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Reciprocity and symbiosis are good manners.

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When someone makes a gesture toward you in making life easier for you or helping you in some way, pay him or her back.  If they invite you for dinner whether or not you have the dinner with them, call them the next day to thank them.  Never accept an invitation to dinner and show up empty handed. If you cannot think of an appropriate present, a scented candle or music tape is always appreciated, then you must bring a bottle of wine or flowers. If you go to a party, eat the food, drink the wine, meet new people, next time you go out and invite them for dinner pick up the check and send them a thank you card. Pay back and reciprocate.

Unknown's avatar

Luck favors the prepared mind.

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The master would also test the alertness of the novices by interjecting nonsense maxims and space them between significant ideas into his teaching to test their awareness and to joke. He would teach that many maxims have a general application and practical use. Then just for fun he threw in some opposites.

Fortune favors the lucky.

Money is its own reward.

There are more things in heaven and earth than any place else.

The more things change the more they stay the same.

Satoru
www.samuraizen.com

Unknown's avatar

Attitude / Proper Views / Mistakes in memory and misquotes.

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Don’t look a gift horse in the mouth.

Another partial quote that is often misinterpreted to allude to a present changes when the entire quote is read. The meaning is clear that it has to do with manners and a tip.

‘Tis civility wins the gratuity, and those who expect them should take graciously what is given them and not look a gift-horse in the mouth unless they know for certain that the winners are common cheats and have won unfairly. Cervantes, Don Quixote

Satoru
www.samuraizen.com

Unknown's avatar

WISDOM / Attitude / Proper Views

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The master honed a dry sense of humor.  He often spoke and cautioned against mistakes in memory and misquotes.  So many of us remember maxims partially and give them different meanings than intended.  Money is the root of all evil is a favorite misquotes that permeates societies.  The correct quote is,

The love of money is the root of all evil.

The Bible – New Testament – Timothy. VI, 7

Satoru
www.samuraizen.com

Unknown's avatar

Luck favors the prepared mind.

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How you think dictates how you build your character and enjoy your life.  If you’re thinking is not clear, organized, or negative than your life will be muddled, disorganized and underachieving.

Satoru
www.samuraizen.com