The first thing to do in life is to do with purpose what one purposes to do.
Interpretation
One must act with intention and clarity to achieve their goals.
This quote by Pablo Casals emphasizes the importance of living with purpose and intentionality. It suggests that before taking any actions in life, individuals should define their goals clearly and pursue them with dedication and commitment. By doing so, people can navigate their lives more effectively and meaningfully, making sure every step they take aligns with their aspirations.
In practice
During a motivational speech about pursuing dreams.
Bach is the supreme genius of music... This man, who knows everything and feels everything, cannot write one note, however unimportant it may appear, which is anything but transcendent. He has reached the heart of every noble thought, and has done it in the most perfect way.
In music, in the sea, in a flower, in a leaf, in an act of kindness... I see what people call God in all these things.
The love of one's country is a splendid thing. But why should love stop at the border?
The child must know that he is a miracle, that since the beginning of the world there hasn't been, and until the end of the world there will not be, another child like him.
I am an old man but in many senses a very young man. And this is what I want you to be, young, young all your life.
To the whole world you might be just one person, but to one person you might just be the whole world.
Life's barely long enough to get good at one thing. So be careful what you get good at.
Any idiot can face a crisis - it's day to day living that wears you out.
But we've all ended up giving body and soul to Africa, one way or another. Even Adah, who's becoming an expert in tropical epidemiology and strange new viruses. Each of us got our heart buried in six feet of African dirt; we are all co-conspirators here. I mean, all of us, not just my family. So what do you do now? You get to find your own way to dig out a heart and shake it off and hold it up to the light again.
You have to be able to make a real creative life for Yourself, before you can expect anyone Else to provide one ready-made for you.
I want to live and feel all the shades, tones and variations of mental and physical experience possible in life.
Sometimes the lights all shining on me, other times I can barely see. Lately it occurs to me what a long strange trip it's been.
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