They certainly do not have the “weightiness” of those traditional aphorisms from ancient Greece and the Enlightenment Period, but there still is an element of truth twisted into modern-day maxims. However, here is an entertaining list of modern principles and maxims.

The pursuit of happiness is the chase of a lifetime. / The road to success is always under construction. / A turtle makes progress when it sticks its neck out. / Failure is the path of least persistence. / Hard work is the yeast that raises the dough. / Patience is counting down without blasting off. / Have a backbone not a wishbone. / Life is not no much a matter of position as of disposition. / If you don’t care where you’re going any road will get you there. / A pint of example is worth a gallon of advice. / He who throws mud loses ground. / Nobody raises his own reputation by lowering others. / Nothing ruins the truth like stretching it. / A smile is an inexpensive way to improve your looks. / Ideas won’t work unless you do. / The future is purchased by the present. / One thing you can’t recycle is wasted time. / Lost time is never found again. / A hard thing about business is minding your own. / Triumph is just “umph” added to try. / Caution is not cowardly, carelessness is not courage. / He who forgives ends the quarrel. / Children need more models than critics. / Frogs have it easy – they can eat what bugs them. / If the going gets easy you may be going downhill. / Diplomacy is the art of letting someone else get your way. / The best vitamin for making friends, B-1. / Jumping to conclusions can be bad exercise. / The best labor saving device is doing it tomorrow. / Some folks won’t look up until they are flat on their backs. / If you want your dreams to come true, don’t oversleep. / Birds have bills too and they keep on singing. / A good example is the best sermon. / The Ten Commandments are not multiple choice. / Well done! is better than, Well said! / Minds are like parachutes – they function only when open. / Live as you wish your kids would. / Swallowing your pride seldom leads to indigestion. / People don’t fail, they give up. / When looking for faults use a mirror, not a telescope. / Smile, it takes only 13 muscles – a frown takes 64. / Kindness, a language deaf people can hear and blind can see. / Heaviest thing to carry – a grudge. / We lie loudest when we lie to ourselves. / Tact is the ability to see others as they wish to be seen. / A bad conscience has a very good memory. / One thing you can give and still keep – is your word. / A smooth sea never made a skillful sailor. / A small leak can sink a great ship. / You can’t direct the wind, but you can adjust your sails.

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Chris George, providing reliable PR & GR counsel and effective advocacy. Need a go-to writer and experienced communicator? 613-983-0801 @ CG&A COMMUNICATIONS.