No great deed, private or public, has ever been undertaken in a bliss of certainty.
Interpretation
Great accomplishments require us to embrace uncertainty and risk.
This quote emphasizes that significant actions, whether personal or societal, often come with doubts and a lack of absolute certainty. It highlights the importance of courage and willingness to act despite the unknown outcomes that may lie ahead.
In practice
This quote can inspire students who are hesitant to take risks in their personal projects.
Here is a humanist proposition for the age of Google: The processing of information is not the highest aim to which the human spirit can aspire, and neither is competitiveness in a global economy. The character of our society cannot be determined by engineers.
Being a survivor doesn't mean being strong - it's telling people when you need a meal or a ride, company, whatever. It's paying attention to heart wisdom, feelings, not living a role, but having a unique, authentic life, having something to contribute, finding time to love and laugh. All these things are qualities of survivors.
We will not prematurely or unnecessarily risk the costs of a worldwide nuclear war in which even the fruits of victory would be ashes in our mouth - but neither shall we shrink from that risk any time it must be faced.
I was fine being in the closet at the beginning of my career because that's what you were supposed to be - until I realized that it didn't serve anybody, and I was left feeling utterly empty. This is who I am, so I've gotta be me.
I suffered from self hatred so much. It's like I didn't want to look like that any more. I didn't to feel like that any more. It had to be another way.
The pioneers of a warless world are the young men (and women) who refuse military service.
Danger is very real but fear is a choice.
Subscribe for the occasional hand-picked quote. No noise.