The sermon continued with a short discussion triggered by each letter in the word “watch”. —Ralph Waldo Emerson, The attachment of the statement to Chinese philosopher Lao Tzu also may be recent. Another thing that this quote does is how it is spoken. In 1989 a Buddhist spiritual text called “How to Live without Fear & Worry” by K. Sri Dhammananda printed a passage that was somewhat closer to the statement under study. Dear Quote Investigator: What do the following people have in common: Transcendentalist Ralph Waldo Emerson, Chinese philosopher Lao Tzu, supermarket magnate Frank Outlaw, spiritual teacher Gautama Buddha, and the father of Margaret Thatcher? Watch your Companions. 15 In 1985 a Washington state newspaper printed the saying under the title “Quote, Unquote” with the words credited to “Frank Outlaw in Sunshine magazine”. John 3:16. Quote Investigator: The earliest evidence of a closely matching expression located by QI was published in a Texas newspaper feature called “What They’re Saying” in May 1977. watch your character for it becomes your destiny. A — Watch your Actions. The beginning was similar to the saying attributed to Outlaw: 10. “Watch your thoughts; for they become words. (NewspaperArchive), 1950 September 03, The Sunday News and Tribune (Jefferson City News and Tribune), Quote Page 6, Column 2, Jefferson City, Missouri. Watch your actions, for they become habits. This important precursor of the modern 1977 saying shared the following vocabulary items: thought, word, action, habit, character, and destiny. Watch your character, for it becomes your destiny.” ~ Unknown. One of the most helpful things I have learned about the Christian life is that all sin begins in our thoughts, which the Bible often calls the heart. The thought manifests as the word, Watch your habits, for they become your character. It's foundational for the hope and optimism with which I try to live. Romans 12:2 says, “Be transformed by the renewing of your mind.”. Your beliefs become your thoughts, Your thoughts become your words, Your words become your actions, Your actions become your habits, Your habits become your values, Your values become your destiny. watch your habits for they become your character, Lao Tzu? Watch your habits; they become character. See more ideas about Words, Inspirational quotes, Words of wisdom. Watch your thoughts, they become words. One of my favorite quotes by Frank Outlaw expresses this principle well: Watch your habits, they become character. One interesting property that is shared between the modern expression … However, this thematic precursor used a different phrasing and did not include the important word: watch: 2, Mr. Wiseman then cautioned his young friends as to the habits they contracted in early life:—”Whatsoever a man soweth that shall he also reap.” You sow an act, you reap a habit (acts repeated constitute habits); you sow a habit, you reap a character; you sow a character, you reap a destiny. Proverbs 23:7 says, “So a man thinketh, so he is.”. Watch your habits, for they become character. Character is everything. (Emphasis on try.) And watch your character, for it becomes your destiny. (Google News Archive), 1976, The Dhammapada: The Sayings of the Buddha, Translation by Thomas Byrom, Section 1: Choices, Quote Page 3, Borzoi Book: Alfred A. Knopf, New York) (Verified on paper), 1989, How to Live without Fear & Worry by K. Sri Dhammananda, Quote Page 192, BMS Publications, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. (Great thanks to Barry Popik for providing additional citations and suggestions. The text below is from a translation by Thomas Byrom: 17. Bishop Beckwaith? Sow a thought, reap a word; sow a word, reap a deed; sow a deed, reap a habit; sow a habit, reap a character; sow a character, reap a destiny. But one who looks intently at the perfect law, the law of liberty, and abides by it, not having become a forgetful hearer but an effectual doer, this man will be blessed in what he does. And most importantly, another undeniable part of us; our spirit. In 1923 another version of a causal chain was presented. And you character becomes your destiny. So watch the thought and its way with care, In 1910 a New York newspaper reported on pastor’s speech which was delivered to children at a religious school. Watch your habits. No wonder the Bible has so much to say about our thought life. Well, then, watch your words. The preceding quote has been attributed to many people: the Chinese philosopher Lao Tzu, the transcendentalist Ralph Waldo … Also, the expression probably evolved over a long period of time from precursors such as the 1885 cite and the 1897 cite that shared multiple attributes. Some avoid thinking about the spirit. Ralph Waldo Emerson? – Unknown. Let them, he said, cultivate habits of industry, application, and order, and they might rely upon it, with God’s blessing, they would succeed in life. Thanks to Mohammad who asked about this saying at the Freakonomics website. We cannot touch pitch and remain undefiled. “Set a watch, O Lord, before my mouth, and keep the door of my lips.”