I think one reason, obviously, that I spend so much time in one place is that I've been lucky enough to travel a lot, and now there are other different, invisible trains that are more interesting to me.
Pico IyerRead
Quitting, for me, means not giving up, but moving on; changing direction not because something doesn’t agree with you, but because you don’t agree with something. It’s not a complaint, in other words, but a positive choice, and not a stop in one’s journey, but a step in a better direction. Quitting-whether a job or a habit-means taking a turn so as to be sure you’re still moving in the direction of your dreams.
Interpretation
What this quote means
Quitting is not about giving up but about making a positive choice to change direction in pursuit of dreams.
Pico Iyer's quote emphasizes that quitting should not be viewed negatively; rather, it can represent a deliberate and positive decision to pivot towards a path that better aligns with one's goals and values. This perspective reframes the concept of quitting from one of failure to one of empowerment, highlighting that it can be a crucial step in one's journey toward achieving personal dreams.
Themes
QuittingChangeDirectionDreamsChoice
In practice
Example use cases
In a motivational speech about resilience and personal growth.
More from Pico Iyer
All quotes →I've never meditated in my life. I don't practice yoga nor any religion. I'm a tourist on the realm of stillness.
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We travel to open our hearts and eyes and learn more about the world than our newspapers will accommodate.
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I'm no Buddhist monk, and I can't say I'm in love with renunciation in itself, or traveling an hour or more to print out an article I've written, or missing out on the N.B.A. Finals. But at some point, I decided that, for me at least, happiness arose out of all I didn't want or need, not all I did.
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The one thing perhaps that technology hasn't always given us is a sense of how to make the wisest use of technology.
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In an age of speed, I began to think nothing could be more exhilarating than going slow. In an age of distraction, nothing can feel more luxurious than paying attention. And in an age of constant movement, nothing is more urgent than sitting still.
Pico IyerRead
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