Thought For The Day
Your Guiding Principles
By Catherine Pulsifer
Whether we realize it or not, each one of us has guiding principles that guides our life in the choices we make. Most of us do not even realize what they are; they are just ingrained in our beliefs. If you were to make a list of what your guiding life principles are, what would they be?
Thomas Jefferson, the third president of the United States, made a list of his guiding principles. These principles were fundamental in how Mr. Jefferson lived his life.
Thomas Jefferson's Guiding Principles:
I. Never put off till tomorrow what you can do today.
II. Never trouble another for what you can do yourself.
III. Never spend your money before you have it.
IV. Never buy what you do not want, because it is cheap; it will be dear to you.
V. Pride costs us more than hunger, thirst, and cold.
VI. We never repent of having eaten too little.
VII. Nothing is troublesome that we do willingly.
VIII. How much pain have cost us the evils which have never happened.
IX. Take things always by their smooth handle.
X. When angry, count ten before you speak; if very angry, a hundred.
Thomas Jefferson died on July 4, 1826, however many of his words of wisdom still apply today and are good principles to live by.
If you had to write down your ten guiding principles, what would they be? Once you've written them down, ask yourself if your life is reflective of these principles.
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