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Monday, January 2, 2012

569. Borrowing from the Lawyers

The word GRAVIMEN means that part of a legal argument that carries the most weight. In the statement : "The red dog bit John on the arm.", the gravimen is not whether the dog was red or black or whether John was bitten on the arm or the leg, but that the dog bit him.

When trying to decide on something, don't allow yourself to be distracted by side issues. Don't buy the car just because it's red. Don't ask the girl to marry you just because she's pretty. Buy the car because it works well. Marry the girl because she will be a good wife.

568. Belief and Faith

The difference between Belief and Faith is that you may believe a thing (whether or not it is true) one day and change that belief the next without there being any practical change in consequences, while, if your faith in something changes, then your whole way of living will change. For example, if you lose your faith in the theory of flight, you would never again board an aircraft. If you simply cease to believe in the theory as a mere intellectual exercise or position, it need not stop you from flying as your mind will tell you that while the theory is incorrect, something else is allowing 'planes to fly - you can see them. In other words, Faith is much stronger than Belief. Beliefs are mere opinions whereas Faith relys in part on proof and is and is the foundation of how we live our lives. It is wiser to base your life on solid faiths in real things than on fey and futile beliefs.