# What is the best advice you were ever given? **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [March 16, 2012, 12:27am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-best-advice-you-were-ever-given/615915 "2012-03-16T00:27:49Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 3
**Author:** ![Dung\_Beetle](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dung_beetle/32/7945_2.png) [@Dung\_Beetle](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dung_Beetle)\ **Post date:** [March 16, 2012, 2:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-best-advice-you-were-ever-given/615915/41 "2012-03-16T14:30:38Z")
> [@Heart\_of\_Dorkness](#): > > You may feel like you’re stuck in a bad situation. Say you hate your job, you’ve tried to change it, tried to find another one, and nothing is working. So you feel like you have no control over the situation. It’s not true. You always have choices: you could quit today and get a job at Walmart, or take up a life of hitchhiking and panhandling, or start robbing banks. The possibilities are endless. You may say, “Well, those are all terrible ideas.” But that means that of the options available to you, you’re _choosing_ the one that makes the most sense: stay in the crappy job until you find something better, because it’s solid income, it’s stable, it’s legal, and so on. When I realized that rather than just passively accepting what life hands me, I’m actively making choices, I started making _better_ choices, and feeling better about my life in general. I like this. I told it to my mom recently because she’s depressed. I don’t know if it helped her, but it’s a lot better than telling yourself you’re just stuck and there’s nothing you can do. Actually it reminds me of another thing I’ve seen posted on someone’s cubicle wall: “This isn’t a bunch of stuff I have to do…it’s a bunch of stuff I _get_ to do.” ---
**Author:** ![Anaamika](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/5f9b8f/32.png) [@Anaamika](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Anaamika)\ **Post date:** [March 16, 2012, 2:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-best-advice-you-were-ever-given/615915/42 "2012-03-16T14:40:25Z")
“It’s Ok to be selfish sometimes”. ---
**Author:** ![you\_with\_the\_face](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/y/ecccb3/32.png) [@you\_with\_the\_face](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/you_with_the_face)\ **Post date:** [March 16, 2012, 2:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-best-advice-you-were-ever-given/615915/43 "2012-03-16T14:51:12Z")
When certain personalities rub me the wrong way and I wish they were never born: “It takes all kinds.” ---
**Author:** ![Tom\_Scud](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/f08c70/32.png) [@Tom\_Scud](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tom_Scud)\ **Post date:** [March 16, 2012, 2:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-best-advice-you-were-ever-given/615915/44 "2012-03-16T14:54:12Z")
> [@John\_DiFool](#): > > Walk out into your back yard, and drink in deeply all that you see there. But do bear in mind that this is figurative drinking. ---
**Author:** ![Spice\_Weasel](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/spice_weasel/32/5435_2.png) [@Spice\_Weasel](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Spice_Weasel)\ **Post date:** [March 16, 2012, 3:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-best-advice-you-were-ever-given/615915/45 "2012-03-16T15:09:32Z")
> [@Heart\_of\_Dorkness](#): > > 1. And you have _total_ control over yourself. > > You may feel like you’re stuck in a bad situation. Say you hate your job, you’ve tried to change it, tried to find another one, and nothing is working. So you feel like you have no control over the situation. It’s not true. You always have choices: you could quit today and get a job at Walmart, or take up a life of hitchhiking and panhandling, or start robbing banks. The possibilities are endless. You may say, “Well, those are all terrible ideas.” But that means that of the options available to you, you’re _choosing_ the one that makes the most sense: stay in the crappy job until you find something better, because it’s solid income, it’s stable, it’s legal, and so on. When I realized that rather than just passively accepting what life hands me, I’m actively making choices, I started making _better_ choices, and feeling better about my life in general. I love this. I needed to hear it today. Best advice… ‘‘Never try to reason a man out of a position he didn’t reason himself into.’’ I think it was a Doper who said this to me. It has really helped me let go of a lot of inflammatory statements I’ve encountered on the internet. ---
