There is an ancient story: It is said that an old follower of Lao Tzu, who was 90 years old, was busy pulling water from the well, together with his young son.…
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The French Revolution: A history
In 1834, the philosopher John Stuart Mill discovered that, although he had signed a contract with his publisher to produce a general history of the French revolution, he was actually too busy…
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Hemingway’s lost suitcase
In December 1922, Ernest Hemingway was in Switzerland, on assignment as a correspondent for the Toronto Daily Star, covering the Lausanne Peace Conference. The journalist and editor Lincoln Steffens, whom Hemingway had met…
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How to 80/20 your life
Back in 1906 there was an Italian economist named Vilfredo Pareto. One day Pareto noticed that every year 20% of the pea pods in his garden produced approximately 80% of the peas.…
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Devotion to duty is the true virtue
This story from the Mahabharata highlights that our spiritual achievements are useless if we neglect our duties, or dharma: Kaushika was his parents’ only son. “Mother,” he said one day, ”I want…
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A Tata leader’s disappearing act
Mr. Sumant Moolgaokar is considered to be the architect of Tata Motors. He led TELCO (Tata Engineering and Locomotive Company), the predecessor of Tata Motors, for four decades and laid the foundation…
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Honorary Masters of Medicine degree for an illiterate man
Cape Town’s uneducated surgeon, Mr. Hamilton Naki, who was awarded the honorary degree of Master of Medicine could neither read nor write. Cape Town Medical University has a leading position in the medical world.…
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To build a bridge
The Brooklyn Bridge that spans the river tying Manhattan Island to Brooklyn ( in New York, USA) is truly a miracle bridge. In 1863, a creative engineer named John Roebling was inspired…
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“What are you reading, old man?”
A century ago, an old man was travelling alone in France by train. A much younger man, who was sitting next to him, watched as the old man reached into his travelling…
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The power of encouragement
Dante Gabriel Rossetti, the famous 19th-century poet and artist, was once approached by an elderly man. The old fellow had some sketches and drawings that he wanted Rossetti to look at and…