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Apprehension, uncertainty, waiting, expectation, fear of surprise, do a patient more harm than any exertion.
Florence Nightingale
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Interpretation

What this quote means

Worrying and waiting can be more harmful than taking action.

In this quote, Florence Nightingale emphasizes the negative impact that feelings of apprehension and uncertainty can have on a person. She suggests that enduring stress related to waiting and fearing the unknown can be psychologically damaging, often more so than any physical effort or exertion one might exert to tackle a challenge. Thus, it's important to address and overcome fears rather than allowing them to linger and potentially cause harm.

Themes

ApprehensionUncertaintyWaitingFearHarmPatience

In practice

Example use cases

This quote can be shared in a motivational speech about overcoming anxiety in the workplace.

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I am of certain convinced that the greatest heroes are those who do their duty in the daily grind of domestic affairs whilst the world whirls as a maddening dreidel.
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