KenBobisms

Some short and some not-so-short quotes from Barefoot Ken Bob and some from wiser folks

In the beginning we were barefoot. They we screwed up and invented running shoes -Barefoot Ken Bob

Humans think we're special. That we continue trying to define something that makes us unique, is probably the only meaningful difference between humans and other animals. -Barefoot Ken Bob

Those who believe they think like "everyone else", often fear those who think differently. And that can be life threatening to those of us who think differently. And we currently have a president very fearful of the "different" (2025) -Barefoot Ken Bob

There is but one solitary thing about the past worth remembering and that is the fact that it is past—and can’t be restored. -Mark Twain

We have senses to make the everyday things we do less dangerous and less painful. To ignore these senses is to live -- and run -- senselessly -Barefoot Ken Bob

Most people cannot be the best at anything. I mean, really? Better than 8 billion other people? Fortunately, it isn't necessary to be the best. Evolution proves it's okay to be good enough, and do YOUR best. - Barefoot Ken Bob

I don't like to generalize by saying the "everyone should run barefoot". So I'll just say that "everyone with feet who wants to learn to run the way we are designed to run, should run barefoot" -Barefoot Ken Bob

"You want to know the secret to surviving air travel?" Say's a fellow airline passenger to Officer John McClane, "After you get where you're going, take off your shoes and your socks.THen walk around and make fists with your toes. I know it sounds crazy. Trust me, I've been doing it for nine years. Yes Sir, better than a shower and a hot cup of coffee." -Die Hard, 1988

Marketing wants to convince us their product claims are factual. Whereas science wants to find out what is factual. And now people are skeptical about science, because they have confused marketing claims with science.

I am an environmentalist. But, we cannot preserve life without killing it. That is what preservatives do - they end the process of living. Life is change and adaptation and... well, "living". When we try to preserve a habitat, we're trying to put it in some sort of time capsule where it doesn't change. But, if we don't allow a habitat to adapt to changing conditions, it dies. -Barefoot Ken Bob

"In serving each other, we become free." -First Knight 1995

Q: Hey Ken Bob, do you recommend walking your dog barefoot? A: Of course. But how long has your dog been wearing shoes? -Barefoot Ken Bob

If you're fighting against dirty fighting, the minute you begin fighting dirty, you have lost your fight against dirty fighting. -Barefoot Ken Bob

Three buddies go rafting on an Oregon river in search of a lost treasure. When they are confronted by a bear, one of the friends starts to take off his shoes. "Why are you taking off your shoes?" Says Dan. "Cause I run faster with no shoes," replies Jerry. "but you can't outrun that bear," says Dan. "I don't have to outrun the bear," replies Jerry, as he watches Dan take a hit off his inhaler. "I just have to outrun you." - Without a Paddle (2004)

With one breath some criticize government for incompetence (when it comes to social programs), while claiming the same government is so skillful "they" can fake moon landings or hide intelligent alien life, or convince most people that the earth is globe shaped! -Barefoot Ken Bob

Happiness and success are not about what happens to us. Happines and success are about how we respond to the things that happen to us. -Barefoot Ken Bob Saxton

Woke; the realization that you are not the center of the universe, everything does not revolve around you, and nobody should be required or expected to conform with your idea of "normal". -Barefoot Ken Bob

In high school Physical Education we did distance running. On the last day those who completed the mile under 6 minutes got to go to the showers... Those who took longer got to run another mile. In the shower one jock asked my time. I said, "5:20". His response, "Just barely under 6". I should have said, "and you 'barely' finished ahead of me." -Barefoot Ken Bob

We humans feel a need to explain everything, including things we do not know or understand. So, we see something in the sky, our ancestors claimed were "angels", we exclaim "Aliens"... forgetting and ignoring that the "U" in U.F.O. and U.A.P. stands for, "Unidentified" which can be translated as, "We don't know!" -Barefoot Ken Bob

