Orwell’s Writing Rules: How to Write With Clarity

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Good judgment comes from experience, and a lot of that comes from bad judgment.
Lettin’ the cat outta the bag is a whole lot easier ‘n puttin’ it back in.
If you’re ridin’ ahead of the herd, take a look back every now and then to make sure it’s still there.
If you get to thinkin’ you’re a person of some influence, try orderin’ somebody else’s dog around.
After eating an entire bull, a mountain lion felt so good he started roaring. He kept it up until a hunter came along and shot him…….The moral: When you’re full of bull, keep your mouth shut.
Never kick a cow chip on a hot day.
There’s two theories to arguin’ with a woman. Neither one works.
If you find yourself in a hole, the first thing to do is stop diggin’.
Never slap a man who’s chewin’ tobacco.
It don’t take a genius to spot a goat in a flock of sheep.
Always drink upstream from the herd.
When you give a lesson in meanness to a critter or a person, don’t be surprised if they learn their lesson.
When you’re throwin’ your weight around, be ready to have it thrown around by somebody else.
The quickest way to double your money is to fold it over and put it back in your pocket.
Never miss a good chance to shut up.

Further reading about who Will Rogers was
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Will_Rogers

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1. Deuteronomy 1:44 – They Chased You Like A Swarm Of Bees

The Amorites who lived in those hills came out against you;
they chased you like a swarm of bees and beat you down
from Seir all the way to Hormah.

2. Judges 14:8 – He Saw A Swarm Of Bees And Some Honey

Some time later, when he went back to marry her,
he turned aside to look at the lion’s carcass, and in it,
he saw a swarm of bees and some honey.

3. Psalm 118:12 – They Swarmed Around Me Like Bees

They swarmed around me like bees,
but they were consumed as quickly as burning thorns;
in the name of the Lord, I cut them down.

4. Isaiah 7:18 – Bees From The Land Of Assyria

On that day the Lord will whistle for flies from the Nile Delta in Egypt
and for bees from the land of Assyria.

5. Judges 14:9 – He Took The Honey From The Lion’s Carcass

He scooped out the honey with his hands and ate as he went along.
When he rejoined his parents, he gave them some, and they too ate it.
But he did not tell them that he had taken the honey from the lion’s carcass.

6. Psalm 19:9-10 – The Lord’s Decrees Are Sweeter Than Honey

The fear of the Lord is pure, enduring forever.
The decrees of the Lord are firm, and all of them are righteous.
They are more precious than gold than much pure gold;
they are sweeter than honey than honey from the honeycomb.

7. Proverbs 24:13-14 – Wisdom Is Like Honey To You

Eat honey, my son, for it is good; honey from the comb is sweet to your taste.
Know also that wisdom is like honey for you:
If you find it, there is a future hope for you, and your hope will not be cut off.

8. Exodus 3:8 – A Land Flowing With Milk And Honey

So I have come down to rescue them from the hand of the Egyptians
and to bring them up out of that land into a good and spacious land,
a land flowing with milk and honey
—the home of the Canaanites, Hittites, Amorites,
Perizzites, Hivites, and Jebusites.

9. Exodus 16:31 – The Bread Tasted Like Wafers Made With Honey

The people of Israel called the bread manna.
It was white like coriander seed and tasted like wafers made with honey.

10. Exodus 33:3 – The Land Flowing With Milk And Honey

Go up to the land flowing with milk and honey.
But I will not go with you, because you are a stiff-necked people
and I might destroy you on the way.

11. Leviticus 20:24 – A Land Flowing With Milk And Honey

But I said to you, “You will possess their land;
I will give it to you as an inheritance,
a land flowing with milk and honey.”
I am the LORD your God, who has set you apart from the nations.

12. Numbers 13:27 – The Land Does Flow With Milk And Honey

They gave Moses this account: “We went into the land to which you sent us,
and it does flow with milk and honey! Here is its fruit.”

13. Deuteronomy 8:8 – Olive Oil And Honey

Aland with wheat and barley, vines and fig trees,
pomegranates, olive oil, and honey.

14. Judges 14:8-9 – There Was A Swarm Of Bees And Honey In The Carcass Of The Lion

After some days he returned to take her.
And he turned aside to see the carcass of the lion, and behold,
there was a swarm of bees in the body of the lion, and honey.

