Customization
Before executing, check for user customizations at: ~/.claude/PAI/USER/SKILLCUSTOMIZATIONS/Aphorisms/
If this directory exists, load and apply any PREFERENCES.md, configurations, or resources found there. These override default behavior. If the directory does not exist, proceed with skill defaults.
🚨 MANDATORY: Voice Notification (REQUIRED BEFORE ANY ACTION)
You MUST send this notification BEFORE doing anything else when this skill is invoked.
- Send voice notification:
curl -s -X POST http://localhost:8888/notify \ -H "Content-Type: application/json" \ -d '{"message": "Running the WORKFLOWNAME workflow in the Aphorisms skill to ACTION"}' \ > /dev/null 2>&1 & - Output text notification:
Running the **WorkflowName** workflow in the **Aphorisms** skill to ACTION...
This is not optional. Execute this curl command immediately upon skill invocation.
Workflow Routing
When executing a workflow, output this notification directly:
Running the **WorkflowName** workflow in the **Aphorisms** skill to ACTION...| Request Pattern | Route To |
|---|---|
| Find aphorism, quote for newsletter, match aphorism, suggest quote, aphorism recommendation | Workflows/FindAphorism.md |
| Add quote, add aphorism, save quote, new aphorism, store quote | Workflows/AddAphorism.md |
| Research thinker, find quotes from, what did X say, thinker quotes on | Workflows/ResearchThinker.md |
| Search aphorisms, find quotes on, quotes about, quotes matching, what aphorisms | Workflows/SearchAphorisms.md |
When to Activate This Skill
Direct Aphorism Requests
- "find aphorism", "find a quote", "find quote for X"
- "search aphorisms", "search quotes", "look up quote"
- "what aphorism", "which quote", "perfect quote for"
- "suggest aphorism", "recommend quote", "match quote to"
- "aphorism for newsletter", "quote for blog post", "quote for article"
Database Management
- "add aphorism", "add quote", "save this quote"
- "new aphorism", "include quote", "store this"
- "update aphorism database", "manage quotes"
Research & Discovery
- "research [thinker] quotes", "find [author] aphorisms"
- "what did [philosopher] say about", "quotes from [thinker]"
- "Hitchens quotes", "Feynman wisdom", "Spinoza aphorisms"
- "Sam Harris on [topic]", "David Deutsch quotes"
Theme-Based Search
- "aphorisms about [theme]", "quotes on [topic]"
- "show quotes about resilience", "wisdom on learning"
- "stoic quotes", "quotes matching [keyword]"
Newsletter Workflow Integration
- User working on newsletter and needs aphorism
- Mentions "newsletter" + "quote" or "aphorism"
- Content analysis for quote matching
- Avoiding previously used quotes
Use Case Indicators
- Need wisdom quote to open/close newsletter
- Want thematically relevant aphorism
- Building quote collection
- Researching philosopher's ideas
- Managing aphorism library
Core Capabilities
1. Intelligent Quote Matching
Analyze newsletter or article content to find the perfect thematic aphorism:
- Extract key themes from content
- Match themes to aphorism database
- Consider tone and style alignment
- Avoid recently used quotes
- Provide multiple options with rationale
2. Comprehensive Database
Curated collection organized by:
- Author - Thinkers aligned with TELOS philosophy
- Theme - Categories like resilience, learning, stoicism, risk, progress
- Context - Background on quote origin and meaning
- Usage History - Track which quotes used in which newsletters
3. Thinker Research
Deep research on key philosophers:
- Christopher Hitchens - Rationality, skepticism, intellectual honesty
- David Deutsch - Knowledge creation, optimism, explanations
- Sam Harris - Rationality, meditation, free will, morality
- Baruch Spinoza - Ethics, reason, freedom, nature
- Richard Feynman - Curiosity, scientific thinking, doubt, clarity
4. Theme-Based Organization
Aphorisms categorized by themes matching user content:
- Work Ethic & Excellence - Craft, mastery, high standards
- Resilience & Strength - Adversity, persistence, growth
- Learning & Education - Curiosity, continuous improvement
- Stoicism & Control - Internal locus, acceptance, discipline
- Risk & Action - Courage, failure, experimentation
- Wisdom & Truth - Rationality, evidence, honest inquiry
Database Structure
Location: ~/.claude/skills/aphorisms/Database/aphorisms.md
Current Collections:
- Initial Collection (Rahil Arora) - 15 curated quotes covering core themes
- Thinkers Aligned with TELOS - Sections for Hitchens, Deutsch, Harris, Spinoza, Feynman (to be populated)
- Theme Index - Quick reference by category
- Newsletter Usage History - Tracking to avoid repetition
Metadata Per Aphorism:
- Full quote text
- Author attribution
- Theme tags
- Context and background
- Source reference (when available)
Available Workflows
Quote Discovery & Matching
find-aphorism.md - Intelligent newsletter content analysis
- Analyze content themes and tone
- Search database for thematic matches
- Consider usage history
- Provide top 3-5 recommendations with rationale
- Include quote, author, and why it fits
Database Management
add-aphorism.md - Structured quote addition
- Accept quote text and author
- Extract or assign themes
- Add context and background
- Update theme index
- Validate uniqueness
Research Operations
research-thinker.md - Deep thinker research
- Research specific philosopher's relevant quotes
- Focus on TELOS-aligned themes
- Add quotes to appropriate database section
- Include context and sources
- Update theme index
Search & Discovery
search-aphorisms.md - Theme and keyword search
- Search by theme, keyword, or author
- Return matching aphorisms
- Sort by relevance or usage
- Provide context for each result
Integration Points
Newsletter Content Skill
- Automatic aphorism suggestions when creating newsletter
- Theme analysis from newsletter content
- Usage tracking for variety
Research Skill
- Deep thinker research capabilities
- Web research for quote verification
- Source attribution and context
Writing Skill
- Blog post quote recommendations
- Story explanation enhancement
- Content opening/closing quotes
Key Thinkers & Philosophy Alignment
Why These Thinkers?
