In picking quotes for the kids, generally, there are repeating themes. Number 1 gets politics or something that challenges character, Number 2 gets something centered about being a warrior, Number 3 gets politics sometimes, but mostly encouragement, and Number 4 gets those that are more delicate, about beauty or shared kid-centered humor. It is more a reflection of how I see them than of how they see themselves. I think that is o.k., but yesterday, I was talking to Number 4, and we read the quotes that I wrote to 2 and 3. She really liked those and wanted 2’s quote for today so she could share it with her friends. I was forced to tell her it doesn’t work that way. You can’t choose your own quote; the quote chooses you. And if you or your friends would like a different quote, they can always go to cognitivewarriorproject.com and click the subscribe button. I don’t think she was amused, and I don’t intentionally repeat quotes.
As a reminder, 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.
Visual credits to: @the_christnats @sfliberty @athenaeumbe @LibertyPath
Quotes:
1. “Capitalism was the only system in history where wealth was not acquired by looting, but by production, not by force, but by trade, the only system that stood for man’s right to his own mind, to his work, to his life, to his happiness, to himself.” – Ayn Rand
2. “Those who know, do not speak. Those who speak, do not know.” – Lao Tzu
3. “Happiness is not achieved by the conscious pursuit of happiness; it is generally the by-product of other activities.” – Aldous Huxley
4. “The way to get started is to quit talking and start doing.” – Walt Disney
Bonus Quote: “Be strong and of a good courage, fear not, nor be afraid of them: for the LORD thy God, he it is that doth go with thee; he will not fail thee, nor forsake thee.” -Deuteronomy 31:6
Sources:
“Capitalism was the only system in history where wealth was not acquired by looting, but by production, not by force, but by trade, the only system that stood for man’s right to his own mind, to his work, to his life, to his happiness, to himself.”
— Ayn Rand pic.twitter.com/jiyxDfqRBs
— Students For Liberty (@sfliberty) December 3, 2025
“Happiness is not achieved by the conscious pursuit of happiness; it is generally the by-product of other activities.”
— Aldous Huxley pic.twitter.com/zPMB0AtlK7
— Athenaeum Book Club (@athenaeumbc) December 4, 2025
— Library Path (@LibraryPath) December 4, 2025
“Be strong and of a good courage, fear not, nor be afraid of them: for the LORD thy God, he it is that doth go with thee; he will not fail thee, nor forsake thee.” -Deuteronomy 31:6 pic.twitter.com/CcuJPWRMvd
— The Christian Nationalist Party (@the_christnats) November 29, 2025