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First, say to yourself what you would be; then do what you have to do. Life is a grindstone. Whether it wears you down or polishes you up depends on what YOU are made of.
Zig Ziglar
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Interpretation

What this quote means

Define your goals and take action to achieve them, as your character will determine the outcome.

This quote emphasizes the importance of self-definition and proactive behavior in shaping one's life. Zig Ziglar suggests that by first envisioning who you want to become, you set the stage for your actions, which will either break you down or build you up, much like a grindstone does. The essence of the quote lies in the idea that personal resilience and determination are crucial to overcoming life's challenges.

Themes

MotivationResiliencePersonal GrowthCharacterSelf-Definition

In practice

Example use cases

A motivational speaker might use this quote to encourage students at a graduation ceremony.

More from Zig Ziglar

If you learn from defeat, you haven't really lost.
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I read for the 'ah-ha's,' the information that makes a light bulb go off in my mind. I want to put information in my mind that is going to be the most beneficial to me, my family and my fellow man - financially, morally, spiritually, and emotionally.
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You cannot rise about your words. A lot of people use foul, pornographic, filthy, language and you SEE, all of those words paint pictures and they reveal the internal thinking of the person on the inside. YOU cannot RISE (forward, onward upward) above your words.
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Hope is the foundational quality of all change, and encouragement is the fuel which keeps hope alive.
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Setting goals helps bring your future into your present and the present is the only time we can take action.
Zig ZiglarRead
Happiness is the ability to move forward, knowing the future will be better than the past.
Zig ZiglarRead

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