In every age 'the good old days' were a myth. No one ever thought they were good at the time. For every age has consisted of crises that seemed intolerable to the people who lived through them.
Brooks AtkinsonRead
This nation was built by men who took risks-pioneers who were not afraid of the wilderness, businessmen who were not afraid of failure, scientists who were not afraid of the truth, thinkers who were not afraid of progress, dreamers who were not afraid of action.
Interpretation
What this quote means
The quote celebrates individuals who embrace risks and challenges in order to achieve progress and success.
Brooks Atkinson emphasizes the importance of courage and risk-taking in shaping the progress of a nation. He highlights various groups of people—pioneers, businessmen, scientists, thinkers, and dreamers—who have all contributed to advancements by facing uncertainties and hardships head-on. This statement serves as a reminder that growth and development often require stepping outside of comfort zones and bravely confronting the unknown.
Themes
RiskProgressCourageDreamsFailureTruthAction
In practice
Example use cases
In a motivational speech to encourage innovation in the workplace.
More from Brooks Atkinson
All quotes →People everywhere enjoy believing things that they know are not true. It spares them the ordeal of thinking for themselves and taking responsibility for what they know.
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