None are so old as those who have outlived enthusiasm.
Henry David ThoreauRead
Be as the sailor who keeps the polestar in his eye. By so doing we may not arrive at our port within a calculable period, but we will maintain a true course.
Interpretation
What this quote means
This quote emphasizes the importance of having a guiding principle or goal, even if the destination isn't immediately clear.
Henry David Thoreau uses the metaphor of a sailor keeping the polestar in sight to illustrate the significance of maintaining focus on one's values or aspirations, regardless of the time it takes to achieve them. The journey may be unpredictable, but by adhering to this guiding star, one can navigate the challenges of life and stay on course toward their ultimate destination.
Themes
SailorPolestarGuiding PrincipleLife'S JourneyFocus
In practice
Example use cases
During a motivational speech about staying focused on long-term goals.
More from Henry David Thoreau
All quotes →Through want of enterprise and faith men are where they are, buying and selling and spending their lives like servants.
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Have no mean hours, but be grateful for every hour, and accept what it brings. The reality will make any sincere record respectable.
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As every season seems best to us in its turn, so the coming in of spring is like the creation of Cosmos out of Chaos and the realization of the Golden Age.
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That grand old poem called Winter
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