I have always been of the mind that in a democracy manners are the only effective weapons against the bowie-knife.
James Russell LowellRead
Truly there is a tide in the affairs of men; but there is no gulf-stream setting forever in one direction.
Interpretation
What this quote means
Life is full of changing circumstances and opportunities; we must navigate them wisely.
This quote suggests that life is dynamic, with opportunities and challenges that rise and fall like tides. It emphasizes the importance of being aware of the changing nature of situations and adapting accordingly, rather than blindly following a singular path or direction.
Themes
ChangeLifeOpportunityAdaptationTides
In practice
Example use cases
During a motivational speech to highlight the importance of adaptability in career choices.
More from James Russell Lowell
All quotes βThe foolish and the dead alone never change their opinions.
James Russell LowellRead
Not failure, but low aim, is crime.
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Good luck is the willing handmaid of upright, energetic character, and conscientious observance of duty.
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Puritanism, believing itself quick with the seed of religious liberty, laid, without knowing it, the egg of democracy.
James Russell LowellRead
Books are the bees which carry the quickening pollen from one to another mind.
James Russell LowellRead
Similar quotes
Our best built certainties are but sand-houses and subject to damage from any wind of doubt that blows
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Ideology knows the answer before the question has been asked. Principles are something different: a set of values that have to be adapted to circumstances but not compromised away.
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I believe that everything happens for a reason. People change so that you can learn to let go, things go wrong so that you appreciate them when they're right, you believe lies so you eventually learn to trust no one but yourself, and sometimes good things fall apart so better things can fall together.
Marilyn MonroeRead
Liberty has never come from Government. Liberty has always come from the subjects of it. The history of liberty is a history of limitations of governmental power, not the increase of it.
Woodrow WilsonRead
I've no idea where ideas come from and I hope I never find out; it would spoil the excitement for me if it turned out I just have a funny little wrinkle on the surface of my brain which makes me think about invisible train platforms.
J. K. RowlingRead
This is a war universe. War all the time. That is its nature. There may be other universes based on all sorts of other principles, but ours seems to be based on war and games.
William S. BurroughsRead