Legends die hard. They survive as truth rarely does.
Helen HayesRead
Mere longevity is a good thing for those who watch Life from the side lines. For those who play the game, an hour may be a year, a single day's work an achievement for eternity.
Interpretation
What this quote means
Life's true measure is not in its length but in the depth of experiences and achievements.
Helen Hayes emphasizes the idea that simply living a long life is not as valuable as how one engages with it. For those who actively participate in life, even a brief moment can have profound significance, turning ordinary efforts into timeless accomplishments.
Themes
LifeExperiencesAchievementParticipationTime
In practice
Example use cases
In a motivational speech to inspire young adults to make the most of their time.
More from Helen Hayes
All quotes →We rely upon the poets, the philosophers, and the playwrights to articulate what most of us can only feel, in joy or sorrow. They illuminate the thoughts for which we only grope; they give us the strength and balm we cannot find in ourselves. Whenever I feel my courage wavering, I rush to them. They give me the wisdom of acceptance, the will and resiliance to push on.
Helen HayesRead
Love is perhaps the only glimpse we are permitted of eternity.
Helen HayesRead
When traveling with someone, take large does of patience and tolerance with your morning coffee.
Helen HayesRead
We relish news of our heroes, forgetting that we are extraordinary to somebody too.
Helen HayesRead
Perhaps we have been misguided into taking too much responsibility from our children, leaving them too little room for discovery
Helen HayesRead
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The hardest part of living without social media was remembering that my little life was enough, so I could just stay there and live it without asking for anyone else's permission or validation. I realized that for me, posting is like asking the world, 'Do you 'like' me?'
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One of the things that has helped me as much as any other is not how long I am going to live, but how much I can do while living.
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