Sayings

Words That Keep Standards

A section for quotes, sayings, reminders, and short principles that fit the Managing Expectations theme: courage, accountability, evidence, leadership, and conscience.

The cost of a thing is the amount of life required to be exchanged for it — Henry David Thoreau

Simplicity & freedom

The cost of a thing is life

The cost of a thing is the amount of what I will call life which is required to be exchanged for it.

— Henry David Thoreau, Walden

The popular version says, “The price of anything is the amount of life you exchange for it.” The original is even sharper: Thoreau asks us to count time, freedom, attention and mortality — not only money.

Read who Thoreau was and what it means →
Our lives begin to end the day we become silent about things that matter — Martin Luther King Jr.

Courage & conscience

Silence about things that matter

Our lives begin to end the day we become silent about things that matter.

— Martin Luther King Jr.

This belongs here because Managing Expectations is not only about lowering emotional volatility. It is also about raising the standard for what deserves attention, speech, and action.

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Courage

Short lines for moments when comfort argues against truth.

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Accountability

Reminders that standards apply first to the person speaking.

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Evidence

Sayings that separate inquiry from slogans and pressure campaigns.

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Public life

Quotes for citizenship, rights, duty, and democratic courage.