Some of life's golden rules...

I recently came across a listing of some "Golden Rules in Life":

1. Stay in the light. When you are in the dark, even your shadow will not follow you.
2. Money glitters, beauty sparkles, and intelligence shines.
3. Keep a very firm grasp on reality, so you can strangle it at any time.
4. People may not always believe what you say; but they will believe what you do.
5. Life is like a mirror. If you frown at it, it frowns back; if you smile, it returns the greeting.
6. Goodness is the only investment that never fails.
7. The only thing lazy people do fast is get tired.
8. Never deprive someone of hope; it may be all he or she has.
9. Silence is the only thing that can't be misquoted!
10. If we don't control our money, it will control us.
11. Life Insurance: A contract that keeps you poor when alive so that you can die rich.
12. Some drink at the fountain of knowledge; others just gargle.
13. If you are living on the edge, make sure you are wearing your seat belt.
14. Minds, like parachutes, only function when they are open.
15. The shortest distance between two points is under construction.
16. Learn from other people's mistakes. Life isn't long enough to make them all yourself.
17. On the road, never argue with a vehicle heavier than yours.
18. One thing you can give and still keep is your word.
19. Life is like a grammar lesson. You find the past perfect and the present tense.
20. More doors are opened with "please" than with keys.

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I have three personal "golden observations":

1. "Size matters" -- small objects like tiny screws (when dismantling something), pins and coins will tend to drop and roll into hard to access places. They then get sucked up by the vacuum cleaner or swallowed up by the dog, unless they are sharp objects which will lie in wait for the unsuspecting sole of your foot.

2. "Open big, big" -- this is what the eye clinic nurses always tell me. It is also as good as a universal truth, be it when crossing the busy road, when opening your mouth for the dentist, when the office collection comes around, etc.

3. "Slippery when wet" -- I would even assert that this is an unqualified universal truth. Name me a situation (on Earth, the Moon doesn't count) when this doesn't apply! I think of the times I have slipped on a wet floor, but the following "example" cited by insing.com takes it to the extreme:

http://news.insing.com/tabloid/6-inch-eel-swims-into-man-s-penis/id-efb73e00