Nature never appeals to intelligence until habit and instinct are useless. There is no intelligence where there is no need of change.
H. G. WellsRead
Alone-- it is wonderful how little a man can do alone! To rob a little, to hurt a little, and there is the end.
Interpretation
What this quote means
The quote reflects on the limitations of individual actions, emphasizing that alone, a person's impact can be minimal, often resulting in negative behaviors.
H. G. Wells points out the shortcomings of solitary existence and how it can lead to a life of unfulfilling actions. When a person operates alone, they may feel empowered to take small negative actions, but they ultimately contribute little to the greater good and fail to achieve meaningful success. The quote implies that collaboration and community are essential for making a significant impact in the world.
Themes
AloneImpactCollaborationCommunityActions
In practice
Example use cases
In a speech about teamwork in the workplace, one could use this quote to emphasize the importance of collaboration.
More from H. G. Wells
All quotes →He spares no resource in telling of his dead inventions... Bare verbs he rarely tolerates. He splits infinitives and fills them up with adverbial stuffing. He presses the passing colloquialism into his service. His vast paragraphis sweat and struggle; the
H. G. WellsRead
It [a new world order] needs only that the governments of Britain, the United States, France, Germany, and Russia should get together in order to set up an effective control of currency, credit, production, and distribution – that is to say, an effective ‘dictatorship of prosperity,’ for the whole world. The other sixty odd States would have to join in or accommodate themselves to the over-ruling decisions of these major Powers.
H. G. WellsRead
Things that would have made fame of a less clever man seemed tricks in his hands. It is a mistake to do things too easily.
H. G. WellsRead
But I was too restless to watch long; I'm too Occidental for a long vigil. I could work at a problem for years, but to wait inactive for twenty-four hours - that's another matter.
H. G. WellsRead
The greatest task of democracy, its ritual and feast - is choice.
H. G. WellsRead
Similar quotes
The crashes people remember, but drivers remember the near misses.
Mario AndrettiRead
I saw myself sitting in the crotch of this fig tree, starving to death, just because I couldn't make up my mind which of the figs I would choose. I wanted each and every one of them, but choosing one meant loosing all the rest, and, as I sat there, unable to decide, the figs began to wrinkle and go black, and, one by one, they plopped to the ground at my feet.
Sylvia PlathRead
Never let yourself think that because God has given you many things to do for Himpressing routine jobs, a life full up with duties and demands of a very practical sort---that all these need separate you from communion with Him. God is always coming to you in the Sacrament of the Present Moment. Meet and receive Him there with gratitude in that sacrament; however unexpected its outward form may be receive Him in every sight and sound, joy, pain, opportunity and sacrifice.
Evelyn UnderhillRead
In the eyes of the ego, self-esteem and humility are contradictory. In truth, they are one and the same.
Eckhart TolleRead
If the stories come, you get them written, you're on the right track. Eventually everyone learns his or her own best way. The real mystery to crack is you.
Bernard MalamudRead
God grant that I may never live to be useless!
John WesleyRead