Most of the time, the hook, "science can't explain..." is only true in the mind of the author whose understanding of science is lacking. -Barefoot Ken Bob

Science isn't like a dogmatic religion. Science is the process of searching to discover how things work. What we understand is continuosly changing and improving. -Barefoot Ken Bob

I hope that no alien species can travel interstellar space unless they are peaceful enough to survive themselves. -Barefoot Ken Bob

I see government as (potentially - ideally) being the one entity that could represent any and all persons. Unions represent some workers. Churches represent some religious people. But a goverment set up to be run by the people, for the people, of the people, encompasses all of us, whether they are currently employed, have disabilities, look different, retired, between jobs, act different, fired for doing the right thing, think differently, etc... -Barefoot Ken Bob

Not everyone who thinks differently will be innovative. But every innovation comes from someone who can think differently. -Barefoot Ken Bob

If you say something like, "it does not matter what anyone says or shows me, I will not change my belief", that is the definition of dogma, closed-minded, or unreasonable. -Barefoot Ken Bob

I am an idealist. I believe the only way to improve the world is to aim for an ideal world. We may never reach perfection, but at lease we'll be improving, instead of moving backwards. -Barefoot Ken Bob

When authorities, elected officials, etc., make laws encouraging hatred, then it should be no surprise when masses of people are encouraged to express their hatred for others. -Barefoot Ken Bob

Have fun. But not too much fun. -Barefoot Ken Bob

Father to teen daughter wearing a lot of makeup; "You're all made up like a Christian evangilist" -Barefoot Ken Bob

Any “god” that needs believers to convince others of the "fact" that what exists only in their minds is reality, does not exist in the reality where I live. -Barefoot Ken Bob

Power comes from the willingness of some to give up their free will to bow before a king. -Barefoot Ken Bob

An "investment" in the poor has a better chance of positive return than investing in the highest flying corporation. It's more likely that a person at the bottom of the economic ladder will move up ladder than someone who is at the top of the ladder. -Barefoot Ken Bob

When folks point out problems in the USA (or it's past), they are often called, "Un-American". But isn't it "Un-American" to refuse to see how much we have improved and made this a better place for all people who live here? And isn't it "Un-American" to fail to take opportunities to continue improving? -Barefoot Ken Bob

You cannot insult fascists by calling them things like, "Nazis", "Authoritarians", "KKK" or even "Facists"... because, 1st of all many of them do not understand the meaning of words, any words. And those who do, are proud to be associated with bigots and dictators (they think they'll be fine, as long as they kiss the right butts). -Barefoot Ken Bob

Cooperation and mutual benefit is inconceivable to the greedy. The greedy can only see themselves succeeding when everyone else fails. -Barefoot Ken Bob

When all other variables are factored out, studies show that "this one factor" is the only one that matters... Duh! You've factored out all other variables. So you're only looking at the effects of one variable. -Barefoot Ken Bob

If conventional, heavily cushioned running shoes are like boxing gloves for your feet, minimalist footwear are like gardening gloves: Yes, you can hit the piano keys, but you still can't play Beethoven very well. -Barefoot Ken Bob

Ignoring the mistakes of our history, is not patriotic. Learning how much we have improved things for more and more people is patriotic. -Barefoot Ken Bob

Everyone has the right to be themselves, and the greatest way to ensure our right, is realizing our duty to protect everyone else's right to be themselves... (through voting and other civilized behaviors) Our right is, naturally, limited to not restricting others from being themselves. -Barefoot Ken Bob

Running Barefoot is to running in shoes as mountain biking is to road biking: Instead of the numbers, the speed, the placing, it's the view, the feeling, and the experience that matters most. -Barefoot Ken Bob

You can have fun racing in many ways. It's fun winning, being in the middle, and even losing. But when your shoes are hurting your feet, it's no fun at all! -Barefoot Ken Bob

Ken Bob's Original BarefootRunning.com

Running Barefoot on the Internet since 1997 May

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