. Speak or act with an impure mind Watch your thoughts, and your words will be alright, and watch your thoughts and words and then your deeds and life will be alright. The words above echo what the Buddha said more than 2500 years ago: ‘We are what we think. Jan 22, 2015 - Words and thoughts become actions and deeds. The great functions of the mind should work in harmony, and should be educated to work so. On March 14, 2013 the citation dated 1856 was added. So watch what you think and be aware of the words that come from your thoughts, and the actions that follow your words. … Amen! Your thoughts become your words. And let it spring from love T — Watch your Thoughts. Watch your habits, for they become your character. Gautama Buddha? Quotes. (NewspaperArchive) (The digital image shows “Sow and act” which is likely a misprint for the common version: “Sow an act”), 1885 November 22, The Sunday Critic (Critic), A Logical Proposition (attributed to Bishop Beckwaith), Quote Page 2, Column 5, Logansport, Indiana. Our words and deeds arise from our thoughts. See more ideas about Words, Thoughts, Bible verses. However, “companions” was used instead of “character”. Habits become your character. With our thoughts we make the world.’ The truth of this verse is timeless: it is truth whether for the past, the present or the future. May Your Word shape our thoughts and our words and our actions, and may we become faithful bearers of Truth to those around us. If we have negative thoughts we have to stop it and replace it with positive thoughts. Also thanks to Don MacDonald who inquired about the uncertain provenance of the expression via a tweet. I really, truly believe it. Watch your deeds. "Watch your thoughts; they become words. Watch your actions, for they become habits. We are the summation of our thoughts, words, and actions. Proverbs 23:7 says, “So a man thinketh, so he is.”, Philippians 4:8 says, “Whatever is true, noble, right, pure, lovely… think about such things.”, Romans 12:2 says, “Be transformed by the renewing of your mind.”, And 2 Corinthians 10:5 says, “Take every thought captive.”. Each one of these individuals has been credited with versions of the following quote: Watch your thoughts. “Be careful of your thoughts, Your thoughts become your words. The overlapping vocabulary items were: action, habit, and character: 5. watch your words for they become actions, The sermon ended with the summary table shown below. H — Watch your Habits. Watch your actions; they become habits. Mark Twain wrote, What a wee little part of a persons life are his acts and his words! - Unknown For example, a 2009 book about elementary school education attributed the words to Emerson: 19, Watch your thoughts for they become words, The excerpt below is similar to the passage in the 1889 citation: 7. That's why Scripture repeatedly urges us to change our thinking and to Watch your thoughts, they become words. Birds of a feather flock together. They become habits. Verse Concepts. With our thoughts we make the world. November 15, 2018. by Orthodox Editors. Meryl Streep speaking as Margaret Thatcher: Watch your thoughts, for they become words. And trouble will follow you Watch your character, it becomes your destiny. This is a quote that has been attributed to Frank Jackson, a cowboy in the late 19th century. www.iiutoday.com - The mind is the most powerful tool we are all gifted with! Your actions become your habits. In conclusion, based on current evidence it is reasonable to attribute the words of the modern saying to Frank Outlaw; however, QI has not yet located direct confirmation in the form of a book or interview with remarks by Outlaw. presented short talks based on the letters of “watch”. QI believes that this saying evolved over many decades. Here is an instance in 1950 with vocabulary choices similar to those in the original query: 12. Jesus said, That which proceeds out of the man, that is what defiles the man. Keep Confidential Information Confidential. QI believes that this saying evolved over many decades. By Gary Z McGee. The saying under study is sometimes ascribed to the Buddha, and the Dhammapada does contain a passage that is distinct but tangentially related. As the wheel follows the ox that draws the cart. “Your beliefs become your thoughts, Your thoughts become your words, Your words become your actions, Your actions become your habits, Your habits become your values, Your values become your destiny.” ― Mahatma Gandhi. Late President of the Bi-Lo Stores. Ask some child to tell you audibly the name of the object which you are exhibiting. (Google Books full view), 1910 June 21, Rome Daily Sentinel, Greenway, Quote Page 3, Column 3, Rome, New York. Ascriptions to other figures such as Emerson or the Buddha have no known substantive support at this time. Plant a thought and reap a word; That’s why Scripture repeatedly urges us to change our thinking and to renew our minds. The first comment was dated January 2, 2010. For example, the commentary on the letter C began as follows. Wow! Can you sort out this confusing situation? watch your character, for it becomes your destiny.”, FRANK OUTLAW 2 Comments Update history: On January 27, 2013 the 2012 reprint of “The Dhammapada” was replaced by the 1976 edition translated by Thomas Byrom. Watch your words, for they become actions. watch your habits, they become character; The saying was ascribed to the creator of a successful U.S. supermarket chain called Bi-Lo: 1, “Watch your thoughts, they become words; In October 1977 a Canandaigua, New York newspaper printed the statement under the title “Words of Wisdom” and credited Frank Outlaw. watch your actions, they become habits; The Words. 