Take your work seriously, but never yourself.
Margot FonteynRead
Life forms illogical patterns. It is haphazard and full of beauties which I try to catch as they fly by, for who knows whether any of them will ever return?
Interpretation
Life is unpredictable and beautiful, and we should cherish its fleeting moments.
In this quote, Margot Fonteyn reflects on the unpredictable nature of life, suggesting that its beauty often appears in unexpected ways. She emphasizes the importance of being present to capture these moments as they occur, acknowledging that they may never come again, thus encouraging a mindful and appreciative approach to experiences.
In practice
This quote can be shared during a motivational talk about embracing life's unpredictability.
Take your work seriously, but never yourself.
The one important thing I have learned over the years is the difference between taking one's work seriously and taking one's self seriously. The first is imperative and the second is disastrous.
Genius is another word for magic, and the whole point of magic is that it is inexplicable.
Dancers are both athletes and artists.
The essential thing about mothers is that one needs to know that they are there, particularly at that age when, paradoxically, one is trying so hard to break away from parental influence.
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.
I don't think that life happens by sitting back and waiting. People hold their cards so tight to their chest. Life is short. Tell people you love them. What's the worst that's going to happen?
Wherever life takes us, there are always moments of wonder.
The only realities in life are that you are born, and that you die. We always think we are going to live forever. The dying aspect we will never accept. The one thing about having this kind of warning is how you appreciate every single day of life.
If we tend to the things that are important in life, if we are right with those we love, and behave in line with our faith, our lives will not be cursed with the aching throb of unfulfilled business. Our words will always be sincere, our embraces will be tight. We will never wallow in the agony of βI could have, I should haveβ. We can sleep in a storm. And when its time, our goodbyes will be complete.
It will come sometime. Some beautiful morning she will just wake up and find it is Tomorrow. Not Today but Tomorrow. And then things will happen ... wonderful things.
Subscribe for the occasional hand-picked quote. No noise.