Consequently the student who is devoid of talent will derive no more profit from this work than barren soil from a treatise on agriculture.
QuintilianRead
While we are making up our minds as to when we shall begin, the opportunity is lost.
Interpretation
What this quote means
Delaying decisions can lead to missed opportunities.
This quote by Quintilian highlights the importance of taking action rather than postponing decisions. It serves as a reminder that while we are still contemplating when to act, the chance to do so may slip away, emphasizing the necessity of making timely choices in life.
Themes
OpportunityActionDecisionsTimelinessProcrastination
In practice
Example use cases
This quote can be used in a motivational speech to encourage taking action.
More from Quintilian
All quotes βAs regards parents, I should like to see them as highly educated as possible, and I do not restrict this remark to fathers alone.
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Whilst we deliberate how to begin a thing, it grows too late to begin it.
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A laugh costs too much when bought at the expense of virtue.
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An evil-speaker differs from an evil-doer only in the want of opportunity.
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It is the nurse that the child first hears, and her words that he will first attempt to imitate.
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