Category Archives: effort

If we are lashed and torn by Fortune, let us bear it; it is not cruelty but a struggle, and the oftener we engage in it, the stronger we shall be.

If we are lashed and torn by Fortune, let us bear it; it is not cruelty but a struggle, and the oftener we engage in it, the stronger we shall be. – Seneca What does that mean? This quote has … Continue reading

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Therefore the wise man will lose nothing which he will be able to regard as loss; for the only possession he has is virtue, and of this he can never be robbed.

Therefore the wise man will lose nothing which he will be able to regard as loss; for the only possession he has is virtue, and of this he can never be robbed. – Seneca What does that mean? This is … Continue reading

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We should make every effort to be of a grateful disposition.

We should make every effort to be of a grateful disposition. – Seneca What does that mean? This appears to be a misattribution of something which Epictetus said some time after Seneca was dead. Marcus Aurelius even references the quote as being … Continue reading

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It takes more than just a good looking body. You’ve got to have the heart and soul to go with it.

It takes more than just a good looking body. You’ve got to have the heart and soul to go with it. – Epictetus What does that mean? He might have had an ulterior motive for this quote, presuming he actually … Continue reading

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You don’t have to try, you just have to be.

You don’t have to try, you just have to be. – David Viscott What does that mean? To me, this quote is about the age-old struggle. On one hand, we feel a need to excel, to do something, to be … Continue reading

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A little more persistence, a little more effort, and what seemed hopeless failure may turn to glorious success.

A little more persistence, a little more effort, and what seemed hopeless failure may turn to glorious success. – Elbert Hubbard What does that mean? A slightly longer version of the quote is as follows: “A little more persistence, a … Continue reading

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When you get to the end of your rope, tie a knot in it and hang on.

When you get to the end of your rope, tie a knot in it and hang on. – Franklin D. Roosevelt (also Thomas Jefferson & others) What does that mean? This quote is about not giving up. If all seems … Continue reading

Posted in decision, effort, habits, perseverance, self knowledge, victory | Tagged , , , , | 13 Comments

Talent works, genius creates.

Talent works, genius creates. – Robert Schumann What does that mean? This quote is about the fine line between talent and genius, between being good and being great. It is more than just ability, it is also about application. Ordinary … Continue reading

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No amount of falls will really undo us if we keep on picking ourselves up each time.

No amount of falls will really undo us if we keep on picking ourselves up each time. – C.S.Lewis What does that mean? This is another significantly shortened quote, per the limits of Twitter. A longer version is as follows: “I know … Continue reading

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The mind unlearns with difficulty what it has long learned.

The mind unlearns with difficulty what it has long learned. – Seneca What does that mean? This is the ‘old dog, new tricks’ quote. Most of us are creatures of habit. We learn something, we do it for a while, and it … Continue reading

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We are shaped and fashioned by what we love.

We are shaped and fashioned by what we love. – Johann Wolfgang von Goethe What does that mean? While some might state that we are shaped by what we hate, I believe that not everyone is motivated primarily by hate. Hate … Continue reading

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Arrogance requires advertising. Confidence speaks for itself.

Arrogance requires advertising. Confidence speaks for itself. – Dr. Farrah Gray What does that mean? This one, while hard to source, is worth some thought. Think of arrogance, and then think of confidence. Which one needs help, and which stands alone? … Continue reading

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Even if you have nothing to write, write and say so.

Even if you have nothing to write, write and say so. – Cicero What does that mean? While I couldn’t find a hard citation for this quote, it is a very interesting thought to consider. What do writers write about when … Continue reading

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If you look into your own heart, and you find nothing wrong there, what is there to worry about? What is there to fear?

If you look into your own heart, and you find nothing wrong there, what is there to worry about? What is there to fear? – Confucius What does that mean? To me, this quote isn’t about the fear of a tiger eating … Continue reading

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Being honest might not get you a lot of friends, but it will always get you the right ones.

Being honest might not get you a lot of friends, but it will always get you the right ones. – John Lennon What does that mean? This quote is about a quality which I have fairly strong feelings: honesty. I believe … Continue reading

Posted in character, effort, friendship, honest, integrity, question | Tagged , , , , | 17 Comments