Rules to Live by

[octafish]

Trust, but verify.
Be Prepared.
Never do anything well, that you don't want to do again.

It is better to regret something you have done, than something you haven't...and by the way son, if you should happen to see your mother this weekend be sure and tell her SATAN! SATAN! SATAN!

...well maybe the Butthole Surfers aren't the best people to take your rules to live by from.

 

[LetalisK]

"Most arguments are caused by miscommunication, not disagreements."

 

[captainballsack]

Existence precedes essence - don't live in bad faith.

Basically telling myself to never deny the absolute freedom that comes from existing in a universe with (seemingly) no purpose, because that freedom is what makes us human.

Oh and, nobody is a bad person, some people are just more afraid than others.

 

[Duck Sandwich]

Whether it's in business, or relationships, or fighting, to show weakness is to bleed in a shark-infested pool.

 

[Abomination]

"Don't start nothing - won't be nothing."

I apply this to dealing with people especially. If someone picks a fight with me, verbally or physically I respond in kind but with overkill. Sooner, rather than later, people don't start anything with me.


"Adversity breeds strength."

If shit is never difficult for you then you'll be weak. Coddling children emotionally, physically, and intelectually is how you create emotionally stunted, physically weak, and stupid adults. But much like smithing steel there's such a thing as too much heat.

 

[Fox12]

Reminds me of my pals in college.

"My friend, there is always time for one more bad decision."
"Aim for the bushes?"
"Aim for the bushes."

 

[Trivea]

"If the menus have changed, the prices have gone up."

Never once has this been proven wrong, as silly as it sounds. It's literal, but it can be taken in a figurative sense as well.

 

[Muspelheim]

Be polite.

Be efficient.

Have a plan to kill everyone you meet.

 

[zerragonoss]

"The only things people care about, are the things they care about."

basically that when you think people are doing something you don't agree with its not just because they just disagree with you on that issue. It is because they might have different priorities, or possibly they have not thought it though, but not because they are stupid but because they just do not care.

 

[Phrozenflame500]

"Don't be an asshole" is always a good one.

Another good one: "Arguing on the internet is like running in the special olympics, even if you win, you're still retarded.

 

[Entourian]

"Observe. Learn. Adapt. Assimilate."
If you travel as much as I do, this is a very important rule, since it reduces the amount of attention you receive.'
Another favorite of mine is "Make sure your casual outfit makes you as indistinguishable as possible." For obvious reasons.

 

[Headsprouter]

I've found that when life's grinding me down, taking a few minutes of pure solitude can really go a long way to reclaiming my peace of mind.

When I don't talk about things, I eat myself alive. This one might not be good for everyone...

I'm not going to be any good at this, though, seeing as I've hardly experienced enough of life to offer anyone any advice, never mind to have formulated a philosophy on how to live life.

Even so, compacting my life goals into a single sentence isn't really my forte...no, BEING CONCISE, isn't my forte.

 

[Daniel Janhagen]

-I sleep in a big bed, with my wife.
-You don't win friends with salad.
-If something is too hard, give up.
-When you participate in sporting events, it's not whether you win or lose; it's how drunk you get.
-Good things don't end with 'eum', they end with 'mania' or 'teria'.

 

[Kenbo Slice]

I'll let Bill and Ted answer for me:

 

[Frezzato]

Over the past few decades, I've found that, for the most part, it's almost always the toughest talker that's the first to quit, first to give up as soon as things turn bad.

 

[Sarge034]

I have three major rules and several smaller ones so I'll just say the big three.

1) Expect the worst from people. Be polite until they try to fuck you over and then...

Spoiler: Start at 1.40, or watch the whole thing.

2) Forgive if it is appropriate, but NEVER forget.
3) If it feels wrong it probably is.

Edit- "Hope for the best and plan for the worst" is an underlying theme in all of my rules, so I guess I should probably put it up too.

 

[BQE]

Judging from the tenor of the adages people are listing here, one could only assume many escapists live fast and furiously rather than enjoying mild-mannered and arguably less intense lives for which these proverbs may not quite apply.

*SUBTLE WINKY FACE*

As for my favorite, here are two that could be deftly applied to life and especially these forums.

He who knows, does not speak. He who speaks, who does know.

Brevity is the soul of wit.

In essence, speak less, a lot less. To me, words are a precious commodity and the skill to use less to express the same meaning even more so.

 

[Not Matt]

Be fair, be enduring, be efficient and be ready to give all you got for the greater good.

Best way to learn how to do something right is to mess in up a few times.

 

[FalloutJack]

Never stop learning, keep moving forward.

If humanity ever stops its progression towards that which is just out of reach, we're dead. So, never stop reaching.

 

[Blood Brain Barrier]

1. No rules
2. ...