A Bit of Fall Wisdom from Henry David Thoreau
“I would rather sit on a pumpkin and have it all to myself than be crowded on a velvet cushion.” ~ Henry David Thoreau A Happy Fall Morning to You from Hewn Hill
A Bit of Wisdom from William Howard Taft
William Howard Taft, September 15, 1857 – March 8, 1930. 27th president of the United States from 1909 to 1913 and the tenth chief justice of the United States from 1921 to 1930. “Presidents come and go, but the Supreme Court goes on forever”. “Substantial progress toward better things can rarely be taken without developing […]
A Bit of Wisdom from Davy Crockett on His Birthday
Limestone, TN…Davy Crockett, August 17, 1786 – March 6, 1836. “We have the right as individuals to give away as much of our own money as we please in charity; but as members of Congress we have no right to appropriate a dollar of the public money.” ~ David Crockett August 17, 1786 – March […]
A Bit of Wisdom from the 1733 Poor Richard’s Almanac
Philadelphia, PA…Our Favorite Founding Father is Ben Franklin. He didn’t just help found our country during the 1776 era. For two generations before he helped sell concepts of Freedom, Self-Determination & Inalienable rights. From 1733 to 1758 Poor Richards Almanac helped create the unique American identity in a homey, common sense, aspirational way. A few […]
A Bit of Wisdom from Henry David Thoreau
Concord, MA…Henry David Thoreau. July 12, 1817 – May 6, 1862. “I went to the woods because I wished to live deliberately, to front only the essential facts of life, and see if I could not learn what it had to teach, and not, when I came to die, discover that I had not lived.” […]
A Bit of Wisdom from Rose Kennedy
Hyannis Port, MA…Rose Elizabeth Fitzgerald Kennedy July 22, 1890 – January 22, 1995 “Sometimes I wonder if there is something about my family which invites violence. ‘Is it envy,’ you ask? I don’t know… I’ve had so much, a son as president, two as senators, a son-in-law who’s an ambassador… perhaps God doesn’t permit that […]
A Bit of Wisdom from Isaac Watts
Southampton, Hampshire, England…Isaac Watts 17 July 1674 – 25 November 1748 “Do not hover always on the surface of things, nor take up suddenly with mere appearances; but penetrate into the depth of matters, as far as your time and circumstances allow, especially in those things which relate to your profession.” “‘Tis the voice of […]
I Think Washington & Jefferson Would be Happy
Arnold, CA…A Customer from Utah stopped by the Hewn Farmstand on Hwy 4 last week. She purchased two quote signs that are now on their way to a school room wall in Utah. They were the quote from Washington that…”If the freedom of Speech is taken away, then dumb and silent we may be led, […]
“IF” by Rudyard Kipling…Dedicated to Jay S. Hamilton & Dads Everywhere ~ By John Hamilton
Arnold, CA…We originally posted this for Father’s Day in 2006. My father would turn 109 this year if he were here today. This poem was my father’s favorite. This one is dedicated to my Father…Jay S. Hamilton. Dad was born in November 22, 1916 and died in May 1, 1991 of a Glioblastoma brain tumor. […]
A Bit of Wisdom from Star Wars
Hollywood, CA…A Bit of Wisdom from Star Wars “Your focus determines your reality” “Fear is the path to the dark side” “The Force is strong with this one” “Do or do not. There is no try” “May the Force be with you” “Never tell me the odds”
A Bit of Wisdom from Niccolò Machiavelli
Florence, Italy…Niccolò Machiavelli 3 May 1469 – 21 June 1527 Author of The Prince. This widely read treatise on power offers an amoral look at power. Advice hopefully not always followed but recognised nonetheless. “It is much safer to be feared than loved because …love is preserved by the link of obligation which, owing to […]
A Bit of Wisdom from James Monroe
Washington, DC…James Monroe April 28, 1758 – July 4, 1831. American Founding Father who served as the fifth president of the United States from 1817 to 1825. “The right of self defense never ceases. It is among the most sacred, and alike necessary to nations and to individuals, and whether the attack be made by […]
A Bit of Wisdom from Edward R. Murrow
Pawling, NY…Edward R. Murrow, April 25, 1908 – April 27, 1965 “To be persuasive we must be believable; to be believable we must be credible; credible we must be truthful.” “Everyone is a prisoner of his own experiences. No one can eliminate prejudices – just recognize them.” “Most truths are so naked that people feel […]
A Bit of Wisdom from William Shakespeare
Warwickshire, England…William Shakespeare, 23 April 1564 – 23 April 1616 “Our doubts are traitors, and make us lose the good we oft might win, by fearing to attempt” “Cowards die many times before their deaths; the valiant never taste of death but once” “It is not in the stars to hold our destiny but in […]
A Bit of Wisdom from Immanuel Kant
Kaliningrad, Russia…Immanuel Kant 22 April 1724 – 12 February 1804 “Freedom is the alone unoriginated birthright of man, and belongs to him by force of his humanity; and is independence on the will and co-action of every other in so far as this consists with every other person’s freedom.” “Experience without theory is blind, but […]
A Bit of Wisdom from Vincent van Gogh
