Wisdom in fragments

Ancient philosophy almost hasn't been bettered as a kind of therapeutic toolbox in 2400 years, and have a certain aesthetic to them which makes you feel part of a long tradition.

Greek philosophers had this idea that philosophy has to be a daily practice. It can't just be this kind of French existentialist idea of a nice conversation once a week in a café. It has to be a kind of, daily practice.

You can't control what happens to you, you can only control how you react to it. So, focusing on what's in your control and accepting for the time being what's beyond your control is a really useful therapeutic idea.

Our emotions are connected to our beliefs and opinions. Epictetus said what causes men suffering is not events, but their opinion about events. That piece of wisdom is very useful because it gives you some ability to have control over your emotions.

We all have philosophies which form the basis for our motivations and what we do with our days. Everyone has their own philosophy of life; every institution has a philosophy... but for most of us, those philosophies are unexamined and more or less automatic and instinctual.

Endurance stays with you across everything, if you do it one place, you can do it anywhere. You're able to sustain because you've already trained your brain to do that.

Illusionist & Street Magician Known for Endurance Stunts & Television Specials

We have the ability to push much further than we think is possible, but the brain wants us to rest to allow the body to recover. With practice and training we can overcome almost any discomfort.

Illusionist & Street Magician Known for Endurance Stunts & Television Specials

The way you eliminate fear is to approach your situation from every angle, almost as though it were a logic puzzle. It's also setting a goal but not being afraid to back away if you think that you're going to do irreversible damage on the way there.

Illusionist & Street Magician Known for Endurance Stunts & Television Specials

Endurance is mind over body. It's about tapping into something within us that allows us to push further than we ever thought possible, especially at our weakest moments.

Illusionist & Street Magician Known for Endurance Stunts & Television Specials

Humans often come together by believing in ideas that may only exist in our imaginations. 50 years ago, talking to somebody on the other side of the world with a device that fits in your hand, walking on the moon, or sending a rocket to Pluto would have been beyond our realities and could only have been possible with magic.

Illusionist & Street Magician Known for Endurance Stunts & Television Specials

When you have the confidence that you really are an expert closer, you're a competent closer, the word no doesn't matter, because you know that there's going to be a certain number of no's and a certain number of yes's.

Stock Broker Convicted of Fraud; Subject of "The Wolf of Wall Street

Every person is different, but every sale is the same. The question is, where does the person start out on the certainty continuum?

Stock Broker Convicted of Fraud; Subject of "The Wolf of Wall Street

By using the Straight Line System, you can get yourself to a level where you're certainly good enough at sales, where your skill in that area is not going to be what holds you back in life.

Stock Broker Convicted of Fraud; Subject of "The Wolf of Wall Street

It makes you respect money more when it comes from something you create, rather than just trading back and forth with someone else's cash.

Stock Broker Convicted of Fraud; Subject of "The Wolf of Wall Street

I don't think it's money that corrupts people, I really don't. I think it's the idea that when you make money without having a tangible creation attached to that money, it has no value.

Stock Broker Convicted of Fraud; Subject of "The Wolf of Wall Street

Nobody should ever feel isolated, or like they have nowhere to turn. Whether it's at school, home, or in the workplace. Nobody should ever feel a cultural burden of silence around mental health challenges.

Wife of NYC Mayor Bill de Blasio; Mental Health Advocate & Poet