# 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:** 17\ **Page:** 6
**Author:** ![Nava](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/da6949/32.png) [@Nava](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Nava)\ **Post date:** [March 19, 2012, 1:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-best-advice-you-were-ever-given/615915/102 "2012-03-19T13:41:01Z")
Screwing up takes less time than doing things right, but fixing a screwup takes longer than doing things right. As for the time of doing both, you do the math. - Can’t remember who it was, one of my uncles I think Always read any document before signing it. If someone says “just sign!”, they’re your enemy. - Dad Contracts don’t need to be on paper to be valid. Your word is your contract; you may not always be able to find the right words, but do your best to say what you mean. - Dad ---
**Author:** ![brittekland](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/aeb1de/32.png) [@brittekland](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/brittekland)\ **Post date:** [March 19, 2012, 3:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-best-advice-you-were-ever-given/615915/103 "2012-03-19T15:22:17Z")
Money = Mobility. Petty not. ---
**Author:** ![mskatied](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/3d9bf3/32.png) [@mskatied](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mskatied)\ **Post date:** [March 20, 2012, 7:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-best-advice-you-were-ever-given/615915/104 "2012-03-20T19:08:10Z")
life is too short to worry it away 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![Jasper\_Kent](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/a9a28c/32.png) [@Jasper\_Kent](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jasper_Kent)\ **Post date:** [March 20, 2012, 7:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-best-advice-you-were-ever-given/615915/105 "2012-03-20T19:14:17Z")
No one on their deathbed ever said “I wish I’d spent more time at the office.” ---
**Author:** ![Digital\_is\_the\_new\_Analog](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/a88e4f/32.png) [@Digital\_is\_the\_new\_Analog](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Digital_is_the_new_Analog)\ **Post date:** [March 21, 2012, 4:03am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-best-advice-you-were-ever-given/615915/106 "2012-03-21T04:03:25Z")
> [@Jasper\_Kent](#): > > No one on their deathbed ever said “I wish I’d spent more time at the office.” A variant of this was a really good piece of advice I got at my last job, while complaining to a friendly VP about how hard I was working. -D/a ---
**Author:** ![Kevbo](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/e47774/32.png) [@Kevbo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kevbo)\ **Post date:** [March 21, 2012, 6:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-best-advice-you-were-ever-given/615915/107 "2012-03-21T18:16:07Z")
When I was a teenager arguing with my Mom, my Dad told me: “Sometimes you have to decide if you want to be right, or do you want to be happy.” Someone else (It would require more explaining that I care to) told me: “Nobody MAKES you mad except you. Anyone else, you are just choosing to react to them with anger.” ---
**Author:** ![Scholar\_Beardpig](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/9de053/32.png) [@Scholar\_Beardpig](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Scholar_Beardpig)\ **Post date:** [March 21, 2012, 6:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-best-advice-you-were-ever-given/615915/108 "2012-03-21T18:47:57Z")
_Think before you act; to move right and slowly is better than fast and wrong._ _Things can be undone, but they can’t be unsaid._ _A man’s greatest measure is what he does when nobody’s watching._ _If you don’t, someone else will._ _Nobody likes the truth; tell people what they want to hear and what you want them to hear._ _Opportunity is the death of morality; an unlocked door makes a thief out of anyone._ _All violence is to the death. If you’re prepared to throw a punch, be prepared to kill._ EDIT: And the most important one of all! The only one I got from my late papa. _Nothing worthwhile has ever been accomplished, at any time by any person, except in the deadest calm and introspection. The moment you lose your cool, you lose it all._ ---
**Author:** ![Noelq](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/noelq/32/16438_2.png) [@Noelq](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Noelq)\ **Post date:** [March 21, 2012, 7:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-best-advice-you-were-ever-given/615915/109 "2012-03-21T19:02:38Z")
I work in IT. Best advice - Never attribute something to malicious intent which can more easily be attributed to stupidity. ---
**Author:** ![iamthewalrus\_3](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/258eb7/32.png) [@iamthewalrus\_3](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/iamthewalrus_3)\ **Post date:** [March 21, 2012, 9:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-best-advice-you-were-ever-given/615915/110 "2012-03-21T21:44:59Z")
> [@Jasper\_Kent](#): > > Two variations on the above: > > “Don’t force it; use a larger hammer.” > > “If it doesn’t fit, force it. If it breaks, it needed replacing anyway.” One more (said by my favorite Computer Science prof): “If brute force doesn’t work, you’re not using enough” The most important I think I’ve heard is: “If you don’t understand something, say so. Someone will teach you.” ---
**Author:** ![Cat\_Whisperer](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cat_whisperer/32/4839_2.png) [@Cat\_Whisperer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cat_Whisperer)\ **Post date:** [March 21, 2012, 9:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-best-advice-you-were-ever-given/615915/111 "2012-03-21T21:47:46Z")
> [@Noelq](#): > > I work in IT. > > Best advice - Never attribute something to malicious intent which can more easily be attributed to stupidity. This is so true. It might look like people are out to get you, and doing their damnedest to make your life miserable, but they are probably just Mr. Magoo-ing their way through their lives, completely oblivious to how they are affecting other people. ---
**Author:** ![brittekland](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/aeb1de/32.png) [@brittekland](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/brittekland)\ **Post date:** [March 21, 2012, 9:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-best-advice-you-were-ever-given/615915/112 "2012-03-21T21:49:38Z")
Get/eat Apple. ---
**Author:** ![Taomist](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/53a042/32.png) [@Taomist](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Taomist)\ **Post date:** [March 21, 2012, 9:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-best-advice-you-were-ever-given/615915/113 "2012-03-21T21:59:37Z")
Don’t let the negatives cancel out the positives. ---
**Author:** ![Docta\_G](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/2bfe46/32.png) [@Docta\_G](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Docta_G)\ **Post date:** [March 21, 2012, 10:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-best-advice-you-were-ever-given/615915/114 "2012-03-21T22:13:18Z")
“Don’t believe the hype.” ---
**Author:** ![Ulfreida](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ulfreida/32/8014_2.png) [@Ulfreida](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ulfreida)\ **Post date:** [March 21, 2012, 10:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-best-advice-you-were-ever-given/615915/115 "2012-03-21T22:56:48Z")
If your foot hurts, stop and put a piece of moleskin on it before you wear a damn hole in yourself. ---
**Author:** ![Docta\_G](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/2bfe46/32.png) [@Docta\_G](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Docta_G)\ **Post date:** [March 21, 2012, 10:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-best-advice-you-were-ever-given/615915/116 "2012-03-21T22:59:32Z")
Have a good time all the time. That’s my philosophy, Marty. ---
**Author:** ![Valgard](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/v/7feea3/32.png) [@Valgard](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Valgard)\ **Post date:** [March 21, 2012, 11:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-best-advice-you-were-ever-given/615915/117 "2012-03-21T23:18:46Z")
I got several very important bits of advice in one session: 1. How to handle a main parachute malfunction. 2. How to handle a reserve parachute malfunction. 3. How to do a very good parachute landing fall. I had to use all three on one jump and walked away from it. ---
**Author:** ![mskatied](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/3d9bf3/32.png) [@mskatied](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mskatied)\ **Post date:** [March 23, 2012, 9:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-best-advice-you-were-ever-given/615915/118 "2012-03-23T21:27:45Z")
> [@Taomist](#): > > Don’t let the negatives cancel out the positives. So true. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-best-advice-you-were-ever-given/615915.md?page=5)