15. 1 Samuel 14:27 – He Dipped The Staff Into The Honeycomb

But Jonathan had not heard that his father had bound the people with the oath,
so he reached out the end of the staff that was in his hand
and dipped it into the honeycomb.
He raised his hand to his mouth, and his eyes brightened.

16. 2 Samuel 17:29 – David And His People Ate Honey And Curds

Honey and curds, sheep, and cheese from cows’ milk
for David and his people to eat.
For they said, “The people have become exhausted and
hungry and thirsty in the wilderness.”

17. 1 Kings 14:3 – A Jar Of Honey

Take ten loaves of bread with you, some cakes, and a jar of honey, and go to him.
He will tell you what will happen to the boy.

18. Psalm 81:16 – With Honey From The Rock I Would Satisfy You

But you would be fed with the finest of wheat;
with honey from the rock, I would satisfy you.

19. Proverbs 16:24 – Gracious Words Are A Honeycomb

Gracious words are a honeycomb, sweet to the soul and healing to the bones.

20. Song of Solomon 4:11 – Your Lips Drop Sweetness As The Honeycomb

Your lips drop sweetness as the honeycomb, my bride;
milk and honey are under your tongue.
The fragrance of your garments is like the fragrance of Lebanon.

21. Isaiah 7:15 – He Will Be Eating Curds And Honey

He will be eating curds and honey when he knows enough
to reject the wrong and choose the right.

22. Isaiah 7:22 – All Those In The Land Will Eat Curds And Honey

From the abundance of milk they give, he will have curds to eat.
All who remain in the land will eat curds and honey.

23. Ezekiel 3:3 – It Tasted As Sweet As Honey In My Mouth

Then he said to me, “Son of man, eat this scroll I am giving you
and fill your stomach with it.”
So I ate it, and it tasted as sweet as honey in my mouth.

24. Ezekiel 27:17 – They Exchanged For Your Merchandise Millet And Honey

Judah and the land of Israel were your traders;
they exchanged for your merchandise wheat of Minnith,
millet and honey, oil and balm.

25. Matthew 3:4 – John’s Food Was Locusts And Wild Honey

John’s clothes were made of camel’s hair,
and he had a leather belt around his waist.
His food was locusts and wild honey.

26. Revelation 10:9 – In Your Mouth, It Will Be As Sweet As Honey

So I went to the angel and asked him to give me the little scroll.
He said to me, “Take it and eat it. It will turn your stomach sour,
but ‘in your mouth, it will be as sweet as honey.’”

27. Job 20:17 – Rivers Flowing With Honey And Cream

He will not enjoy the streams, the rivers flowing with honey and cream.

28. Psalm 119:103 – Your Words Are Sweeter Than Honey To My Mouth

How sweet are your words to my taste, sweeter than honey to my mouth!

29. Proverbs 25:16 – If You Find Honey Just Eat Enough Of It

If you find honey, eat just enough— too much of it, and you will vomit.

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Wealth without work.
Pleasure without conscience.
Knowledge without character.
Commerce without morality.
Science without humanity.
Worship without sacrifice.
Politics without principle.

From a sermon given by Frederick Lewis Donaldson in Westminster Abbey, London, on March 20, 1925.
Frederick Lewis Donaldson

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Useful Book link related to this.

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Whether you believe in spirits or tapping into your subconscious, automatic writing can be a powerful tool for channelling your creativity, brainstorming, and overcoming writer’s block. Follow these steps to practice a secular form of automatic writing on your own:

Set aside time.
Find a quiet place free of distractions.
Clear your mind and try to enter a meditative state.
Place your pen or pencil on the paper.
Let your hand write whatever comes naturally without overthinking.
Avoid looking at your writing until you’re finished.
Interpret what you’ve written.
Optional: use your results as inspiration for your next piece of writing.

If automatic writing doesn’t work on your first try, don’t be discouraged. In our technological age, it’s hard to quiet our minds on demand. Give it another chance and see what you can create. Some poems, songs, and even novels have all developed from automatic writing.

https://www.microsoft.com/en-us/microsoft-365-life-hacks/writing/automatic-writing

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Venus of Willendorf
This female figurine is probably one of the best known prehistoric Goddess images. This limestone figure was created around 24,000 and 22,000 BCE, making it one of the oldest man-made images in existence. It was discovered near Willendorf, Austria in 1908 by Josef Szombathy. The most prominent qualities of this figure are her large breasts and stomach. There are no facial features except for markings on her head which may represent curled hair or a head covering. The original statue is currently kept at the Museum of Natural History in Vienna.

