Great ideas travel slowly, and for a time noiselessly, as the gods whose feet were shod with wool.
Interpretation
Great ideas often take time to be recognized, much like silent gods who walk softly.
In this quote, James A. Garfield expresses the notion that profound ideas do not always gain immediate recognition or attention. Like the gods who tread lightly, significant concepts may initially go unnoticed, requiring patience and persistence before they become appreciated and impactful in society.
In practice
In a motivational speech, to emphasize the need for patience in pursuing innovation.
Statistical science is indispensable to modern statesmanship. In legislation as in physical science it is beginning to be understood that we can control terrestrial forces only by obeying their laws. The legislator must formulate in his statutes not only the national will, but also those great laws of social life revealed by statistics.
I am trying to do two things: dare to be a radical and not a fool, which is a matter of no small difficulty.
Justice and goodwill will outlast passion.
Now more than ever the people are responsible for the character of their Congress. If that body be ignorant, reckless, and corrupt, it is because the people tolerate ignorance, recklessness, and corruption.
If the power to do hard work is not a skill, it's the best possible substitute for it.
Next in importance to freedom and justice is popular education, without which neither freedom nor justice can be permanently maintained.
We do not ignore maturity. Maturity consists in not losing the past while fully living in the present with a prudent awareness of the possibilities of the future.
Avoidance doesnβt solve anything; it merely serves as a temporary salve.
The test of a first-rate intelligence is the ability to hold two opposed ideas in mind at the same time and still retain the ability to function.
We do not have to be ashamed of what we are. As sentient beings we have wonderful backgrounds. These backgrounds may not be particularly enlightened or peaceful or intelligent. Nevertheless, we have soil good enough to cultivate; we can plant anything in it.
I try to take every conflict, every experience, and learn from it
What's encouraging about meditation is that, even if we shut down, we can no longer shut down in ignorance. We see very clearly that we're closing off. That in itself begins to illuminate the darkness of ignorance.
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