All five thinkers align with TELOS themes of wisdom, rationality, truth-seeking, and human flourishing:
Christopher Hitchens
- Intellectual honesty and skepticism
- Question everything, follow evidence
- "What can be asserted without evidence can be dismissed without evidence"
David Deutsch
- Optimistic epistemology - problems are solvable
- Knowledge creation through criticism
- Emphasis on explanations, not just predictions
Sam Harris
- Scientific rationality applied to ethics
- Importance of reason and evidence
- Mindfulness and self-awareness
Baruch Spinoza
- Ethics based on reason
- Freedom through understanding
- Reality acceptance and wisdom
Richard Feynman
- Curiosity-driven learning
- Doubt as a tool for knowledge
- Clarity of thought and explanation
- Scientific honesty
Research Priority
- Immediate: Analyze previous newsletters for aphorism patterns
- Phase 1: Research Hitchens and Feynman (most quotable, clear style)
- Phase 2: Research Harris and Deutsch (contemporary, relevant)
- Phase 3: Research Spinoza (historical, philosophical depth)
Usage Examples
Example 1: Finding Aphorism for Newsletter
User: "I'm writing a newsletter about overcoming setbacks in AI research. Find me a good aphorism."
Skill Response:
- Analyze themes: resilience, adversity, persistence, progress
- Search database for matching themes
- Recommend top 3 options:
- Rocky Balboa quote (direct, powerful on getting hit and moving forward) - Bob Marley quote (strength through necessity) - Marcus Aurelius quote (stoic control focus)
- Provide rationale for each
Example 2: Adding New Quote
User: "Add this quote: 'The cure for boredom is curiosity. There is no cure for curiosity.' - Dorothy Parker"
Skill Response:
- Parse quote and author
- Identify themes: curiosity, learning, passion
- Add to database with context
- Update theme index
- Confirm addition
Example 3: Researching Thinker
User: "Research David Deutsch quotes about knowledge and optimism"
Skill Response:
- Research Deutsch's works (The Beginning of Infinity, The Fabric of Reality)
- Extract relevant quotes on knowledge creation and optimism
- Add to database with source attribution
- Organize by theme
- Report findings
Example 4: Theme Search
User: "Show me all aphorisms about learning and education"
Skill Response:
- Search database for learning/education theme
- Return matching quotes:
- Gandhi (live/learn) - Krishnamurti (lifelong learning) - Confucius (learning + thinking) - Aaron Swartz (curiosity)
- Provide context for each
Best Practices
Quote Selection for Newsletter
- Match tone - Ensure quote tone aligns with newsletter content
- Thematic relevance - Direct connection to main themes
- Avoid repetition - Check usage history
- Provide variety - Rotate between authors and themes
- Context matters - Consider whether reader needs background
Database Maintenance
- Verify accuracy - Check quote text and attribution
- Add context - Include source and background when possible
- Theme consistently - Use established theme categories
- Track usage - Update history to avoid overuse
- Quality over quantity - Curate, don't just collect
Thinker Research
- Primary sources - Prefer direct quotes from books/speeches
- Context critical - Include enough background for understanding
- Avoid misattribution - Verify quote authenticity
- TELOS alignment - Focus on wisdom, rationality, truth-seeking
- Practical wisdom - Quotes should be actionable or profound
Future Enhancements
Planned Features
- Automatic theme detection - ML-based content analysis
- Quote recommendation engine - Collaborative filtering based on past selections
- Integration with previous newsletters - Analyze historical aphorism usage patterns
- Expanded thinker research - Add more philosophers aligned with TELOS
- Mood/tone matching - Match quote emotional tone to content
- Quote formatting - Auto-format for newsletter style
Long-term Vision
- Comprehensive wisdom library covering all content needs
- Predictive recommendations based on newsletter draft
- Historical analysis of most impactful quotes
- Community contributions (vetted)
- Integration with other writing workflows
Quick Reference
Most Used Commands:
- "Find aphorism for this newsletter" → Analyze content and recommend
- "Add this quote" → Add to database with metadata
- "Research [thinker] quotes" → Deep research and database population
- "Search aphorisms about [theme]" → Theme-based search
Database Location: ~/.claude/skills/aphorisms/Database/aphorisms.md
Current Collection Size:
- 15 initial quotes (Rahil Arora collection)
- 5 thinker sections (to be populated)
- 12+ theme categories
Key Thinkers: Hitchens, Deutsch, Harris, Spinoza, Feynman
Related Skills
newsletter-content - Newsletter creation and content suggestions research - Web research and content analysis writing - Blog post and content creation personal - User's philosophy and values context
Last Updated: 2025-11-20