The strangest thing happened this morning. I went to grab my pillow that had drifted away in sleep, and a shooting pain went through my right arm and wrist like it was ‘broken.’ I know that it is clearly not broken, but the pain was excruciating. I took some Motrin, but that didn’t touch the pain. Restless sleep the rest of the night. I got up an hour or so later, and it still hurt like crazy. The only things that make it feel better are a deep massage and a corn bag. Two days ago, I put in a couple of light switches, and I think the twisting motion of running the screwdriver caused this. It’s like my wrist and forearm are cramping to the point that running the mouse on the computer hurts, and actual writing is impossible. I think I am falling apart.
Typically, Lunch Box Quotes are notes I include in the kids’ lunches every day. Number 1 gets a text, but 2-4 get a handwritten napkin. Today, only the digital version, I can’t write.
Visual credits to: @StoicRise @Wisdom_HQ and @trad_west_ on X.
Enough complaining, here are the quotes:
1. “Be tolerant with others and strict with yourself.” – Marcus Aurelius
2. “Too much attention makes a donkey think he is a lion.” – Ancient Proverb
3. “You can win over a wise man with reason, but you can’t win over a fool with proof.” – Unknown
4. “Help them a hundred times and they will forget. Refuse once, they will remember.” – Anonymous observation on human nature and gratitude
Bonus quote: “Christianity has died many times and risen again; for it had a God who knew the way out of the grave.” – G.K. Chesterton
Sources:
Note – Because of how the X posts embed, I thought I should add this description to the first visual X post below. It is not biblical, just a saying that means the following (All of this is quoted from AI):
“The saying ‘what Paul says about Peter tells us more about Paul than Peter'” means that how we talk about others often reveals more about our own character, biases, and fears than about the person we’re discussing. When we judge or criticize, our words are frequently a reflection of our own inner world and values rather than an objective account of the other person. For example, if someone constantly criticizes another for being “unreliable,” it might indicate their own deep-seated fear of unreliability or a strong personal value for it, rather than necessarily being a true reflection of the other person’s character.
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- It’s about projection: We often project our own feelings, insecurities, and priorities onto others.
- Criticism reveals the critic: Constant criticism can highlight a person’s own judgmental nature, their own insecurities, or a perceived flaw they see in themselves.
- It’s a call for self-awareness: The phrase encourages introspection, suggesting that we should look inward to understand what our judgments say about us before passing judgment on someone else.”
Which sent me down an interesting rabbit hole. Here’s more:
The saying “what Paul says about Peter tells us more about Paul than Peter” is not from the Bible, but it is a psychological concept that aligns with biblical themes of judgment and self-awareness found in verses like Matthew 7:1-5. The quote suggests that a person’s words about others often reveal more about their own character, biases, and fears than about the subject being discussed. For example, when Paul corrected Peter in Galatians 2:14, his public rebuke of Peter’s inconsistent behavior revealed Paul’s commitment to the truth of the gospel and his role as a leader holding others accountable, rather than just his opinion of Peter.
Biblical themes that align with the saying
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- Judgment: Jesus’ teaching, “Judge not, that you be not judged,” advises against being overly critical of others, suggesting that our judgments often reflect our own flaws. Instead of judging others, one should first examine their own motives and conduct.
- Self-awareness: The saying encourages self-reflection by looking at how we talk about others to understand our own inner state.
- Fraternal correction: In some instances, a person’s words about another can be a form of fraternal correction, as seen when Paul publicly rebuked Peter for his actions in Antioch. Paul’s correction of Peter in Galatians was not just an expression of his personal feelings but a demonstration of his commitment to upholding the truth of the gospel and holding others accountable for their actions.
The saying’s psychological and philosophical roots
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- Projection: The saying aligns with the psychological concept of “projection,” where people “project” their own feelings and insecurities onto others.
- Baruch Spinoza: A 17th-century philosopher, Spinoza, was known for his ideas on perception and human behavior that support this idea. The saying suggests that our words about others can act as a mirror to our values, fears, and overall worldview.
15. pic.twitter.com/XktxyxrVJJ
— StoicRise (@StoicRise) November 11, 2025
15 Hard Truths of Psychology and Life:
— Wisdom (@Wisdom_HQ) November 15, 2025
10. pic.twitter.com/4ytHIbPKwS
— StoicRise (@StoicRise) November 11, 2025
“Christianity has died many times and risen again; for it had a God who knew the way out of the grave.”
– G.K. ChestertonVideo from the Pilgrimage to Chartres pic.twitter.com/Swn6bYbaxt
— Trad West (@trad_west_) November 18, 2025