The document discusses six common mistakes that were identified by Marcus Tullius Cicero over 2000 years ago in Rome. These mistakes include: 1) believing one can benefit by pushing others down, 2) worrying over unchangeable matters, 3) thinking others cannot accomplish what you cannot, 4) being unable to set aside one's own will and opinions, 5) failing to cultivate the mind with good habits and reading, and 6) trying to compel others to think and live as you do. The document encourages recognizing these mistakes within yourself and working to overcome them in order to find success in life.

1. Six (6) Mistakes
of the Past
and
Present

2. Two thousand years ago (106-43 BC) there lived
a versatile genius called Marcus Tullius Cicero in
Rome. He was an eminent Orator, Lawyer,
Political Leader, Writer, Poet, Philospher and
Critic. He has mentioned that the mistakes of
lthe men of those days were folly. Though many
years have passed and many changes have
taken place, the mistakes of men have not been
eradicated. It is pathetic to witness the mistakes
among men in the Past and Present.
Cicero identified the mistakes among us by his
sharp knowledge. They are as mentioned
below.

3. 1) People have a wrong notion that they can get
their own benefits by pushing back or destroying
others.
This attitude may appear to be beneficial for a short
period but not for a long time. Naturally when we
progress in a right way by overtaking others, it is not
only a right path but also we are sure to come up in
life. Instead, if we try to progress by overtaking and
destroying others, our time and energy will be wasted
for the same and we will have to be in the same place.
We can't advance in our life. Moreover it is not
possible to push back others or to block their progress
for a long time. Those who wish to attain success in
any field and life should wisely get rid of such
mistakes.

4. 2. TO WORRY ON THE MATTERS
THAT CAN'T BE CHANGED OR
MENDED
In each and every one's life, definitely
there are many mistakes that can't be
changed or mended. To worry and shed
tears on such matters will be of no use in
any way. Nothing will get changed for our
sake taking pity on us. If we are not able
to accept unchangeable matters, we
should at-least develop our mental
maturity to tolerate them. Otherwise our
life will become an endless sorrow.

5. 3. THINKING THAT OTHERS CAN'T DO THE
THINGS THAT CAN'T BE DONE BY US.
There are many things in the world beyond our
knowledge and power. Today's innumerable
scientific miracles could not be even imaged in
those days. During the period of Cicero, if Radio,
Telephone, Aeroplane, Motor Vehicles, Computers
etc. had been invented, they would have appeared
to be great wonders to man. Similarly today's
unimaginable miracles and inventions may become
very simple matters in future. So an individual
should never imagine that others can't do a thing
that is not able to be done by him. Such an
imaginary pride will be the deficit of his knowledge.

6. 4) NOT ABLE TO GET RID OF ONE'S OWN WORTHLESS WILL
AND PLEASURES AND OPINIONS.
Many incidents that rock the world take placed daily. We witnessed
Lakhs and Lakhs of Japanese who lost their belongings and
relatives within a few seconds due to the recent earth quake and
Tsunami. We also witnessed the pathetic condition of Japanesse
who lost their wealth which was earned by their hard work for a long
period. Man's life is not that much certain. When such is the
condition of man, it is funny to note that the people worrying and
boiling on silly matters such as, "He is not following my advice, he is
not giving due respect to me, I have no costly car, some people
criticize me unnecessarily, work is not completed in the stipulated
time" and so on. It is the curse of the narrow minds that are not
able to set aside the thoughts like, "I am the greatest, everyone
should recognize the same and everyone should watch me
everything should go on as per my will and pleasure" etc. If this
type of attitude is developed, it is enough to convert the joyful life in
to a hell even though there are no great problems in life.

7. 5) FAILING TO CULTIVATE THE MIND WITH GOOD HABITS
AND FAILING TO DEVELOP THE HABIT OF READING GOOD
BOOKS
Man works hard throughout his life to enrich his wealth and
facilities in his life and he is able to measure them. Everyone is
with a common attitude that people honour others by means of
their wealth and facilities. But the mind is not that much openly
seen and hence most of the people do not take much efforts to
cultivate their mind. But really an individual's peacefulness and
happiness defend upon his mental maturity. The accumulated
wealth and fame may astonish others but they never satisfy the
mind of others. To most of the people, education ends at the
college level. Very less number of people have the habit of reading
good quality books and developing their knowledge after their
college studies. Cicero found this defect among Romans and the
history says that the same was one of the reasons for the downfall
of Rome. Hence one who doesn't want his downfall should
cultivate and conserve his mind in all respect. It is very important.

8. 6) TO COMPEL OTHERS TO THINK AND LIFE LIKE
ONESELF.
It is the greatest mistake to think, "Only what I think is the
right one, my ways are the best". Apart from thinking like
this, it is the greatest crime to compel and expect others to
think and behave life that. But from the past to till date we
are able to find this criminal attitude among many people.
We have the freedom to determine the route and flow of
our life. But expecting others' thoughts and principles to
be similar to that of ours is more or less taking efforts to
make others our slaves. Though we consider that our
ways and means are the best, we can't force others to
follow them. If we force, the same will not lead to success.
The world cannot be a Xerox copy of us and it need not
be so.

9. These mistakes were able to withstand even after
thousands of years. We should sincerely check up
whether these mistakes are found to be with us. If
they are found to be with us we should eradicate
them and get the benefits. We should be role
model to others to get rid of their mistakes. That
only will be the greatest success in life.
So my dear brothers, and sisters, let us all throw
our aforesaid mistakes into the Bay of Bengal and
let us march majestically towards the path of
Success! All the Best!!!

10. Translated by : Shri C.CHANDRASEKAR, M.A., B.Ed.,
Headmaster (Retd), Kendriya Vidyalaya, Trichy,
Mobile No. 9843769972
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