It ain’t over till it’s over. – Yogi Berra What does that mean? This is a strongly sourced quote: “In July 1969, Berra’s Mets trailed the Chicago Cubs by 9½ games in the National League East. The Mets rallied to win the division title on the final day of the season.” The quote is about…
You’ve been criticizing yourself for years and it hasn’t worked. Try approving of yourself and see what happens. – Louise Hay What does that mean? This is an interesting quote, in that it describes so many of us, at least at some point in our lives. Sadly, this behavior seems to be part of human nature. We are…
Trade your expectations for appreciation and your whole world changes in an instant. – Tony Robbins What does that mean? This quote is about attitude, and how it can impact our perception of the world around us. It also changes how we interpret the things which go on around us. It is quite a different…
Control thy passions lest they take vengeance on thee. – Epictetus What does that mean? This quote is about passions and how too much of a good thing can be a real problem for some people. The quote urges us to control our passions. That is, to reign them in, and to not let them rule…
If you spend your whole life waiting for the storm, you’ll never enjoy the sunshine. – Morris West What does that mean? To me, this quote is saying that if you spend your whole life hunkered in the bunker, you’re going to miss the sunshine and all the good times. Yes, you need to have…
There ain’t nothing from the outside that can lick any of us. – Margaret Mitchell What does that mean? The line, from her novel ‘Gone with the Wind,’ is spoken as part of the eulogy for Scarlett’s father, Gerald O’Hara. He was being described as someone who could withstand any setback, from any quarter, at…
You must not lose faith in humanity. Humanity is an ocean; if a few drops of the ocean are dirty, the ocean does not become dirty. – Mohandas Gandhi What does that mean? To me, this is a beautiful quote. It reminds us to stay focused on the good of humanity, as it far outweighs all the…
No one can make you feel inferior without your consent. – Eleanor Roosevelt What does that mean? This quote reminds me of another famous couple of lines about the meaning of words. “What’s in a name? That which we call a rose by any other name would smell as sweet” from Romeo & Juliet, Act 2, Scene…
He who neglects what is done for what ought to be done, sooner effects his ruin than his preservation. – Niccolò Machiavelli What does that mean? Back in the day when Machiavelli was writing, there were plenty of others who were trying to sell their services as political analysts. They were trying to advise the Princes on…
Men rise from one ambition to another: first, they seek to secure themselves against attack, and then they attack others. – Niccolò Machiavelli What does that mean? This quote a condensed version of Maslow’s hierarchy of needs, tailored to match the ruthlessness of the times Machiavelli lived in, and the audience he was addressing. Once a Prince…
Although the world is full of suffering, it is also full of the overcoming of it. – Helen Keller What does that mean? This is a great quote, from someone who knew both the suffering and the overcoming of suffering, a more complete listing of which can be found in her bio (click on her name, above)….
I am often asked whether I am optimistic for the future of humanity. My simple answer is yes. – Dalai Lama What does that mean? I agree with the quote. Yes, there are terrible things going on in the world. Yes, there is civil unrest, war, inhumane treatment of people. However, that’s what we see on the…
Men are not prisoners of fate, but only prisoners of their own minds. – Franklin D. Roosevelt What does that mean? This quote is a denouncement of predestination. It says quite clearly that we are not prisoners of fate. We are not the victims of whatever has been decided by who or whatever decides these things. While…
Tough times never last, but tough people do. – Dr. Robert Schuller What does that mean? Given the current economic situation, this seemed an interesting quote to tackle. It reminds us that the tough times come and go. Even if things seem bleak today, in a few years it will likely be very different. The quote…
Stay committed to your decisions, but stay flexible in your approach. – Tony Robbins and here What does that mean? To me, it means that once you have made a decision, you’ve cut yourself off from other possibilities. You are also committed to the desired outcome. However, things happen, and your chosen path, your approach, might not…
