# What's your motto in life? **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [May 2, 2007, 10:15am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-your-motto-in-life/402439 "2007-05-02T10:15:02Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Aspidistra](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/aspidistra/32/3894_2.png) [@Aspidistra](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Aspidistra)\ **Post date:** [May 2, 2007, 10:15am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-your-motto-in-life/402439/1 "2007-05-02T10:15:02Z")
In conversation with a friend recently (a person who is far more “Type A” than my laid-back self) I decided that my personal life motto is “What’s the worst that could happen?” What’s your motto? ---
**Author:** ![Walloon](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/fbc32d/32.png) [@Walloon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Walloon)\ **Post date:** [May 2, 2007, 10:22am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-your-motto-in-life/402439/2 "2007-05-02T10:22:47Z")
“Know when to hold 'em, and know when to fold 'em.” ---
**Author:** ![Nava](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/da6949/32.png) [@Nava](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Nava)\ **Post date:** [May 2, 2007, 10:31am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-your-motto-in-life/402439/3 "2007-05-02T10:31:36Z")
Se hace lo que se puede con los materiales disponibles. “We do what we can with whatever’s at hand.” Meaning, you never do less than your best… but hey, if the boss wants miracles that’s a different section. You want results, give me resources. ---
**Author:** ![twickster](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/ec9cab/32.png) [@twickster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/twickster)\ **Post date:** [May 2, 2007, 10:35am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-your-motto-in-life/402439/4 "2007-05-02T10:35:05Z")
“Teach only love, for that is what you are.” ---
**Author:** ![CairoCarol](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cairocarol/32/3825_2.png) [@CairoCarol](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CairoCarol)\ **Post date:** [May 2, 2007, 10:45am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-your-motto-in-life/402439/5 "2007-05-02T10:45:46Z")
“Never assume.” ---
**Author:** ![si\_blakely](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/d9b06d/32.png) [@si\_blakely](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/si_blakely)\ **Post date:** [May 2, 2007, 10:47am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-your-motto-in-life/402439/6 "2007-05-02T10:47:42Z")
The early bird catches the worm, but the _second_ mouse gets the cheese. Si ---
**Author:** ![chrisk](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/6de8d8/32.png) [@chrisk](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/chrisk)\ **Post date:** [May 2, 2007, 11:23am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-your-motto-in-life/402439/7 "2007-05-02T11:23:05Z")
A little vague, but: “This above all, to thine own self be true.” (Gotta love will.) ---
**Author:** ![panache45](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/panache45/32/64_2.png) [@panache45](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/panache45)\ **Post date:** [May 2, 2007, 11:27am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-your-motto-in-life/402439/8 "2007-05-02T11:27:07Z")
If we never push our limits, we’ll never discover how truly limitless we are. ---
**Author:** ![Sublight](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/439d5e/32.png) [@Sublight](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sublight)\ **Post date:** [May 2, 2007, 11:42am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-your-motto-in-life/402439/9 "2007-05-02T11:42:59Z")
The first line of my signature. ---
**Author:** ![Terrorcotta](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/dbc845/32.png) [@Terrorcotta](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Terrorcotta)\ **Post date:** [May 2, 2007, 12:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-your-motto-in-life/402439/10 "2007-05-02T12:09:49Z")
(Usually in reference to clients) Luckily I can bend **both** time and space. But more typically, “Just another day in paradise.” ---
**Author:** ![lee](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lee/32/7455_2.png) [@lee](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/lee)\ **Post date:** [May 2, 2007, 12:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-your-motto-in-life/402439/11 "2007-05-02T12:11:28Z")
If you don’t want to know the answer, don’t ask the question. It is my personal motto and a warning to others. ---
**Author:** ![scareyfaerie](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/scareyfaerie/32/3135_2.png) [@scareyfaerie](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/scareyfaerie)\ **Post date:** [May 2, 2007, 12:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-your-motto-in-life/402439/12 "2007-05-02T12:11:44Z")
Never volunteer. ---
**Author:** ![Sean\_Factotum](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/50afbb/32.png) [@Sean\_Factotum](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sean_Factotum)\ **Post date:** [May 2, 2007, 12:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-your-motto-in-life/402439/13 "2007-05-02T12:21:11Z")
I hate people. ---
**Author:** ![Nic2004](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/4491bb/32.png) [@Nic2004](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Nic2004)\ **Post date:** [May 2, 2007, 12:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-your-motto-in-life/402439/14 "2007-05-02T12:22:43Z")
If you need me, I’ll be there. \What’s the motto? Nothing, what’s the motto with you?\ ---
**Author:** ![Trunk](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/87869e/32.png) [@Trunk](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Trunk)\ **Post date:** [May 2, 2007, 12:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-your-motto-in-life/402439/15 "2007-05-02T12:27:55Z")
“Have a take, and don’t suck.” ---
**Author:** ![Paintcharge](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/paintcharge/32/7946_2.png) [@Paintcharge](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Paintcharge)\ **Post date:** [May 2, 2007, 12:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-your-motto-in-life/402439/16 "2007-05-02T12:29:55Z")
We’ll burn _that_ bridge when we get there. ---
**Author:** ![delphica](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e9a140/32.png) [@delphica](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/delphica)\ **Post date:** [May 2, 2007, 12:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-your-motto-in-life/402439/17 "2007-05-02T12:44:48Z")
“This will be a good anecdote later …” Meaning, many situations aren’t as bad as they seem if you can imagine yourself telling a humorous anecdote about it in the future. Life, it’s all material. ---
**Author:** ![fisha](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/da6949/32.png) [@fisha](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/fisha)\ **Post date:** [May 2, 2007, 12:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-your-motto-in-life/402439/18 "2007-05-02T12:47:37Z")
It could always be worse. ---
**Author:** ![robardin](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/43a26b/32.png) [@robardin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/robardin)\ **Post date:** [May 2, 2007, 12:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-your-motto-in-life/402439/19 "2007-05-02T12:52:32Z")
[QUOTE=panache45] If we never push our limits, we’ll never discover how truly limitless we are. [/QUOTE] My friend, [this motivational poster](http://www.despair.com/limitations.html) was made for you. You may also be interested in [this peppy wallcovering](http://www.despair.com/delusions.html), or perhaps [this succinct gem](http://www.despair.com/dreams.html). Signed, ## Cpt. Bringdown (ret.) After 20 years my motto would probably still be something from Vonnegut: _Live by the foma (harmless untruths) that make you brave and kind and healthy and happy._ ---
**Author:** ![Nava](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/da6949/32.png) [@Nava](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Nava)\ **Post date:** [May 2, 2007, 12:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-your-motto-in-life/402439/20 "2007-05-02T12:53:08Z")
[QUOTE=Paintcharge] We’ll burn _that_ bridge when we get there. [/QUOTE] … if you burn it _when_ you get to it that means you can’t go over it, no? Are you trying to avoid walking over the bridge, young man\*? Geroff my lawn and on that bridge! NOW! - Or woman. Sorry, don’t know which is the case here. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-your-motto-in-life/402439.md?page=2)