JOHN 10:10
Above the gates at Delphi, a short inscription greeted every weary traveler:This simple advice was considered the most important piece of knowledge anyone could possess. And to understand what the ora...
Benjamin Disraeli
While Mum was a busy working mother, helping my father in his constituency duties and beyond, Lara became my surrogate mum. She fed me almost every supper I ate--from when I was a baby up to about fiv...
We opened the door and looked at each other. Surprised.It was literally like stepping into a deep freeze. Old iron boats are like that in winter. The cold water around them means that, without heating...
Walter came from a strong line of self-motivated, determined folk: not grand, not high-society, but no-nonsense, family-minded, go-getters. His grandfather had been Samuel Smiles, who, in 1859, author...
VW Valley is one of the final mountains one climbs on Selection--but it’s among the worst.VW stands for Voluntary Withdrawal, and when you see the mountain you can understand why people have often qui...
This general lack of sleep really got to me. And little can prepare people for how they will react when deprived of it--over multiple days. Everything suffers: concentration, motivation, and performan...
Their hands were also huge – two massive leathery mitts that looked like hairy wicket keeper’s gloves.
The young do not know enough to be prudent, and therefore they attempt the impossible – and achieve it, generation after generation.’ Pearl S. Buck
That same day we drove to Seville to celebrate. I asked someone for the name of the smartest hotel in Seville. Alfonso XIII, came the reply. It is where the King of Spain always stays.We found the hot...
That fine line between bravery and stupidity is endlessly debated – the difference really doesn’t matter.
Success almost always follows great attitude. The two attract each other.
So, remember that our goals are reached by how we prepare and train in the many months before crunch time. Train right, and the summit or gold medal will be the inevitable culmination of your commitme...
Samuel Smiles ends his book with the following moving story of the gentleman general:The gentleman is characterized by his sacrifice of self, and preference of others, in the little daily occurrences...
Our achievements are generally limited only by the beliefs we impose on ourselves.If we tell ourselves often enough that we don’t have what it takes, then that will inevitably become our reality.But I...
One of the books that has had the most influence on me is a little manual called by Scott Alexander. I know, it’s a weird title, but give it a read. I read it first when I was 12 years old and I stil...
Never underestimate the human spirit.And it only takes a tiny ember to start a great fire.
Neil’s feet were still numb from the frostbite. Long exposure up high, sat waiting in the snow for all those hours at the Balcony, had taken their toll. At base camp, we bandaged them up, kept them wa...
My worst ever speech was one I did for a pharmaceutical company in South Africa. They were paying me $1,000 and my airfare. It was a fortune to me at the time, and I couldn’t believe my luck. That wou...