I have never known any distress that an hour's reading did not relieve.
Baron De MontesquieuRead
There is no one, says another, whom fortune does not visit once in his life; but when she does not find him ready to receive her, she walks in at the door, and flies out at the window.
Interpretation
Opportunities come to everyone, but success depends on being prepared to seize them.
This quote by Baron De Montesquieu highlights the idea that fortune and opportunities are available to all during their lifetime. However, if a person is not ready to recognize and embrace these opportunities when they present themselves, they can easily slip away, emphasizing the importance of preparation and readiness in achieving success.
In practice
Using this quote during a motivational speech to inspire individuals to prepare for opportunities.
I have never known any distress that an hour's reading did not relieve.
Law in general is human reason, inasmuch as it governs all the inhabitants of the earth: the political and civil laws of each nation ought to be only the particular cases in which human reason is applied.
To become truly great, one has to stand with people, not above them.
Love of the republic in a democracy, is a love of the democracy; love of the democracy is that of equality. Love of the democracy is likewise that of frugality.
It is not the young people that degenerate; they are not spoiled till those of mature age are already sunk into corruption.
If you would be holy, instruct your children, because all the good acts they perform will be imputed to you.
Individuals should think about the worst-case scenarios and plan for them. The world will be crazier than you think it will be. Put money away, and then you can live with much more freedom.
I went for years not finishing anything. Because, of course, when you finish something you can be judged...I had poems which were re-written so many times I suspect it was just a way of avoiding sending them out.
Don't gain the world and lose your soul; wisdom is better than silver or gold.
Pour some water into a tub and stir it up. Now try as hard as you can to calm the water with your hands; you will succeed in agitating it further. Let it stand undisturbed a while, and it will calm down by itself. The human brain works much the same way.
I think I'm in the same mood as ever, but in some ways more mature. I guess you could say that, at 65, when you've seen the world shape up as I have, there are only two things you can do: laugh or kill yourself.
All the breaks you need in life wait within your imagination.
Subscribe for the occasional hand-picked quote. No noise.