**Author:** ![glee](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/b5a626/32.png) [@glee](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/glee)\ **Post date:** [March 16, 2012, 3:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-best-advice-you-were-ever-given/615915/46 "2012-03-16T15:11:01Z")
> [@Dereknocue67](#): > > I was told, “Begin planning for your retirement now.” > > I was in my 20’s and now retired and financially secure. Absolutely. I’m retired in the UK (and have visited Vegas for the last 5 years 🆒), due to saving/investing for 34 years - especially in my pension. 1. **Don’t worry about things you don’t control**. This is hard to do - which of us has not spent sleepless nights worrying? However if you can’t affect the outcome, use your emotional energy on things you can alter. 1. **Pay off your credit card every month**. Credit cards are convenient (and using them can cover you for companies collapsing), but very expensive if you pay interest. If you borrow, use a credit union, an overdraft or a mortgage. 1. Don’t tug on Superman’s cape. 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![Anaamika](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/5f9b8f/32.png) [@Anaamika](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Anaamika)\ **Post date:** [March 16, 2012, 4:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-best-advice-you-were-ever-given/615915/47 "2012-03-16T16:12:45Z")
Here’s one just for women I am still learning. Upon being asked "What is the most basic thing anyone can do to further women’s rights? the answer given us “Always be good to other women. Never badmouth them to another women, don’t gossip about them.” That’s not to say you should just lie down and take it, but address the problem straightforwardly and with the woman involved. ---
**Author:** ![Shodan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/9f8e36/32.png) [@Shodan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Shodan)\ **Post date:** [March 16, 2012, 4:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-best-advice-you-were-ever-given/615915/48 "2012-03-16T16:15:08Z")
From my dad: [ul][li]Don’t borrow money to buy a depreciating asset.[_]Never get involved with a woman whose problems are worse than yours.[/ul][/li]From my mom:[ul][li]Somebody has to be the grown-up.[/ul]From one of my managers;[ul][_]It’s easier to apologize than to get permission.[/ul]Regards,[/li]Shodan ---
**Author:** ![Dendarii\_Dame](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/bbce88/32.png) [@Dendarii\_Dame](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dendarii_Dame)\ **Post date:** [March 16, 2012, 4:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-best-advice-you-were-ever-given/615915/49 "2012-03-16T16:35:58Z")
From my mother: “There are billions of people in the world. You aren’t going to like all of them. Not all of them are going to like you. But sometimes you have to get along with people you don’t like in order to get something done.” From a second-grader: “If you ever go to the sun, don’t touch it. It’s hot.” ---
**Author:** ![Anne\_Neville](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/b9e5f3/32.png) [@Anne\_Neville](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Anne_Neville)\ **Post date:** [March 16, 2012, 4:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-best-advice-you-were-ever-given/615915/50 "2012-03-16T16:39:29Z")
> [@Tom\_Scud](#): > > But do bear in mind that this is figurative drinking. Yeah, I thought you might have meant the rain water in the trash can lid. Ewwww. ---
**Author:** ![Zsofia](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/7bcc69/32.png) [@Zsofia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Zsofia)\ **Post date:** [March 16, 2012, 4:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-best-advice-you-were-ever-given/615915/51 "2012-03-16T16:40:50Z")
> [@John\_DiFool](#): > > Walk out into your back yard, and drink in deeply all that you see there. Dog poop? We have kind of a lot of dog poop. My parents’ pastor when I was a teenager told his son while I was there babysitting (so honestly it wasn’t even advice for me) “99% of everything is showing up!” This in reference to the crappy grocery store job the kid had - and indeed, within six months everybody who had started with him was gone, and he had moved up a bit after proving himself dependable. ---
**Author:** ![ducati](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/cc9497/32.png) [@ducati](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ducati)\ **Post date:** [March 16, 2012, 6:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-best-advice-you-were-ever-given/615915/52 "2012-03-16T18:16:40Z")
Never get the cheapest doctor, lawyer, or condom you can. Thanks, mom. ---
