Written By Piccola
July 6, 2021, 10:33 a.m.(10/14/1015 AR)
Remember, wise general, to embrace death, for death is the great certainty on which all pleasures and pain derive.
Those who have accepted death and is peaceful is steadfast in heat and cold, pleasure and pain, honor and dishonor. Those who are content with their death is firm and poised, and will master their senses such that no deceit or attachment will cloud their judgment. Those who have found equanimity with friends, foes, lovers, and haters shall see that emotions are fleeting and histories are written only from the eyes of the victors.
So mark well never to compromise, even in the face of death, for it is the end but the beginning of new voyage.
Those who have accepted death and is peaceful is steadfast in heat and cold, pleasure and pain, honor and dishonor. Those who are content with their death is firm and poised, and will master their senses such that no deceit or attachment will cloud their judgment. Those who have found equanimity with friends, foes, lovers, and haters shall see that emotions are fleeting and histories are written only from the eyes of the victors.
So mark well never to compromise, even in the face of death, for it is the end but the beginning of new voyage.
Written By Piccola
July 2, 2021, 4:36 p.m.(10/7/1015 AR)
Relationship Note on Sydney
When I reflect on my younger years, when I also lived sword-to-mouth, that which I had to do to survive seemed less a reward than a necessity.
A better word for what I speak of, perhaps, is "profit."
A better word for what I speak of, perhaps, is "profit."
Written By Piccola
July 1, 2021, 2:42 p.m.(10/5/1015 AR)
A wise general can obtain freedom neither by refraining from action nor refusing to act.
She who remains motionless while brooding is a fool, for only she who does her duty can attain perfection. The maintenance of body, mind, and soul is impossible without action. But action for profit only attaches a difference chain, so her acts should be done by sacrifice in furtherance of duty only. This is because only through sacrifice can you truly attain one's highest form, as the Gods have achieved their perfection through sacrifice.
Therefore, because sacrifice is to creation as death is to life, so the Wheel spins to draw us to the Queen to be renewed.
She who remains motionless while brooding is a fool, for only she who does her duty can attain perfection. The maintenance of body, mind, and soul is impossible without action. But action for profit only attaches a difference chain, so her acts should be done by sacrifice in furtherance of duty only. This is because only through sacrifice can you truly attain one's highest form, as the Gods have achieved their perfection through sacrifice.
Therefore, because sacrifice is to creation as death is to life, so the Wheel spins to draw us to the Queen to be renewed.
Written By Piccola
June 30, 2021, 10:27 a.m.(10/2/1015 AR)
Wise general, do not let the fruit of your actions be your motive.
Do what must be done because they are to be done. Success and failure should be viewed with equal desire, for failure yields lessons to be learned from and success the yield for which one has acted. Equanimity is as divine as the Gods themselves.
It is only the petty-minded who work for reward.
Do what must be done because they are to be done. Success and failure should be viewed with equal desire, for failure yields lessons to be learned from and success the yield for which one has acted. Equanimity is as divine as the Gods themselves.
It is only the petty-minded who work for reward.
Written By Piccola
June 29, 2021, 1 p.m.(10/1/1015 AR)
When a man dwells on the objects of sense, he creates an attraction for them. Attraction develops into desire; desire breeds anger; anger induces delusion; delusion occludes the truth; without truth, reason is shattered; and loss of reason leads to destruction.
A wise general who moves free from attachment or repulsion touches peace. Having attained peace, she finds freedom. And as a ship at sea is tossed by the tempest, so the freedom and reason are carried away by straying senses.
A wise general who moves free from attachment or repulsion touches peace. Having attained peace, she finds freedom. And as a ship at sea is tossed by the tempest, so the freedom and reason are carried away by straying senses.
Written By Piccola
June 28, 2021, 11:26 p.m.(9/27/1015 AR)
The wise general grieves neither for the dead nor the living; for the living, death is certain, and over the inevitable one should not grieve. Accepting the inevitable rather is the only way one may truly find meaning in the time one has. For a general, that meaning lies in the execution of war and one's dedication to those whom one serves honorably. And the proper execution of war, as I have mentioned before, lies in subduing one's enemies without having to step onto a field of battle, for there is nothing more proper in war than to seize a victory without losing a soldier.
