# What's your mantra? **URL:** \ **Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\ **Created:** [December 20, 2020, 1:55am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-your-mantra/928436 "2020-12-20T01:55:21Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![lobotomyboy63](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lobotomyboy63/32/2900_2.png) [@lobotomyboy63](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/lobotomyboy63)\ **Post date:** [December 20, 2020, 1:55am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-your-mantra/928436/1 "2020-12-20T01:55:21Z")
…or mantras, perhaps? Sometimes we get through the BS of life by having at least one mantra which, when everything goes to hell, serves to help get us through. My bro has an interesting one. “I was looking for a job when I found this one.” In other words, if this job sucks too much I can quit and find another. This job proves it. Mine is always in the back of my mind: “It just doesn’t matter.” [![](https://img.youtube.com/vi/e9mf3Bypyk8/hqdefault.jpg "Meatballs - Great Motivational Speech - It Just Doesn't Matter") ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=e9mf3Bypyk8) ---
**Author:** ![bobot](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bobot/32/21622_2.png) [@bobot](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bobot)\ **Post date:** [December 20, 2020, 2:27am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-your-mantra/928436/2 "2020-12-20T02:27:12Z")
Da Ga [![](https://img.youtube.com/vi/ZN60vJjHar8/maxresdefault.jpg "Da-Ga Da-Ga") ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZN60vJjHar8) ---
**Author:** ![susan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/susan/32/17537_2.png) [@susan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/susan)\ **Post date:** [December 20, 2020, 3:08am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-your-mantra/928436/3 "2020-12-20T03:08:35Z")
“I extend compassion to all stupid fucking sentient creatures.” Seriously. It works because it makes me laugh. ---
**Author:** ![JaneDoe42](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/janedoe42/32/14104_2.png) [@JaneDoe42](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JaneDoe42)\ **Post date:** [December 20, 2020, 3:11am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-your-mantra/928436/4 "2020-12-20T03:11:56Z")
Pot is legal. ---
**Author:** ![lobotomyboy63](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lobotomyboy63/32/2900_2.png) [@lobotomyboy63](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/lobotomyboy63)\ **Post date:** [December 20, 2020, 3:12am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-your-mantra/928436/5 "2020-12-20T03:12:42Z")
> [@susan](#): > > “I extend compassion to all stupid fucking sentient creatures.” One I sometimes rely on is that if you can, it’s better (for you) to feel sorry for people than to be angry at them. ---
**Author:** ![Oredigger77](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/oredigger77/32/3181_2.png) [@Oredigger77](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Oredigger77)\ **Post date:** [December 20, 2020, 3:36am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-your-mantra/928436/6 "2020-12-20T03:36:24Z")
Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death I shall fear of evil; for I am the baddest motherfucker in this valley. ---
**Author:** ![Whack-a-Mole](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/whack-a-mole/32/141_2.png) [@Whack-a-Mole](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Whack-a-Mole)\ **Post date:** [December 20, 2020, 3:39am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-your-mantra/928436/7 "2020-12-20T03:39:15Z")
"I must not fear. Fear is the mind-killer. Fear is the little-death that brings total obliteration. I will face my fear. I will permit it to pass over me and through me. And when it has gone past I will turn the inner eye to see its path. Where the fear has gone there will be nothing. Only I will remain." ~Dune ---
**Author:** ![susan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/susan/32/17537_2.png) [@susan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/susan)\ **Post date:** [December 20, 2020, 3:39am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-your-mantra/928436/8 "2020-12-20T03:39:54Z")
That one got me through a lot of high school. ---
**Author:** ![lobotomyboy63](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lobotomyboy63/32/2900_2.png) [@lobotomyboy63](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/lobotomyboy63)\ **Post date:** [December 20, 2020, 3:45am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-your-mantra/928436/9 "2020-12-20T03:45:56Z")
> [@Whack-a-Mole](#): > > I must not fear. This reminds me of one of the best things I’ve ever read. I don’t pretend to understand it completely but wow! > **[Samurai Song by Robert Pinsky | Poetry Foundation](https://www.poetryfoundation.org/poems/57103/samurai-song)** > > When I had no roof I made ---
