You can find a complete listing of all the articles on this site here. They are listed in reverse chronological order, and are all clickable links. Twenty-five articles are displayed per page, with the publication date included. To find older articles, click on the page numbers at the bottom.
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In Praise Of Painting
Certain diversions we do because we more or less have to do, such as vigorous exercising, studying languages, sex, travel, and reading. And these all have their proper place. But there are times when the collective strain of responsibility, and the stress of duties, demand that entirely new parts of our brain be activated…
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The Foundations Of Motivation
What is motivation? From what sources does it originate? And how can it be cultivated and sharpened?
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How Can I Develop Motivation? (Podcast)
This important podcast focuses on motivation. It’s a critical subject for everyone. How can a person develop or sustain motivation? We examine the following:
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Duress Reveals Latent Talent, And Why Women Need Role Models As Much As Men
Some positive features in our characters can lie dormant for long periods of time, awaiting the right opportunity to make themselves known. Even bad men can have positive qualities that manifest themselves only under extreme duress. I have always thought that pressure reveals the man. This has been my experience. And you never really could…
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How Two Guys Started A Knife Manufacturing Business (Podcast)
In this podcast episode, I interview the co-founder of Delta2Alpha.com, a homegrown Canadian knife manufacturing business started by two regular Canadian guys with vision and guts. Their story will impress you. What does it take to succeed in business?
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“How Can I Develop My Aggressive Instinct?” (Podcast)
A young wrestler writes and asks how he can cultivate his aggressive spirit. He has strong willpower, but something could be holding him back in his recent matches. What’s happening? And how can he break through this barrier?
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A Talk With Lucas Temple: Marriage, Having A Family, And Building A Legacy (Podcast)
In this episode I talk with Lucas Temple, proprietor of banterloud.com. He decided to marry in his 20s and have a large family. It’s an impressive decision, and one I very much respect. I talk with him about this views on life, values, family, and education.
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Knowledge And Culture Are Perishable
I was reading an article today about the destruction of Yemen’s literary and artistic heritage. It is a sad story. The bombing of the country by Saudi Arabia, as well as years of neglect by its custodians, now mean that Yemen’s rich literary heritage—much of it contained in medieval manuscripts—is facing possible destruction. I remember…
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“How Can I Best Adapt Myself To A Foreign Culture?” (Podcast)
A reader is moving to a foreign country and needs advice on how “to best integrate” himself into the local culture. He has lived abroad before, but is looking for tips on what to expect, and what attitude to adopt. What is the best way to approach this? What types of challenges will he face?
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“I’m Consumed With Rage And It’s Ruining My Life. What Should I Do?”
A reader of Fortress Of The Mind explains that anger is ruining his life, and he asks for some guidance. How can he regain his balance, and deal with his issues? I discuss the four ways of dealing with repressed rage and anger, and which one may be right for you. Brought to you by…
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Why Is Charity Important? (Podcast)
Why is charity important? How can we best channel our charitable impulses? Are some ways better than others? And what are some of the pitfalls we should be aware of? We discuss the answers in this podcast. Brought to you by Fortress of the Mind Publications. This podcast can be found on SoundCloud, YouTube, and…
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How To Show Kindness Through Charity
Charity, kindness, and other acts of benevolence may be far from your mind. The pressures and confusions of life can weigh on us, and prevent us from seeing the need to help others. The degree to which one is disposed to think of such things often depends on his age and station in life.…
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Cultivate Your Sense Of Awe (Podcast)
What do all creative minds have in common? They always retain a sense of awe at the beauty, mystery, and grandeur of Nature. Why you should never lose your quest for your ideals, and how to cultivate your sense of awe. Brought to you by Fortress of the Mind Publications. This podcast can be found…
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Moral Forces Matter More Than Data
Progress is not linear. It is not a constantly positive quantity, straining for ever-increasing graphical altitudes. Sometimes it is stagnant for long periods. Sometimes it actually goes into negative territory for long periods. People don’t really think about this. There is this perception that things should always move from bad to better, from negative to…
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Every Man Needs His Quest (Podcast)
This is the accompanying podcast to my article Every Man Needs A Quest. We discuss why every man needs a consuming purpose, and a ennobling goal. Brought to you by Fortress of the Mind Publications. This podcast can be found on SoundCloud, YouTube, and on iTunes. If you enjoyed this podcast, please rate me on…
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Every Man Needs His Quest
I have a lot of familiarity with the old mythologies. I love the old stories of the classical Greek and Roman myths. Even the old Norse mythology has its place, although it is so much darker. Darker, and more ominous.
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Grief As A Demonic Force: “The Babadook” (2014)
Several years ago I had a client who needed some legal work done. She was an educated and well-adjusted single mother of a young girl. She was normal in every way. And then something terrible happened. Her daughter died suddenly from an unexpected illness. And this sent the mother on a downward psychological spiral from…
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A Book Of Wisdom Spanning Continents And Cultures (Podcast)
The classic book Kalila and Dimna is one of the treasures of world literature. What is its timeless appeal? What themes does it deal with, and what lessons does it teach us?
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An Ancient Book Of Wisdom Spanning Continents And Cultures
Some books are so good that they become adopted by cultures outside their place of origin. Such a book is the collection of stories and fables that has found a home in India, Iran, the Arab world, and in Europe. The book is known by many names in all of these cultures, and various version…
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How A Man Can Win A Good Name For Himself (Podcast)
Everyone wants to gain notoriety. Everyone wants to be respected. But what are the various ways this can be achieved?
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The Ways A Man Can Win A Good Name
Every man starting out in life is concerned with gaining notoriety. He wishes to win a name for himself, and thereby gain the respect of others. We wish others to see us as we see ourselves; or perhaps we want to remake ourselves into something better than what we once were.
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“You Never Got Me Down, Ray” (Podcast)
This is a podcast reading of my article of the same title that I published here today. It describes how I overcame a collapsed lung, an operation, and a hospital recovery, and what kind of attitude you need to have when confronting disasters.
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8 Ways To Win When Dealing With Difficult People
We all have to deal with difficult people. They may be co-workers, clients, friends, family members, or lovers. We can’t avoid contact with them. And with our narcissistic world being what it is, more and more difficult people are injected into the course of life every day. [To read the rest of the article, click…
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“You Never Got Me Down, Ray”
I have a huge scar on my back. It’s 35 or 36 stitches, I think. I can’t remember the exact number. Let me tell you how I got it. It was my freshman year in college. And this was a long time ago, mind you. I’m talking 1986 here.
Original copy of Cicero’s De Officiis (On Duties) published in Holland in 1642. From the collection of Fortress of the Mind.
Quintus Curtius 
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