Written By Piccola
June 28, 2021, 6:34 p.m.(9/27/1015 AR)
Wise general, where right and wrong is distinguished from the sides of a battle the only thing that matters is honor.
Written By Piccola
June 24, 2021, 9:19 p.m.(9/19/1015 AR)
Wise general, be discreet in speaking and you will be useful during the good times and avoid punishment during the bad.
Written By Piccola
June 23, 2021, 11:35 p.m.(9/18/1015 AR)
Relationship Note on Cambria
Too often I think the Peerage protests the situation they find themselves in.
Too rarely do Peerage appreciate what they can have, if they simply search for it.
Death should remind us to find what we seek in what we have.
Too rarely do Peerage appreciate what they can have, if they simply search for it.
Death should remind us to find what we seek in what we have.
Written By Piccola
June 22, 2021, 9:28 p.m.(9/15/1015 AR)
The bitter, merciful lesson which death teaches us is to distinguish gold from tinsel, and the true values from the worthless chaff.
The terrible events of life are great eye-openers. They force us to learn that which it is wholesome for us to know, but which habitually we try to ignore: that we have no claim on a long life; that we may be called by the Queen of Endings at any time; and that the value of our lives is not in how long we live but with what meaning we fill the short allotted span with.
For whatever time we have shall be shorter than what we wish.
The terrible events of life are great eye-openers. They force us to learn that which it is wholesome for us to know, but which habitually we try to ignore: that we have no claim on a long life; that we may be called by the Queen of Endings at any time; and that the value of our lives is not in how long we live but with what meaning we fill the short allotted span with.
For whatever time we have shall be shorter than what we wish.
Written By Piccola
June 21, 2021, 10:31 p.m.(9/13/1015 AR)
A wise general once warned me:
"The Gods often allow those persons whom they wish to punish for their guilt a greater prosperity and longer impunity so that they may suffer the more severely from a reverse of circumstances."
Beware, then conspicuous fortune, and be sure to always pay homage to the Gods.
"The Gods often allow those persons whom they wish to punish for their guilt a greater prosperity and longer impunity so that they may suffer the more severely from a reverse of circumstances."
Beware, then conspicuous fortune, and be sure to always pay homage to the Gods.
Written By Piccola
June 19, 2021, 9:19 p.m.(9/9/1015 AR)
A wise general must always be truthful, for the truth is the best propaganda and lies are the worst.
To command we must be believable; to be believable we must be credible; to be credible we must be truthful; and it is as simple as that.
The art of war therefore lies in deceiving while being truthful.
To command we must be believable; to be believable we must be credible; to be credible we must be truthful; and it is as simple as that.
The art of war therefore lies in deceiving while being truthful.
Written By Piccola
June 17, 2021, 8:07 a.m.(9/4/1015 AR)
Beware, wise general, of arrogance: even when correct, one's meritorious suggestion is more offensive to the ignorant than their own arrogance, for merit itself is offensive.
Written By Piccola
June 16, 2021, 9:04 p.m.(9/3/1015 AR)
There was once a poor old forester and his partner, who earned their living by cutting wood and fishing. The old forester was honest and kind but his partner was arrogant and greedy. One morning, the old forester, while working, saw an injured sparrow crying out for help, so he took it back home and fed it some rice to try to help it recover. His partner, however, was annoyed that the old forester would waste precious food on such a small and insignificant little thing as a sparrow. Undeterred, the old forester cared for the bird.
One day, the old forester went to work, leaving the bird in the care of his partner, who had no intention of feeding it. That day, the sparrow got into some starch that was left out and ate all of it. The partner was so angry that he cut out the bird's tongue and sent it flying back into the mountains from where it came. And when the old forester returned, he found the sparrow missing.
The old forester went searching for the bird and found his way into a bamboo grove in which the sparrow's inn was located. A multitude of sparrows greeted him and led him to his friend, the little sparrow he saved. The others brought him food and sang and danced for him. Upon his departure, they presented him with a choice of a large basket or a small basket as a present.
