Words of Wisdom — May 8, 2014

John Wooden on Character

“Be more concerned with your character than with your reputation. Your character is what you really are while your reputation is merely what others think you are.” – John Wooden

bigthinkeditor

A weekly newsletter featuring the biggest ideas from the smartest people

“Be more concerned with your character than with your reputation. Your character is what you really are while your reputation is merely what others think you are.” – John Wooden

A weekly newsletter featuring the biggest ideas from the smartest people

a man sitting in a wheel chair next to a laptop.

High Culture

Stephen Hawking’s famous voice belonged to this pioneering MIT scientist

Dennis Klatt developed trailblazing text-to-speech systems before losing his own voice to cancer.

High Culture

4 classic books that teach deep insights through unlikable protagonists

You can learn a lot about life through literature’s most unrespectable and heinous characters.

A child standing in front of a wall of jellyfish.

The Learning Curve

Want to be more curious? Experts recommend these 5 habits

Despite a reputation for catastrophe and cat killings, curiosity is a beneficial drive that improves our lives and well-being.

a group of people standing in front of a car.

The Past

America’s health food movement is based on a cult

The Source Family, a radical 1970s utopian commune, still impacts what we eat today.

Socrates addresses the Athenian assembly

Thinking

6 great philosophers and how they used their political power

Most philosophers merely contemplate the world, but what about the ones who actually tried to change it?

Up Next

Technology & Innovation

Master the Skill of Hiring

Barbara Corcoran, the star of ABC’s “Shark Tank,” on how to hire the best people.