**Author:** ![koeeoaddi](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/koeeoaddi/32/408_2.png) [@koeeoaddi](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/koeeoaddi)\ **Post date:** [March 16, 2012, 6:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-best-advice-you-were-ever-given/615915/53 "2012-03-16T18:19:36Z")
From Mr. Ko: arguing with strangers on the internet is a complete waste of time. 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![Soylent\_Juicy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/82dd89/32.png) [@Soylent\_Juicy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Soylent_Juicy)\ **Post date:** [March 16, 2012, 7:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-best-advice-you-were-ever-given/615915/54 "2012-03-16T19:12:31Z")
From my former boss at a coffee shop in 2001: “You’re too smart to be working in a coffee shop for 7 bucks an hour. Go to Manpower. It’s a temp agency but my friend went there and she ended up getting her dream job.” Advice taken, dream life currently being lived… ---
**Author:** ![jharvey963](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/54ee81/32.png) [@jharvey963](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jharvey963)\ **Post date:** [March 16, 2012, 9:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-best-advice-you-were-ever-given/615915/55 "2012-03-16T21:02:27Z")
Don’t mud wrestle with pigs. You’ll just get dirty and the pigs like it. J. ---
**Author:** ![mskatied](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/3d9bf3/32.png) [@mskatied](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mskatied)\ **Post date:** [March 16, 2012, 9:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-best-advice-you-were-ever-given/615915/56 "2012-03-16T21:05:41Z")
all very fun stuff to read guys!! ---
**Author:** ![Enderw24](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/ba9def/32.png) [@Enderw24](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Enderw24)\ **Post date:** [March 16, 2012, 9:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-best-advice-you-were-ever-given/615915/57 "2012-03-16T21:31:06Z")
> [@Arrendajo](#): > > Get out of the shoe business. > [@Shoeless](#): > > … Well, I guess that’s one person who took your advice **Arrendajo**. ---
**Author:** ![Clothahump](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/51bf81/32.png) [@Clothahump](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Clothahump)\ **Post date:** [March 16, 2012, 9:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-best-advice-you-were-ever-given/615915/58 "2012-03-16T21:40:13Z")
Today not possible, tomorrow possible. Never give up. It doesn’t cost you anything to say sir or ma’am, and it can gain you a lot. ---
**Author:** ![Enright3](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/enright3/32/2897_2.png) [@Enright3](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Enright3)\ **Post date:** [March 16, 2012, 9:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-best-advice-you-were-ever-given/615915/59 "2012-03-16T21:50:33Z")
Quite a few gems here. “A man is not the one who can drink the most; he’s the one who knows when to quit.” - Mom This one seem like an alternate version of a few of those above. You don’t have to prove anything to anybody. It took me a while to wake up and realize I was always the last one to leave a party. I was afraid I’d miss something. “I’m the best friend you’re ever going to have.” - Mom With obvious exceptions; A parents love is without limits. What’s even nicer is the day I hear my son say that to his daughter. 🙂 “Be patient, things have a way of working out.” - Mom No matter how bleak; you make it through your crisis. ~sniff~ I miss my mom; who died 4 years ago this month (3/12/2008) . ---
**Author:** ![Chefguy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chefguy/32/138_2.png) [@Chefguy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chefguy)\ **Post date:** [March 16, 2012, 9:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-best-advice-you-were-ever-given/615915/60 "2012-03-16T21:59:34Z")
Stupidity is not a virtue. Never talk a fight. (In other words, don’t wait for the other guy to throw the first punch) Lead, follow, or get out of the way. (Stop dithering; it just confuses issues) Alcohol never makes a problem better. It just makes you a morose drunk. And one that has served me well for a lot of years: The best defense is to take your sails out of their wind. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-best-advice-you-were-ever-given/615915.md?page=2) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-best-advice-you-were-ever-given/615915.md?page=4)