it is still a beautiful world.

Be cheerful. Strive to be happy.

--Max Ehrmann, 1927. © Robert L. Bell

Copyright (c) 1927 by Max Ehrmann Copyright renewed (c) 1954 by Bertha K. Ehrmann. Used by permission from Robert Bell, Melrose, Mass. 02176, USA

Remember control is the right of no man over another- even God allows us to have a free will.

One of the greatest documents ever!

The Emancipation Proclamation

January 1, 1863

A Transcription

By the President of the United States of America:

A Proclamation.

Whereas, on the twenty-second day of September, in the year of our Lord one thousand eight hundred and sixty-two, a proclamation was issued by the President of the United States, containing, among other things, the following, to wit:

"That on the first day of January, in the year of our Lord one thousand eight hundred and sixty-three, all persons held as slaves within any State or designated part of a State, the people whereof shall then be in rebellion against the United States, shall be then, thenceforward, and forever free; and the Executive Government of the United States, including the military and naval authority thereof, will recognize and maintain the freedom of such persons, and will do no act or acts to repress such persons, or any of them, in any efforts they may make for their actual freedom.

"That the Executive will, on the first day of January aforesaid, by proclamation, designate the States and parts of States, if any, in which the people thereof, respectively, shall then be in rebellion against the United States; and the fact that any State, or the people thereof, shall on that day be, in good faith, represented in the Congress of the United States by members chosen thereto at elections wherein a majority of the qualified voters of such State shall have participated, shall, in the absence of strong countervailing testimony, be deemed conclusive evidence that such State, and the people thereof, are not then in rebellion against the United States."

Now, therefore I, Abraham Lincoln, President of the United States, by virtue of the power in me vested as Commander-in-Chief, of the Army and Navy of the United States in time of actual armed rebellion against the authority and government of the United States, and as a fit and necessary war measure for suppressing said rebellion, do, on this first day of January, in the year of our Lord one thousand eight hundred and sixty-three, and in accordance with my purpose so to do publicly proclaimed for the full period of one hundred days, from the day first above mentioned, order and designate as the States and parts of States wherein the people thereof respectively, are this day in rebellion against the United States, the following, to wit:

Arkansas, Texas, Louisiana, (except the Parishes of St. Bernard, Plaquemines, Jefferson, St. John, St. Charles, St. James Ascension, Assumption, Terrebonne, Lafourche, St. Mary, St. Martin, and Orleans, including the City of New Orleans) Mississippi, Alabama, Florida, Georgia, South Carolina, North Carolina, and Virginia, (except the forty-eight counties designated as West Virginia, and also the counties of Berkley, Accomac, Northampton, Elizabeth City, York, Princess Ann, and Norfolk, including the cities of Norfolk and Portsmouth[)], and which excepted parts, are for the present, left precisely as if this proclamation were not issued.

And by virtue of the power, and for the purpose aforesaid, I do order and declare that all persons held as slaves within said designated States, and parts of States, are, and henceforward shall be free; and that the Executive government of the United States, including the military and naval authorities thereof, will recognize and maintain the freedom of said persons.

And I hereby enjoin upon the people so declared to be free to abstain from all violence, unless in necessary self-defence; and I recommend to them that, in all cases when allowed, they labor faithfully for reasonable wages.

And I further declare and make known, that such persons of suitable condition, will be received into the armed service of the United States to garrison forts, positions, stations, and other places, and to man vessels of all sorts in said service.

And upon this act, sincerely believed to be an act of justice, warranted by the Constitution, upon military necessity, I invoke the considerate judgment of mankind, and the gracious favor of Almighty God.

In witness whereof, I have hereunto set my hand and caused the seal of the United States to be affixed.

Done at the City of Washington, this first day of January, in the year of our Lord one thousand eight hundred and sixty three, and of the Independence of the United States of America the eighty-seventh.

By the President: ABRAHAM LINCOLN

WILLIAM H. SEWARD, Secretary of State.

 Copyright © Anthony Paterson 2005-2010. All Rights Reserved. This work is copyright. You may download, display, print and reproduce this material in unaltered form only (retaining this notice) for your personal, non-commercial use or use within your organisation. Apart from any use as permitted under the Copyright Act 1968, all other rights are reserved.