Auvers-sur-Oise, France…Vincent van Gogh 30 March 1853 – 29 July 1890 “It is good to love many things, for therein lies the true strength, and whosoever loves much performs much, and can accomplish much, and what is done in love is well done.” “The fishermen know that the sea is dangerous and the storm terrible, […]
A Bit of Wisdom from Robert Frost
Boston, MA…Robert Lee Frost, March 26, 1874 – January 29, 1963. Here are some well-known and thought-provoking quotes by the American poet Robert Frost: “Two roads diverged in a wood, and I—I took the one less traveled by” “The best way out is always through” “Happiness makes up in height what it lacks in length” […]
George Washington’s Farewell Address
Mount Vernon, VA…Since today is actually Washington’s birthday we thought it was fitting to publish his farewell address that has become one of our founding documents and is as relevant today as when it was published. To the People of the United States September 19, 1796. Friends and Fellow-Citizens: The period for a new election […]
A Bit of Wisdom from Ansel Adams
Yosemite, CA…Ansel Easton Adams, February 20, 1902 – April 22, 1984. Famed Photographer who’s images helped show the world the grandeur of Yosemite & many other places as well. “Yosemite Valley, to me, is always a sunrise, a glitter of green and golden wonder in a vast edifice of stone and space.” “The only things […]
A Bit of Wisdom from George Washington on Presidents Day
Mount Vernon, VA…George Washington February 22, 1732 – December 14, 1799. The first president of the United States and founding father of our country. “It will be found an unjust and unwise jealousy to deprive a man of his natural liberty upon the supposition he may abuse it.” “Be courteous to all, but intimate with […]
A Bit of Wisdom from Abraham Lincoln on President’s Weekend
Washington, DC…A Bit of Wisdom from our 16th President, Abraham Lincoln for Presidents Day. Abraham Lincoln, February 12, 1809 – April 15, 1865 “America will never be destroyed from the outside. If we falter and lose our freedoms, it will be because we destroyed ourselves.” “Sir, my concern is not whether God is on our […]
A Bit of Wisdom from Fiorello La Guardia
New York, NY…Fiorello Henry La Guardia December 11, 1882 – September 20, 1947. “The Devil is easy to identify. He appears when you’re terribly tired and makes a very reasonable request which you know you shouldn’t grant.” “Only a well-fed, well-housed, well-schooled people can enjoy the blessings of liberty.” “I am certain that the good […]
A Bit of Walden Wisdom to Feed Your Pioneer Spirit
Concord, MA…Henry David Thoreau, July 12, 1817 – May 6, 1862. “I went to the woods because I wished to live deliberately, to front only the essential facts of life, and see if I could not learn what it had to teach, and not, when I came to die, discover that I had not lived.” […]
A Bit of Wisdom from Billy Graham
Montreat, NC..William Franklin Graham Jr. November 7, 1918 – February 21, 2018. “I am not going to Heaven because I have preached to great crowds or read the Bible many times. I’m going to Heaven just like the thief on the cross who said in that last moment: ‘Lord, remember me.” “When wealth is lost, […]
A Bit of Wisdom from Christopher Columbus
Genoa, IT…Christopher Columbus October 21, 1451, 20 May 1506 “You can never cross the ocean unless you have the courage to lose sight of the shore.” ― Christopher Columbus “The sea will grant each man new hope, The sleep brings dreams of home.” ― Christopher Columbus “The world is round.” ― Christopher Columbus “Following the […]
A Bit of Wisdom from Johnny Appleseed
Fort Wayne, IN…Johnny Appleseed, September 26, 1774 – March 18, 1845 was an American pioneer nurseryman. The Rhyme… “Oh, the Lord is good to me, And so I thank the Lord, For giving me the things I need; The sun and the rain and the apple seed. The Lord is good to me, Johnny Appleseed! […]
A Bit of Wisdom from Winston Churchill
Washington, DC…~ Sir Winston Churchill 30 November 1874 – 24 January 1965. “Victory at all costs, victory in spite of all terror, victory however long and hard the road may be; for without victory, there is no survival.” “Socialism is a philosophy of failure, the creed of ignorance, and the gospel of envy, its inherent […]
A Bit of Wisdom from George Washington
Mount Vernon, VA….George Washington, February 22, 1732 – December 14, 1799. “If the freedom of speech is taken away then dumb and silent we may be led, like sheep to the slaughter.” George Washington George Washington had pretty strong ideas on the value of free speech. In fact his quote pretty much says it all. […]
A Bit of Wisdom from Marshall Field
Chicago, IL…Marshall Field, August 18, 1834 – January 16, 1906 was an American entrepreneur and the founder of Marshall Field and Company. “A man with a surplus can control circumstances, but a man without a surplus is controlled by them, and often has no opportunity to exercise judgment.” “Goodwill is the only asset that competition […]
A Bit of Wisdom from Cecil B. DeMille
Los Angeles, CA…A Bit of Wisdom from Cecil B. DeMille. “Man has made 32 million laws since the Commandments were handed down to Moses on Mount Sinai… but he has never improved on God’s law.” “The person who makes a success of living is the one who sees his goal steadily and aims for it […]