Aphorisms From the Office

On hearing gossip

Whenever you are approached by someone who’s intent is to gossip about a mutual acquaintance or friend, listen intently and ask yourself two questions: if what they say is a lie, then what evil are they up to? If it is the truth, then what kind of person divulges the secrets of others for thrills? Then remain silent, it will say much more to them than what they have said to you.

On meaning over time

I find meaning in the infinitude of every moment, or in the infinite space between two.

On the problem of consciousness

Consciousness as a stand-alone entity may not be explicitly self-aware the same way we are with ourselves: the narrative interpretation we hear in our heads seems to be a noisy interference caused by complexity, whereas something pure like consciousness stands outside all interpretative substrates- it is more like a catalyst, than a cause or effect.

On loneliness

Such a strange thing it is to “feel” lonely- it seems distinctly different from being lonely.

On nostalgia

It is a drug you can chase or it is a high which is manifested by happenstance; It seems to occur when old novelty is blended with the experience of time: We find ourselves in a familiar place, smelling a particular scent or hearing a recognizable continuity in music and suddenly we are transported back to an impressed moment in our own past, and such a moment is propagating itself through to our present- meanwhile we attempt to sustain it for more than the few seconds, wishing for it to remain in our future. Could nostalgia be an experience which is free from time?

On what we see when we don’t see

When our eyes are closed, we can choose to observe our thoughts or the visuals.

On impulsivity

Such a thing is caused not by the lack of control but by the belief that we are not already in control, and that is a crucial difference. We know this to be true because such a belief is what creates the impulse to begin with. Real control is knowing we are never in control- and that knowledge guards us from ever believing such a lie.

On burning bridges

Contrary to the cliché not to, one can find clarity and motivation if they do so righteously.

On morality and power

When someone wields a moral argument over another person it is to gain power- morality is meant to be acted out, not used- and to use morals can in itself be immoral. Now however right or wrong a person may be when they leverage morality over someone else, you can be certain it is because they are weak in some way.

On the young ambitious

When one looks up to you, becareful not to crush them with your age’s cynicism.

On leadership

When a leader micro-manages, it is a sign that they have lost control; a good leader does not let their team devolve enough for that to be needed in the first place- and if it is needed for reasons out of their control, they find better solutions, as to overshadow and control a subordinate is to take away their responsibilities: this adds on tasks that are not your own, meaning you will neglect yours and then the team is sure to be lost.

On making plans

Planning makes one event happen and ensures all other events don’t or can’t happen.

On empathy

To desire the cessation of another’s suffering is just as immoral as desiring them never to feel joy- that is because it comes from the same sin: misplaced empathy. So many people can not wrap their heads around this because they have suffered from being treated with too much misplaced empathy themselves.

On Love and death

There is a dark connection between the two; one might be wise not to look for it.

On chasing answers

To live well is to question everything and realize that the endless questions that arise is what liberates us from needing answers. The thing to be learned never happens to be whatever conclusion you can possibly arrive at but rather how you can live without knowing more and accepting what you do know.

James Sirois

-This is what came out.