Many individuals
have shared their wisdom in sayings or observations that contain the
now-familiar pattern of three memorable elements. Some of that wisdom is
ageless. “Your fences need to be horse-high,
pig-tight and bull-strong,” supposedly from a farmer. Or this from Christopher
Morley, “There are three ingredients to the good life: learning, earning
and yearning.”
Threes have been
engaged by the brightest among us. Bill Gates, who is the co-founder of
Microsoft, is known to use threes in his analyses. During one interview he
said, “Most people know that I like threes. Here they are:
- Vision
- Being at the right place at the
right time
- Taking massive immediate action”
New
and ancient philosophers have presented many of their best ideas in threes. Benjamin
Franklin said, “There are three faithful friends: an old wife, an old dog, and
ready money.” And this: “There
are three things extremely hard: steel, a diamond, and to know one's self.”
Buddha said, “Three things cannot be long
hidden: the sun, the moon, and the truth.” Contemporary author and philosopher the
late Stephen Covey said, “There are three constants in life...change, choice
and principles.”
from Threes, Chapter 1, “The
Wonder of Threes”
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