As a general rule, you shouldn’t take advice from cartoon characters, TV characters, celebrities, musicians, or anyone trying to sell you tickets to a seminar. That’s just common sense and we need a lot of that to navigate life.
At the same time, there are often exceptions to rules, including the general ones. They’re very rare and very specifics, but that’s exactly why they warrant such exceptions. They’re just that uniquely special, like a single polished diamonds in an entire mountain of dirt.
In that spirit, there is one fictional character whose advice and wisdom you should heed. Whether you’re a person living in the real world or an exiled prince fighting to regain his honor, his words carry immense weight and for all the right reasons. That character is Uncle Iroh from the beloved show, “Avatar: The Last Airbender.”
Now, there are many reasons why this show is a diamond, even among diamonds. Uncle Iroh is one of them. Even for a kids show, his lovable persona and his propensity to share nuggets of wisdom has few equals. If you don’t believe me, watch the show. If he’s not one of your favorite characters by the end, then I don’t know what to tell you.
If you don’t have time to binge three seasons, then here are some of his best quotes that I feel contain a wealth of wisdom.
“There is nothing wrong with a life of peace and prosperity. I suggest you think about what it is you want from your life.”
“Failure is only the opportunity to begin again. Only this time more wisely.”
“In the darkest times, hope is something you give yourself. That is the meaning of inner strength.”
“While it is always best to believe in oneself, a little help from others can be a great blessing.”
“Life happens wherever you are, whether you make it or not.”
“It is important to draw wisdom from many different places.”
“Good times become good memories, but bad times make good lessons.”
“Sometimes, the best way to solve your own problems is to help someone else.”
“Follow your passion and life will reward you.”
“Even in the material world, you will find that if you look for the light, you can often find it. But if you look for the dark, that is all you will ever see.”
“Pride is not the opposite of shame, but it’s source. True humility is the only antidote to shame.”
I hope this advice helps all those who read it. These are all words that I feel people need more than ever at a time like this. Cartoon character or not, Uncle Iroh gave us this wisdom. We would be wise to listen.
Jack Fisher's Official Publishing Blog 