Being old, the forester chose the small basket as he supposed it would be the least heavy. When he arrived home, he opened the basket and discovered a large amount of treasure inside. The partner, learning of the existence of a larger basket, ran to the sparrow's inn in the hope of getting more treasure for himself. He demanded the larger basket, which the sparrows gave him, but was warned not to open it before getting home.
Being greedy, the partner could not resist opening the basket before returning the house. To his surprise, the box was full of monsters, who immediately set upon and ate him.
One day, the old forester went to work, leaving the bird in the care of his partner, who had no intention of feeding it. That day, the sparrow got into some starch that was left out and ate all of it. The partner was so angry that he cut out the bird's tongue and sent it flying back into the mountains from where it came. And when the old forester returned, he found the sparrow missing.
The old forester went searching for the bird and found his way into a bamboo grove in which the sparrow's inn was located. A multitude of sparrows greeted him and led him to his friend, the little sparrow he saved. The others brought him food and sang and danced for him. Upon his departure, they presented him with a choice of a large basket or a small basket as a present.
Being old, the forester chose the small basket as he supposed it would be the least heavy. When he arrived home, he opened the basket and discovered a large amount of treasure inside. The partner, learning of the existence of a larger basket, ran to the sparrow's inn in the hope of getting more treasure for himself. He demanded the larger basket, which the sparrows gave him, but was warned not to open it before getting home.
Being greedy, the partner could not resist opening the basket before returning the house. To his surprise, the box was full of monsters, who immediately set upon and ate him.
Written By Piccola
June 13, 2021, 7:24 p.m.(8/25/1015 AR)
Wise general, remember that the end of our victories is to avoid the infirmities of those against whom we prevail.
Written By Piccola
June 9, 2021, 8:29 p.m.(8/17/1015 AR)
A wise general told me these things, which have taught me much of power.
"Malice delights to darken the souls of the ascendant."
"It is better to deserve a title than to have it."
"Those free from common fears acquire others."
And I have learned there is nothing more terrifying what is possible.
"Malice delights to darken the souls of the ascendant."
"It is better to deserve a title than to have it."
"Those free from common fears acquire others."
And I have learned there is nothing more terrifying what is possible.
Written By Piccola
June 8, 2021, 9:16 a.m.(8/14/1015 AR)
A wise general I met told me three things.
"If there is no way, then make one."
"There is no sharper spur to victory than contempt of death."
"The only thing more wonderful than my enemies' numbers is the fact that I am not among them."
Wise words.
"If there is no way, then make one."
"There is no sharper spur to victory than contempt of death."
"The only thing more wonderful than my enemies' numbers is the fact that I am not among them."
Wise words.
Written By Piccola
June 4, 2021, 3:54 p.m.(8/7/1015 AR)
Remember, wise general: the will of the stubborn few is the most important driving force in history.
Written By Piccola
June 2, 2021, 10:50 a.m.(8/2/1015 AR)
The sorrow of the present will pass away with the morning.
For the living are just as fertile and productive as they always have been, wise general. Death itself halts not the rate of our progress. Even impoverished we are as capable as before of affording a free life to those who wish to secure it. Although in sadness we may find ourselves mired in a colossal muddle, it is with the dawn we shall re-discover what liberty was.
There is no time but what we have now.
For the living are just as fertile and productive as they always have been, wise general. Death itself halts not the rate of our progress. Even impoverished we are as capable as before of affording a free life to those who wish to secure it. Although in sadness we may find ourselves mired in a colossal muddle, it is with the dawn we shall re-discover what liberty was.
There is no time but what we have now.
Written By Piccola
May 26, 2021, 12:20 a.m.(7/16/1015 AR)
Another war has come and gone.
I fear not what arrives. Upon my doorstep is a proposal, and it is one that I am willing to accept. If it is what takes me from the battlefield, so be it; but if not it is one that I will throw myself into willingly and wholly.
I cannot escape her eyes.
I fear not what arrives. Upon my doorstep is a proposal, and it is one that I am willing to accept. If it is what takes me from the battlefield, so be it; but if not it is one that I will throw myself into willingly and wholly.
I cannot escape her eyes.
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