No one can arrive from being talented alone, work transforms talent into genius. – Anna Pavlova What does that mean? I heard versions of this quote when I was young. The basic idea is that there are plenty of people around with talent. However, some simply have some talent, nothing more. Others have some small…
Don’t find fault, find a remedy. – Henry Ford What does that mean? As an engineer, this is my pet peeve. People bring me things, and say “It’s broken,” and walk away. That’s not very helpful, is it? I don’t think so. The basic premise of the quote is that if you are bright enough to…
Fear that makes us run from a mad dog is useful and necessary, whereas fear rooted in mistrust is unhelpful and needs to be overcome. – Dalai Lama What does that mean? This is an interesting quote about fear. It differentiates fear based on a real and possible danger from that which is based primarily on…
It is the power of the mind to be unconquerable. – Seneca What does that mean? This is an interesting quote, as anyone who as argued with someone may well have found out the hard way. Sometimes, their mind is just unconquerable. However true that may be, I believe the quote is more of a reference…
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 is an ‘away’ emotion. You don’t choose to have burgers because you hate tacos. It’s…
Not what we say about our blessings, but how we use them, is the true measure of our thanksgiving. – W. T. Purkiser What does that mean? In the USA, this will post on Thanksgiving day. Initially it was the celebration of actually having survived the year, with enough food to last the winter. Since then…
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? While most people fall somewhere between those extremes, we have all known a few of…
It is not a lack of love, but a lack of friendship that makes unhappy marriages. – Nietzsche What does that mean? This quote is about nothing less than the curious situation where there is love, even passion, but nothing deeper to hold a pair of people together. Friends are often friends for life, or at…
Be kind to unkind people. They need it the most. – Ashleigh Brilliant What does that mean? This quote is beautiful in the simplicity of it. We tend to be kind to those who are kind to us. That’s nice, but does it help those who are most in need of kindness? But the people most…
Forgiveness is how we put a stop to anger, ill-will and a desire for revenge. – Dalai Lama What does that mean? This quote, as you might imagine is about forgiveness and the power that one simple act has to change our lives, and to change the lives of others. The quote mentions just a few of…
Light troubles speak; the weighty are struck dumb. – Seneca What does that mean? In the play, the speaker has a great desire, but cannot bring themselves to speak of it. It is in this pained situation that the quote was born. We have all been there at some point in time. We want to say…
By changing nothing, nothing changes. – Tony Robbins What does that mean? This quote is about procrastination, and what results from doing nothing. I imagine every one of us have something we wish we’d started last year. A diet, started last year, could mean everything from better health to a new wardrobe by now. A savings…
Opportunity may knock only once, but temptation leans on the doorbell. – Unknown What does that mean? I like this quote; it is so sassy! I could have sworn this was a quote from Mae West or one of her contem-poraries. But all the sourcing I have seen says that it is unknown. For those who don’t…
Talent is God given; be humble. Fame is man-given; be grateful. Conceit is self-given; be careful. – John Wooden What does that mean? This is a caution against ego, from a coach who knew a few players who had one. It starts by saying that whatever talents you may have, they are a gift. It asks…
Reading furnishes the mind only with materials of knowledge; it is thinking that makes what we read ours. – John Locke What does that mean? The longer, twitter unfriendly version is as follows: This is that which I think great readers are apt to be mistaken in; those who have read of everything, are thought to understand…
