Japan

For this reason alone, we may be willing to agree to perform a larger favor than the one we received, merely to relieve ourselves of the psychological burden of debt. A Japanese proverb makes this point eloquently: “There’s nothing more expensive than that which comes for free.”

“It’s not what one is born with but what use one makes of that equipment.”

Some people insist that if you’re truly talented at something, your talent will definitely blossom someday. But based on my own gut feelings—and I trust my gut—that won’t necessarily happen. If that talent lies buried in a relatively shallow place, it’s very possible it will emerge on its own. But if it’s buried deep down, you can’t discover it

when I go to my mountain cabin, I always make sure that I talk with the local farmers. I’ll say, “Gosh … really great weather, isn’t it? Lovely white clouds, aren’t they?” and the farmers will usually reply, “Well, actually things used to be much better …” But this never ruins my enjoyment of watching the clouds. I reply that, well, I suppose it