In ancient Athens, followers of Plato convened to ponder the question: What defines a human being? After much contemplation, they concluded that a human is a featherless biped. This definition satisfied everyone until a philosopher entered the hall with a live, featherless chicken, proclaiming, "Behold! Here is a human being!" Once the commotion settled, the group reconvened and refined their definition. They decided a human being is a featherless biped with broad nails. This amusing anecdote from early philosophical discourse illustrates the challenges philosophers often encounter when trying to formulate abstract and comprehensive definitions of humanity.

In the 1950s, Ruth Handler observed her daughter Barbara and her friends showing a preference for adult dolls over traditional baby dolls. At that time, the only available adult dolls were made of cardboard. Ruth believed that creating a three-dimensional adult doll would be commercially viable. However, when she presented her idea to the board of Mattel, the company she co-founded, it was dismissed as too risky and costly. The executives only changed their minds after Ruth returned from Switzerland with a doll named Lilli. Subsequently, Ruth's doll was produced and named Barbie in honor of her daughter. Barbie made her debut at the 1959 American Toy Fair in New York, where Mattel sold 351,000 units in the first year.

Many people tend to view their own character more favorably than that of others because we often evaluate ourselves based on our intentions, while we assess others by their actions, particularly those that irritate us. For instance, if we fail to visit a friend or relative in the hospital, we typically don't perceive our behavior as wrong. Instead, we justify it by thinking, "I meant to go; I just didn't have the time." Conversely, when we are the ones in the hospital, we usually don't ponder the reasons for others not visiting us. Instead, we are likely to label them as selfish or unreliable. Therefore, in the future, strive to consider others' intentions when their actions upset you, just as most people do when reflecting on their own behavior that has negatively affected someone else.

Students often neglect to study not due to a lack of time, but because they prefer other activities. Take, for instance, a student preparing for a French test scheduled in two weeks. Starting early allows for smaller, manageable study sessions each day. However, this student may view the test as a low priority since it seems distant. Instead of dedicating 15 minutes to study, they opt to watch television or read. As the test date approaches and its importance increases, the student realizes they will need several hours to prepare. At this point, fitting in a three-hour study period proves more challenging than spreading out several short sessions over time. This highlights the importance of early preparation to minimize last-minute stress and workload.

Satyamurti was a prominent nationalist in India, recognized for his eloquent speeches that combined logic, reason, wit, and wisdom. This ability often allowed him to prevail in debates. During a visit to England to advocate for India's independence, he met influential British politicians and urged them to grant self-governance to India. During one of these meetings, a heckler challenged him by stating, "Do you know that the sun never sets on the British Empire?" This remark highlighted the expanse of British colonies worldwide, where it was perpetually daytime in some region. Satyamurti, undeterred, smiled in the direction of the heckler, who incorrectly assumed he had rattled him. In response, Satyamurti cleverly remarked, "Do you know why? Even the sun doesn't trust the British in the dark." This sharp retort showcased his quick wit and ability to counter criticism effectively.