16 The attribution to Outlaw has continued to appear regularly in books and periodicals to the present day. Actions become habits. Watch your actions, for they become habits. For from within, ou… What we think, we become. Watch your actions; for they become habits. (NewspaperArchive), 1856 August 27, The Essex Standard, and General Advertiser for the Eastern Counties, Kelvedon School, (Mr Wiseman speaking), Quote Page 2, Column 6, Colchester, England. Frank Outlaw? Our Lord Jesus Christ has given us many scriptures on these topics through his apostles and prophets. Watch your character, for it becomes your destiny. “Watch your thoughts, they become words; watch your words, they become actions; watch your actions, they become habits; watch your habits, they become character; watch your character, for it becomes your destiny.” FRANK OUTLAW. plant an action and reap a habit; C — Watch your Companions. Experts say that we understand vastly more about the human brain than we used to—but we still know very little. “Watch your thoughts, they become words. “Watch your thoughts, they become words; watch your words, they become actions; watch your actions, they become habits; watch your habits, they become character; watch your character, for it becomes your destiny.” FRANK OUTLAW Late President of the Bi-Lo Stores. The term “pitch” referred to a dark, thick, and sticky substance: C—Companions. June 13, 2009. My father always said that. Jun 15, 2015 - Thoughts become words~ Words become actions~ Actions become habits~ Habits become character~ Watch your character, it becomes your destiny. The letter “h” was connected to “hours” instead of “habits”: 8. Watch your thoughts, for they become words. Get access to the entire Wield The Word Bible Reading Plan Library! Watch your actions, they become habits. Oct 3, 2020 - Thoughts Become Words and Actions. (Google Books full view), 1897 June 18, The Church Weekly, Notes for a Children’s Address: Watchfulness, Quote Page 499, Column 3, (NArch Page 21) London, Middlesex, United Kingdom. If you learn to take thoughts captive, you can live with purpose in every area of your life because your thoughts determine your destination. - Frank Outlaw That quote has resonated with me, at the foundation of my being, since the first time I heard it more than a decade ago. Watch your words; for they become actions. Watch your words, for they become actions. Be glorified in us. The talk was based on the letters of the word “watch”. 14 In 1982 a gossip column in a Toledo, Ohio paper reproduced the expression and ascribed it to Frank Outlaw. (Verified on paper), 2009, Developing Habits of Mind in Elementary Schools: An ASCD Action Tool by Karen Boyes and Graham C. Watts, (Epigraph to chapter: School Leaders Building Commitment), Quote Page 297, ASCD, Alexandria, Virginia. They become character. The word manifests as the deed, This quote was presumably written by a man named Frank Outlaw (source has not been confirmed), while others … (Google Books Preview), Goodreads website, Lao Tzu: Quotes: Quotable Quote. This quote is directed at You, Indicating that you are in control of your life, you are the one who must be cautious of your actions. (NewspaperArchive), 1889 January, Education, Volume 9, Number 5, Training the Sensibilities by Thomas J. Morgan, Start Page 295, Quote Page 298, Eastern Educational Bureau. (Old Fulton), 1926 January 28, Bedford Times Republican, Purple and White: News of Bedford High School by the Senior Class, Quote Page 8, Column 2, Bedford, Iowa. 3 In 1885 a variant of the above saying was credited to Bishop Beckwaith. The deed develops into habit, The reading community website Goodreads has a webpage with a version of the saying credited to Lao Tzu. Watch your habits, for they become character. #TheIronLady #MargaretThatcher: Watch your thoughts, for they become words. 20, A version of the expression was included in the 2011 biopic about Margaret Thatcher titled “The Iron Lady”: 21. One interesting property that is shared between the modern expression and several precursor sayings involves wordplay. Special thanks to J who mentioned the appearance in “The Iron Lady”. • The average number of thoughts that humans are believed to experience each day is 70,000. (Applause. If you really want to be a better listener, listen with care. 339. Explore. Watch your actions, they become habits. . All that we are arises with our thoughts. In 1919 another version of the sermon based on the word “watch” was presented. In 1926 several young women at a Y.M.C.A. Watch your character, for it becomes your destiny. My father always said that. Watch your habits, for they become your character. Watch your words; they become actions. 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