Go forward with joyful confidence.
George EliotRead
Each thought is a nail that is driven In structures that cannot decay; And the mansion at last will be given To us as we build it each day.
Interpretation
What this quote means
Our thoughts shape our lives, contributing to our personal development over time.
The quote by George Eliot emphasizes that our thoughts are foundational elements in building our lives, similar to how nails contribute to constructing a house. Each thought we have, whether positive or negative, contributes to the overall structure of our reality, which we continually build with every passing day. The idea is that by consciously choosing our thoughts, we can create a life that reflects our aspirations and values.
Themes
ThoughtsLifeBuildMindCreation
In practice
Example use cases
In a motivational speech about personal growth, this quote can illustrate how our daily thoughts contribute to our long-term achievements.
More from George Eliot
All quotes βYou must love your work, and not be always looking over the edge of it, wanting your play to begin. And the other is, you must not be ashamed of your work, and think it would be more honorable to you to be doing something else. You must have a pride in your own work and in learning to do it well.
George EliotRead
She thought it was part of the hardship of her life that there was laid upon her the burthen of larger wants than others seemed to feel β that she had to endure this wide hopeless yearning for that something, whatever it was, that was greatest and best on this earth.
George EliotRead
Life seems to go on without effort when I am filled with music.
George EliotRead
I think I should have no other mortal wants, if I could always have plenty of music. It seems to infuse strength into my limbs and ideas into my brain. Life seems to go on without effort, when I am filled with music.
George EliotRead
Our dead are never dead to us until we have forgotten them: they can be injured by us, they can be wounded; they know all our penitence, all our aching sense that their place is empty, all the kisses we bestow on the smallest relic of their presence.
George EliotRead
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One can advise comfortably from a safe port.
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I have blossomed so much, I am the envy of the gardens.
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One might equate growing up with a mistrust of words. A mature person trusts his eyes more than his ears. Irrationality often manifests itself in upholding the word against the evidence of the eyes. Children, savages and true believers remember far less what they have seen than what they have heard.
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May we do good everywhere as we have opportunity, and results will not be wanting!
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Knowing others is to be clever. Knowing yourself is to be enlightened. Overcoming others requires force. Overcoming yourself requires strength.
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