What is the best piece of advice you have ever received?

Neill

Today I managed to put a deep cut in my left hand with one of those oven scraper things that has a razor blade in it.  

This is because I ignored a simple piece of advice I was given by a friend's dad, a joiner,  when I was at primary school. "Always keep both hands behind anything that cuts".  Every time I have ignored this I have hurt myself.

What's the best advice you have ever been given - and do you follow it?

Lestratcaster

Whilst staying on the subject of cutting I've always been advised when using a knife, scissors or anything sharp is to cut away from the body.

Also the other one is to respect my elders.

Legionreturns

When I was in a very difficult marriage. 

My best friend, who was married to my wife's best friend, told me 

"You have the right to be happy too" 

Sporky

"Don't be a dick".

Still working on it.

ThePrettyDamned

'Life is too short to be unhappy'

The friend who told me that died a couple of years ago. 

Gulliver

Happy wife equals happy life

ICBM

Put one hand in your back pocket while working on live electrical things.

This may have literally saved my life on more than one occasion.

Ravenous

"Stop messing about" (Kenneth Williams, perhaps the best role model in life.)

merlin

It's not a pit, it's a tunnel. 

VimFuego

never poo before you get up.

chillidoggy

"Never put your finger where you wouldn't put your cock."

The sole reason behind me still having a full set of digits.

Octafish

Measure twice, cut once!

Philtre

Have... a... good... time... all the time.

Octafish

chillidoggy said:

"Never put your finger where you wouldn't put your cock."

The sole reason behind me still having a full set of digits.

Wouldn't want to borrow your phone !

snakemanStoo

Be sincere, whether you mean it or not

Chalky

They either love you or they don't, and if they don't, why waste your time on them? Terry Wogan told Chris Evans.

Garthy

chillidoggy said:

"Never put your finger where you wouldn't put your cock."

The sole reason behind me still having a full set of digits.

That's for machinery.
For women: Never put your cock where you wouldn't put your fingers.

scrumhalf

chillidoggy said:

"Never put your finger where you wouldn't put your cock."

I don't know how old you are, but I hope I never used a payphone after you.

Skipped

"When you are in reverse gear, move the vehicle the absolute minimum you need, and not one inch more."

ThorpyFX

chillidoggy said:

"Never put your finger where you wouldn't put your cock."

The sole reason behind me still having a full set of digits.

Same bit of advice given to me, applied to Improvised explosive devices.... i still have all my fingers (and my C**k)

the other bit of advice that was stellar for me was "keep your eye on your own ball, otherwise someone else will steal it"  in other words, focus on your own goals, not what other people are setting themselves as goals.

Philtre

• Never put jam on a magnet
• Never put a sock in a toaster
• Never throw your granny in a bag