Was it always my nature to take a bad time and block out the good times, until any success became an accident and failure seemed the only truth?
Lillian HellmanRead
It is best to act with confidence, no matter how little right you have to it.
Interpretation
What this quote means
Acting with confidence can often lead to better outcomes, even if you feel uncertain.
This quote emphasizes the importance of confidence in our actions. Lillian Hellman suggests that even in situations where one may feel inadequate or unqualified, presenting oneself with assurance can enhance perception and potentially influence the results positively. Confidence can often overshadow doubts and uncertainties, allowing individuals to navigate challenges more effectively.
Themes
ConfidenceActionCertaintySelf-AssuranceWisdom
In practice
Example use cases
Using this quote in a motivational speech to encourage students to participate confidently in class discussions.
More from Lillian Hellman
All quotes βIf I had to give young writers advice, I would say don't listen to writers talking about writing or themselves.
Lillian HellmanRead
If you believe, as the Greeks did, that man is at the mercy of the gods, then you write tragedy. The end is inevitable from the beginning. But if you believe that man can solve his own problems and is at nobody's mercy, then you will probably write melodrama.
Lillian HellmanRead
Nobody knows what you want except you. And nobody will be as sorry as you if you don't get it. Wanting some other way to live is proof enough of deserving it. Having it is hard work, but not having it is sheer hell.
Lillian HellmanRead
Failure in the theater is more dramatic and uglier than any other form of writing. It costs so much, you feel so guilty.
Lillian HellmanRead
It is not good to see people who have been pretending strength all their lives lose it even for a minute.
Lillian HellmanRead
Similar quotes
Psychiatry is a strange field because, unlike any other field of medicine, you never really finish. Your greatest instrument is you, yourself, and the work of self-understanding is endless. I'm still learning.
Irvin D. YalomRead
If you want to live an authentic, meaningful life, you need to master the art of disappointing and upsetting others, hurting feelings, and living with the reality that some people just won't like you. It may not be easy, but it's essential if you want your life to reflect your deepest desires, values, and needs.
Cheryl RichardsonRead
Clean your finger before you point at my spots.
Benjamin FranklinRead
There is a certain kind of maturity that can be attained only through the discipline of suffering.
D. A. CarsonRead
What happened to the writer is not what matters; what matters is the large sense that the writer is able to make of what happened.
Vivian GornickRead
The best therapists can do with sadness, anger, and anxiety is to help patients live in the more comfortable part of their set range.
Martin SeligmanRead