I have just gone over my comet computations again, and it is humiliating to perceive how very little more I know than I did seven years ago when I first did this kind of work.
Maria MitchellRead
The best that can be said of my life so far is that it has been industrious, and the best that can be said of me is that I have not pretended to what I was not.
Interpretation
What this quote means
This quote reflects the importance of hard work and authenticity in one's life.
Maria Mitchell emphasizes the value of a diligent life and the importance of being true to oneself. She suggests that the measure of a life well-lived lies not only in productivity but also in the honesty of one’s character, promoting authenticity as a core principle.
Themes
AuthenticityIndustriousHonestyLifeSelf
In practice
Example use cases
In a graduation speech, one could quote this to inspire new graduates about the importance of hard work and being true to themselves.
More from Maria Mitchell
All quotes →To read a book, to think it over, and to write out notes is a useful exercise; a book which will not repay some hard thought is not worth publishing.
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There is no cosmetic for beauty like happiness.
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Study as if you were going to live forever; live as if you were going to die tomorrow.
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I am just learning to notice the different colors of the stars, and already begin to have a new enjoyment.
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We travel to learn; and I have never been in any country where they did not do something better than we do it, think some thoughts better than we think, catch some inspiration from heights above our own.
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