Laussel Goddess
This image is not a figurine like the one from Willendorf, but is part of a relief wall mural that actually pictured other females and a male. The Laussel images were found in Laussel, France in 1911 by Dr. J.G Lalanne. Her large breasts and belly may represent fertility, and she is looking towards a notched horn in her hand. There are 13 notches on the horn, which might indicate the 13 lunar months of the year. This figure has been dated to 22,000 and 25,000 BCE. The original piece is in the Musee d’Aquitaine, Bordeaux, France.

Nile Goddess
This graceful Egyptian figure is a personal favourite of mine, and was created much more recently than the 2 previous images (around 4,000 BCE). Many figures of this style where found in the Egyptian area and are considered to be funeral icons. Unlike the bursting fertility of earlier female figures, this one is more abstract. The curved head and upswept arms have a bird-like quality to them. Her stance is similar to that of a modern Priestess who is drawing down the moon. Archaeologists believe this figure represents reincarnation or rebirth, rather than fertility.

Snake Goddess of Crete
This statue is also known as the Minoan Snake Goddess. She was found near Knossos, Crete and was created around 1600 BCE. Her breasts are bare, as was the style in Minoan culture of the time. There are differing opinions on the significance of this figure. Some archaeologists feel that the snake was a domestic or household Deity, but others disagree. The original image is currently in the Herakleion Museum of Crete.

Ishtar
This Mesopotamian statue dates to 2,000 BCE. Her enormous hips are similar to the bountiful shapes of the Willendorf and Laussel images. She is offering her breasts which also represents nourishment and fertility. Unlike the other 4 images I have mentioned, this statue is of a specific Goddess. Ishtar was a Mother Goddess, and is called the ‘Queen of Heaven and Earth.’ There are many ancient myths involving Ishtar and the other Deities of the Sumerians.

All of these figures can be found as reproduction statues, and grace altars around the world today. Though they don’t represent specific Deities, they offer us a connection with the Divine feminine from a time before history.

( Intro text taken from spiritual traditions page 13
Essential teachings to transform your life by
Timothy Freke)

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Give people more than they expect and do it cheerfully.

Marry a man/woman you love to talk to. As you get older, their conversational skills will be as Important as any other.

Don`t believe all you hear, spend all you have or sleep all you want.

When you say, “I love you,” mean it.

When you say, “I`m sorry,” look the person in the eye.

Be engaged at least six months before you get married.

Believe in love at first sight.

Never laugh at anyone`s dreams. People who don`t have dreams don`t have much.

Love deeply and passionately. You might get hurt but it`s the only way to live life completely.

In disagreements, fight fairly. No name calling.

Don`t judge people by their relatives.

Talk slowly but think quickly.

When someone asks you a question you don`t want to answer, smile and ask, “Why do you want to know?”

Remember that great love and great achievements involve great risk.

Say “bless you” when you hear someone sneeze.

When you lose, don`t lose the lesson

Remember the three R`s: Respect for self; Respect for others; and responsibility for all your actions.

Don`t let a little dispute injure a great friendship.

When you realize you`ve made a mistake, take immediate steps to correct it.

Smile when picking up the phone. The caller will hear it in your voice.

Spend some time alone.

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Not everyone thinks retirement is a good option and this quote by Dan Sullivan (from The Strategic Coach) explains why. I think he makes a very valid point.

“Most people dream of the day they can finally retire. After all, who wouldn’t want a permanent vacation, a whole new life, free from stress, obligation, and work?

But retirement by its very definition means to no longer be of use. We retire old machinery, we retire old clothing, and we retire old ideas when they’ve stopped serving a purpose, and we retire ourselves for the same reason.

In our current economy, however, purpose and age have very little to do with one another, except that lack of purpose makes you age faster. And that’s why I don’t believe in retirement.”
Dan Sullivan (The Strategic Coach)

Here are a few quotes about retirement and ageing.

You are never too old to set a new goal or dream a new dream.”
C.S. Lewis

Do not grow old, no matter how long you live. Never cease to stand like curious children before the great mystery into which we were born.
Albert Einstein

There is a fountain of youth: it is your mind, your talents, the creativity you bring to your life and the lives of people you love. When you learn to tap this source, you will truly have defeated age.
Sophia Loren

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