**Author:** ![Prof.Pepperwinkle](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/prof.pepperwinkle/32/13627_2.png) [@Prof.Pepperwinkle](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Prof.Pepperwinkle)\ **Post date:** [December 20, 2020, 3:52am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-your-mantra/928436/10 "2020-12-20T03:52:37Z")
Just remember what old Jack Burton does when the earth quakes and the poison arrows fall from the sky and the pillars of heaven shake, yeah, Jack Burton justs looks at the big old storm right square in the eye and he says , give me your best shot, pal , I can take it". ---
**Author:** ![TheGunIsMightierThanThePen](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/thegunismightierthanthepen/32/2981_2.png) [@TheGunIsMightierThanThePen](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TheGunIsMightierThanThePen)\ **Post date:** [December 20, 2020, 4:10am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-your-mantra/928436/11 "2020-12-20T04:10:24Z")
“Treat others the way they treat you.” “What can go right, will go wrong.” “Douchebags of a feather flock together.” ---
**Author:** ![Gatopescado](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/gatopescado/32/5711_2.png) [@Gatopescado](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gatopescado)\ **Post date:** [December 20, 2020, 4:12am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-your-mantra/928436/12 "2020-12-20T04:12:02Z")
It _CAN_ always get worse. ---
**Author:** ![puzzlegal](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/puzzlegal/32/3827_2.png) [@puzzlegal](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/puzzlegal)\ **Post date:** [December 20, 2020, 4:29am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-your-mantra/928436/13 "2020-12-20T04:29:00Z")
Oh, i thought this would be like the mantras that were popular when transcendental meditation was a thing. Anyway, my mantra is “one two three four five six”. I say it to myself when I meditate. I find it helpful, as a way to block out other words. ---
**Author:** ![Whack-a-Mole](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/whack-a-mole/32/141_2.png) [@Whack-a-Mole](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Whack-a-Mole)\ **Post date:** [December 20, 2020, 4:33am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-your-mantra/928436/14 "2020-12-20T04:33:26Z")
Me too. Easier said than done though. (Which is central to Paul’s story.) ---
**Author:** ![peccavi](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/peccavi/32/388_2.png) [@peccavi](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/peccavi)\ **Post date:** [December 20, 2020, 4:34am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-your-mantra/928436/15 "2020-12-20T04:34:02Z")
_What would a grown up do?_ (mostly used when someone is being an asshole and my immediate reaction is to rip them a new one) _The data is what the data is._ (used quite a lot when the path indicated isn’t the easy one) ---
**Author:** ![lobotomyboy63](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lobotomyboy63/32/2900_2.png) [@lobotomyboy63](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/lobotomyboy63)\ **Post date:** [December 20, 2020, 4:41am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-your-mantra/928436/16 "2020-12-20T04:41:40Z")
When I was 18 and about to embark on a trip, I got this advice: 1. Look before you leap 2. He who hesitates is lost. > [@peccavi](#): > > _What would a grown up do?_ (mostly used when someone is being an asshole and my immediate reaction is to rip them a new one) I keep trying to live up to this one. ---
**Author:** ![Elmer\_J.Fudd](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/elmer_j.fudd/32/1211_2.png) [@Elmer\_J.Fudd](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Elmer_J.Fudd)\ **Post date:** [December 20, 2020, 5:29am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-your-mantra/928436/17 "2020-12-20T05:29:21Z")
“Good enough”. I’d put that on my family crest if it wasn’t such a hassle. ---
**Author:** ![carnut](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/carnut/32/3531_2.png) [@carnut](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/carnut)\ **Post date:** [December 20, 2020, 6:33am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-your-mantra/928436/18 "2020-12-20T06:33:58Z")
Treat people as if they are intelligent because many will rise to the occasion. But, know that people are stupid. Do not fool yourself about this and you won’t be disappointed. ---
**Author:** ![penultima\_thule](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/penultima_thule/32/3833_2.png) [@penultima\_thule](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/penultima_thule)\ **Post date:** [December 20, 2020, 6:48am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-your-mantra/928436/19 "2020-12-20T06:48:35Z")
Grandfather’s advice: When you find yourself in a hole, first stop digging. ---
**Author:** ![Enjoy\_Slurm](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/enjoy_slurm/32/3937_2.png) [@Enjoy\_Slurm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Enjoy_Slurm)\ **Post date:** [December 20, 2020, 7:33am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-your-mantra/928436/20 "2020-12-20T07:33:02Z")
“Its our basic human right to be fuck ups.” -Gary King [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-your-mantra/928436.md?page=2)